| Hypholoma fasciculare | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Strophariaceae |
| Genus: | Hypholoma |
| Species: | H. fasciculare |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypholoma fasciculare | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Hypholoma fasciculare | |
|---|---|
 | Gills onhymenium |
 | Cap isconvex |
 | Hymenium isadnate |
 | Stipe has aring |
 | Spore print ispurple-brown |
 | Ecology issaprotrophic |
 | Edibility ispoisonous |
Hypholoma fasciculare, commonly known as thesulphur tuft orclustered woodlover, is a common woodlandmushroom, often in evidence when hardly any other mushrooms are to be found. Thissaprotrophic smallgill fungus grows prolifically in large clumps on stumps, dead roots or rotting trunks of broadleaved trees.
The "sulphur tuft" is bitter andpoisonous; consuming it can causevomiting,diarrhea andconvulsions. The toxins aresteroids known as fasciculols and have been shown to becalmodulin inhibitors.[1][2]
Thespecific epithet is derived from theLatinfascicularis 'in bundles' or 'clustered',[3] referring to its habit of growing in clumps. Its name inJapanese isNigakuritake (苦栗茸, means "Bitterkuritake").
The hemisphericalcap ranges from 2–6 cm (3⁄4–2+3⁄8 in) in diameter. It is smooth and sulphur yellow[4] with an orange-brown centre and whitish margin. The crowdedgills are initially yellow but darken to a distinctive green colour as the blackishspores develop on the yellow flesh. It has a purple-brownspore print.[5] The stipe is3–10 cm (1+1⁄8–3+7⁄8 in) tall and 4–10 mm wide,[4] light yellow, orange-brown below, often with an indistinct ring zone coloured dark by the spores. The taste is very bitter,[6] though not bitter when cooked, but still poisonous.
The edibleHypholoma capnoides is similar, but lacks the greenish-yellow gills and bitter taste.[4]H. sublateritium is similar as well, with a reddish cap.[6]
The spores are purple-black in colour. The spores are 6-8 × 4-4.5 μm in size, and are shaped like an egg.
Hypholoma fasciculare grows prolifically on the dead wood of both deciduous and coniferous trees. It is more commonly found on decaying deciduous wood due to the lowerlignin content of this wood relative to coniferous wood.Hypholoma fasciculare is widespread and abundant in northern Europe and North America. It has been recorded from Iran,[7] and also easternAnatolia in Turkey.[8] It can appear anytime from spring to autumn.[5]
Hypholoma fasciculare has been used successfully as an experimental treatment to competitively displace a common fungal disease of conifers,Armillaria root rot, from managed coniferous forests.[9]
The toxicity of sulfur tuft mushrooms has been attributed, at least partially, to the toxicsteroids fasciculol E and fasciculol F (in mice, withLD50(i.p.) values of 50 mg/kg and 168 mg/kg, respectively).[10] In humans, symptoms may be delayed for 5–10 hours after consumption, after which time there may be diarrhea, nausea, vomiting,proteinuria and collapse. Paralysis and impaired vision have been recorded. Symptoms generally resolve over a few days. The autopsy of one fatality revealed fulminanthepatitis reminiscent ofamatoxin poisoning, along with involvement of kidneys andmyocardium. The mushroom was consumed in a dish with other species so the death cannot be attributed to sulfur tuft with certainty.[11]
Extracts of the mushroom show anticoagulant effects.[12]
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