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Barssia oregonensis is a species of ascomycete fungus in the family Helvellaceae. It is the type species of the genus Barssia, and is commonly found in Oregon, which it is named for.
| Barssia oregonensis | |
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| Barssia oregonensis being held | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Pezizomycetes |
| Order: | Pezizales |
| Family: | Helvellaceae |
| Genus: | Barssia |
| Species: | B. oregonensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Barssia oregonensis | |
Description edit
Barssia oregonensis is reddish-yellow in color and between 1 and 2.5 cm in diameter.[1][2][3] It's exterior appears lumpy and rounded in nature with less distinct warts then other truffles. The exterior folds into itself at a singular point, and the entirety of the exterior is covered in coarse hyphae. B. oregonensis' interior is translucent white and appears marbled. The interior has central channels which do not appear translucent and somewhat mimics the exterior in shape/form, not unlike the human brain, these channels penetrate the Gleba in multiple places.
Reproduction edit
Barssia oregonensis releases its fungal spores seasonally in the spring and into early summertime.[4]
Consumption edit
By Humans edit
Barssia Oregonensis is an edible species of truffle and is described as having a pleasant taste. While edible, B. Oregonensis is not often found in large enough quantities to be considered a regular delicacy even where it is most prevalent.
By Animals edit
There is evidence that B. oregonensis is seasonally consumed by other animals, such as chipmunks, within its ecosystem.[5]
History edit
Barssia oregonensis was first described by Helen Gilkey in 1925,[3] who named it in honor of Professor H. P. Barss who first collected B. oregonensis in Oregon.[6] This was then published in the Journal Mycologia, from the Mycological Society of America in December of 1925 Vol. 17 No. 6.
Ecological associations edit
Barssia oregonensis is commonly found alongside Douglas Fir trees which are considered its primary host.[7] This association is useful in truffling and the best way to locate B. oregonensis in the wild.
Location edit
As its name suggests, Barssia oregonensis is primarily found in Oregon, United States, although it is not exclusive to the area. Other areas within the United States where B. oregonensis can be found includes the Great plains region.[8]
B. Oregonensis has reportedly also been found in the Polish Tatra Mountains.[9]
References edit
- ^ "Barssia oregonensis". ascomycete.org.
- ^ Gilkey, Helen M. Tuberales of North America. Oregon State College, 1939
- ^ a b Gilkey H.M. 1925. Five new hypogaeous fungi. Mycologia, 17 (6): 250-254
- ^ Arora, David. Mushrooms Demystified. Berkeley, Ten Speed Press, 1986.
- ^ Sean M. Sultaire, Gian Maria Niccolò Benucci, Reid Longley, Andrew J. Kroll, Jake Verschuyl, Gregory Bonito, Gary J. Roloff, Using high-throughput sequencing to investigate summer truffle consumption by chipmunks in relation to retention forestry, Forest Ecology and Management, Volume 549, 2023, 121460, ISSN 0378-1127
- ^ https://www.fsl.orst.edu/mycology/Fungi-CD-09/barssia.html
- ^ https://eol.org/pages/1005236
- ^ Hawker, Lilian E. “Hypogeous Ascomycetes from Idaho.” Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society, 1968 https://dc.lib.unc.edu/cgi-bin/showfile.exe?CISOROOT=/jncas&CISOPTR=2612
- ^ Ławrynowicz, Maria; Skirgiełło, Alina (2014). "Barssia oregonensis found in the Tatra Mountains (Poland)". Acta Mycologica. 20 (2): 277–280. doi:10.5586/am.1984.023.
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