Gomphidius roseus, commonly known as the rosy spike-cap or pink gomphidius, is a gilled mushroom found in Europe. Although it has gills, it is a member of the order Boletales, along with the boletes. It is a coral pink-capped mushroom which appears in pine forests in autumn, always near the related mushroom Suillus bovinus, on which it appears to be parasitic.

Gomphidius roseus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Boletales
Family: Gomphidiaceae
Genus: Gomphidius
Species:
G. roseus
Binomial name
Gomphidius roseus
(Fr.) Oudem. (1867)
Gomphidius roseus
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Gills on hymenium
Cap is flat or convex
Hymenium is decurrent
Stipe has a ring
Spore print is blackish-brown
Ecology is parasitic
Edibility is edible

Taxonomy edit

Gomphidius roseus was initially described by Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries as Agaricus glutinosus β roseus in 1821,[2] before he elevated it to species status and gave its current genus and binomial name in 1838. The genus name is derived from the Greek 'γομφος' gomphos meaning "plug" or "large wedge-shaped nail".[3] The specific epithet roseus is the Latin adjective "pink".[4]

Description edit

The mushroom has a coral-pink cap up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, though sometimes larger, which is initially convex and later flattens and becomes a more brick-like colour with maturity. Often slimy or sticky as with other members of the genus, its cap lacks the blackish markings of the related G. glutinosus.[5] The stipe is 2.5–4.5 cm (0.98–1.77 in) high and 0.4–1 cm wide and bears an indistinct ring. It is white with a pinkish or wine-coloured tint and often flushed yellow at the base. The whitish flesh may also be tinged pink and has little taste or smell. The decurrent gills are grey, and the spore print is brownish-black.[6]

Distribution and habitat edit

An uncommon fungus, Gomphidius roseus is found in Europe, but not in North America. A similar pinkish species, G. subroseus occurs in North America.[7] G. roseus is found in Ukraine.[8] It is found in pine woods, particularly Pinus sylvestris, associated with Suillus bovinus, and is often hidden in undergrowth.[9] Fruiting bodies sprout in the autumn.[6]

Ecology edit

Like other members of the family Gomphidiaceae, Gomphidius roseus has been thought to be ectomycorrhizal, forming symbiotic relationship with their host trees. However, it is found exclusively with the related Jersey cow mushroom (Suillus bovinus), and is now thought to be parasitic upon its mycelium.[10] This is evidenced by microscopic examination, which shows that G. roseus inserts haustoria in plant root cells and does not produce significant mycelium itself. Furthermore, G. roseus is never found growing in isolation, only with S. bovinus though the latter species is found without the former.[10]

Edibility edit

Gomphidius roseus is not known to be toxic but is reported to be of poor quality and hence not recommended for picking.[6][11]

References edit

  1. ^ Dahlberg, A. (2019). "Gomphidius roseus (errata version published in 2022)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T122090530A222970232. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T122090530A222970232.en. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  2. ^ Fries, Elias Magnus (1821). Systema mycologicum, sistens fungorum ordines, genera et species huc usque cognitas [Taxonomical System for Mycology, consisting of an ordering of the fungi, genera and species, as currently understood], Vol. 1 (in Latin). p. 315.
  3. ^ Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1980). Greek-English Lexicon, Abridged Edition. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. ISBN 978-0-19-910207-5.
  4. ^ Simpson, Don P. (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 883. ISBN 978-0-304-52257-6.
  5. ^ Nilson, Sven; Persson, Ole (1977). Fungi of Northern Europe 1: Larger Fungi (Excluding Gill-Fungi). Penguin. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-14-063005-3.
  6. ^ a b c Phillips, Roger (2006). Mushrooms. Pan MacMillan. pp. 270–71. ISBN 978-0-330-44237-4.
  7. ^ Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press. p. 483. ISBN 978-0-89815-169-5.
  8. ^ Akulov, O.Yu; Pryidiuk, M.P. (2007). "] The preliminary checklist of boletoid fungi of Ukraine" (PDF). Pagine di Micologia. 27 (117–144).
  9. ^ Haas, Hans (1969). The Young Specialist looks at Fungi. Burke. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-222-79409-3.
  10. ^ a b Olsson PA, Munzenberger B, Mahmood S, Erland S (2000). "Molecular and anatomical evidence for a three-way association between Pinus sylvestris and the ectomycorrhizal fungi Suillus bovinus and Gomphidius roseus". Mycological Research. 104 (11): 1372–78. doi:10.1017/S0953756200002823.
  11. ^ Lamaison, Jean-Louis; Polese, Jean-Marie (2005). The Great Encyclopedia of Mushrooms. Könemann. p. 34. ISBN 978-3-8331-1239-3.