Gomphidius roseus
Encyclopedia
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
.
mycologist Elias Magnus Fries
as Agaricus glutinosus ß roseus in 1821, 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". The specific epithet roseus is the Latin
adjective "pink".
up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, though sometimes larger, which is initially convex and later flattening and becoming a more brick 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
. The stipe
is 2.5–4.5 cm (1–1.6 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.
. A similar pinkish species, G. subroseus occurs in North America. It is found in pine woods, particularly Pinus sylvestris, associated with Suillus bovinus
, and is often hidden in undergrowth. Fruiting bodies sprout in the autumn.
.
but is reported to be of poor quality and hence not recommended for picking.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Although it has gills, it is a member of the order Boletales
Boletales
The Boletales are an order of Agaricomycetes, containing over 1300 species with a diverse array of fruiting body types. The boletes are the best known members of this group, and until recently, the Boletales were thought to only contain boletes...
, 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
Suillus bovinus
Suillus bovinus, also known as the Jersey cow mushroom, is a pored mushroom of the genus Suillus in the Suillaceae family. It is an edible mushroom that often grows in a symbiosis with pine.-Description:...
, on which it appears to be parasitic
Parasitism
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Traditionally parasite referred to organisms with lifestages that needed more than one host . These are now called macroparasites...
.
Taxonomy
Gomphidius roseus was initially described by SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
mycologist Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
as Agaricus glutinosus ß roseus in 1821, 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
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
'γομφος' gomphos meaning "plug" or "large wedge-shaped nail". The specific epithet roseus is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
adjective "pink".
Description
The mushroom has a coral-pink capPileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, though sometimes larger, which is initially convex and later flattening and becoming a more brick 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
Gomphidius glutinosus
Gomphidius glutinosus, commonly known as the slimy spike-cap, is a gilled mushroom found in Europe. Although it has gills, it is a member of the order Boletales, along with the boletes. The fruiting bodies sprout in pine, fir and spruce woodland in Europe in autumn...
. The stipe
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
is 2.5–4.5 cm (1–1.6 in) high and 0.4–1 cm wide and bears an indistinct ring
Annulus (mycology)
An annulus is the ring like structure sometimes found on the stipe of some species of mushrooms. The annulus represents the remaining part of the partial veil, after it has ruptured to expose the gills or other spore-producing surface. An annulus may be thick and membranous, or it may be cobweb-like...
. 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
Spore print
thumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
is brownish-black.
Distribution and habitat
An uncommon fungus, Gomphidius roseus is found in Europe, but not in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. A similar pinkish species, G. subroseus occurs in North America. It is found in pine woods, particularly Pinus sylvestris, associated with Suillus bovinus
Suillus bovinus
Suillus bovinus, also known as the Jersey cow mushroom, is a pored mushroom of the genus Suillus in the Suillaceae family. It is an edible mushroom that often grows in a symbiosis with pine.-Description:...
, and is often hidden in undergrowth. Fruiting bodies sprout in the autumn.
Ecology
Like other members of the family Gomphidiaceae, Gomphidius roseus has been thought to be ectomycorrhizal, forming symbiotic relationship with their host trees. However, there is now evidence that many (and perhaps all) species in this group are parasitic upon ectomycorrhizal boletes, in relationships that are often highly species-specific, in this case Suillus bovinusSuillus bovinus
Suillus bovinus, also known as the Jersey cow mushroom, is a pored mushroom of the genus Suillus in the Suillaceae family. It is an edible mushroom that often grows in a symbiosis with pine.-Description:...
.
Edibility
Gomphidius roseus is not known to be toxicToxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
but is reported to be of poor quality and hence not recommended for picking.