Marasmius sasicola
Encyclopedia
Marasmius sasicola is a species of Marasmiaceae
fungus known from Kanagawa Prefecture
, Japan. First collected in 2000, it was described
in 2002 by Haruki Takahashi. The species produces small mushrooms with white caps
and very short, very thin black stems
. Unlike in other, similar species, the stems enter the plant matter on which the mushroom grows. The six to eight white gills are spread out around the cap, and all of them reach the stem. The flesh
has no taste or odour. Found in June, the species grows on dead Sasa
leaves, from which it takes its specific epithet.
by Haruki Takahashi (2002) in an article in Mycoscience
, based on specimens collected from Ikuta Ryokuchi Park, Kawasaki
, Kanagawa Prefecture
, Japan in 2000 and 2001. The specific name sasicola refers to the fact the species grows upon the leaves of Sasa
species. The Japanese common name
for the species is Sasa-no-houraitake. Within the genus Mycena
, it probably belongs to the section
Marasmius, and the subsection Penicillati, due to characters of the stem
, gills and pileipellis
(the outer-most layer of the cap
).
measures between 2 and 3 mm (0.078740157480315 and 0.118110236220472 in) in length by 0.3 to 0.4 mm (0.0118110236220472 to 0.015748031496063 in) thick. It connects to the centre of the cap, and is a dark brown to black colour. Mycelial cord
s cannot be seen at the base of the stem, which anchors itself into the substrate
. The white gills can be adnexed (attaching to the stem by only part of their depth) to adnate (attaching by their full depth). They are not at all crowded, with between 6 and 8 separate gills, all of which reach the stem. Each gill is up to 2 mm (0.078740157480315 in) broad, though it is thinner at the edge. The mushrooms have a very thin layer of whitish flesh
up to 0.4 mm (0.015748031496063 in) thick. The tough but flexible flesh lacks any odour or taste.
s (μm). The spores have no ornamentation, are not amyloid
and have thin cell wall
s. In his examinations, Takahashi did not observe any basidia, but he did describe the club-shaped basidioles (immature basidia) which measured from 18 to 26 by 6 to 10 μm. The tightly packed cheilocystidia (cystidia on the edge of the gill) form a sterile edge to the gill, and there are no pleurocystidia (cystidia on the face of the gill). The pileipellis
, the top layer of the cap, forms a hymeniderm, a cell structure reminiscent of the hymenium
on the gills. This is made up of club-shaped cells measuring between 2 and 8 by 7 to 10 μm, with reddish-brown, smooth cell walls up to 1 μm thick. The stipitipellis, the outermost layer of the stem, is made up of cylindrical hyphae measuring from 3 to 6 μm in width, which run parallel to one another. They have featureless brown cell walls measuring up to 1 μm thick, and the septa (the walls separating individual cells) have clamp connection
s.
The flesh in the cap is made up of irregularly arranged cylindrical hyphae from 5 to 15 μm wide. They stain a dark reddish-brown in Melzer's reagent
or Lugol's solution. The flesh in the stem is made up of hyphae which run down the stem and measure 4 to 11 μm in thickness. The smooth cell walls are colorless, but again stain a dark reddish-brown in Melzer's reagent or Lugol's solution. The septa have clamp connections.
, Japan, and can be found in June. Mushrooms grow in large numbers close together, and grow from dead leaves of Sasa
(grass bamboo) which have fallen.
Marasmiaceae
The Marasmiaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi which have white spores. They mostly have a tough stem and the capability of shrivelling up during a dry period and later recovering. The widely consumed edible fungus Lentinula edodes, the Shiitake mushroom, is a member of this family...
fungus known from Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, Japan. First collected in 2000, it was described
Species description
A species description or type description is a formal description of a newly discovered species, usually in the form of a scientific paper. Its purpose is to give a clear description of a new species of organism and explain how it differs from species which have been described previously, or are...
in 2002 by Haruki Takahashi. The species produces small mushrooms with white caps
Pileus (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...
and very short, very thin black stems
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...
. Unlike in other, similar species, the stems enter the plant matter on which the mushroom grows. The six to eight white gills are spread out around the cap, and all of them reach the stem. The flesh
Trama (mycology)
In mycology trama is a term for the inner, fleshy portion of a mushroom's basidiocarp, or fruit body. It is distinct from the outer layer of tissue, known as the pileipellis or cuticle, and from the spore-bearing tissue layer known as the hymenium....
has no taste or odour. Found in June, the species grows on dead Sasa
Sasa (genus)
Sasa is a genus of running bamboo. These species have at most one branch per node....
leaves, from which it takes its specific epithet.
Taxonomy and naming
Marasmius sasicola was first describedSpecies description
A species description or type description is a formal description of a newly discovered species, usually in the form of a scientific paper. Its purpose is to give a clear description of a new species of organism and explain how it differs from species which have been described previously, or are...
by Haruki Takahashi (2002) in an article in Mycoscience
Mycoscience
Mycoscience is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering all aspects of basic and applied research on fungi, including lichens, yeasts, oomycetes, and slime moulds...
, based on specimens collected from Ikuta Ryokuchi Park, Kawasaki
Kawasaki, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. It is the 9th most populated city in Japan and one of the main cities forming the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area....
, Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, Japan in 2000 and 2001. The specific name sasicola refers to the fact the species grows upon the leaves of Sasa
Sasa (genus)
Sasa is a genus of running bamboo. These species have at most one branch per node....
species. The Japanese common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
for the species is Sasa-no-houraitake. Within the genus Mycena
Mycena
Mycena is a large genus of small saprotrophic mushrooms that are rarely more than a few centimeters in width. They are characterized by a white spore print, a small conical or bell-shaped cap, and a thin fragile stem. Most are gray or brown, but a few species have brighter colors. Most have a...
, it probably belongs to the section
Section (botany)
In botany, a section is a taxonomic rank below the genus, but above the species. The subgenus, if present, is higher than the section, and the rank of series, if present, is below the section. Sections are typically used to help organise very large genera, which may have hundreds of species...
Marasmius, and the subsection Penicillati, due to characters of the stem
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...
, gills and pileipellis
Pileipellis
thumb|300px||right|The cuticle of some mushrooms, such as [[Russula mustelina]] shown here, can be peeled from the cap, and may be useful as an identification feature....
(the outer-most layer of the cap
Pileus (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...
).
Description
Marasmius sasicola produces mushrooms that have convex caps from 5 to 10 mm (0.196850393700787 to 0.393700787401575 in) in diameter featuring folds or striations. The caps do not expand or flatten with age, and are dry and dull. The cap surface is covered in tiny grains which vanish as the mushrooms age. The caps of young mushrooms are coloured light brown, but paler at the cap margin; as they mature, the caps become paler, approaching white when fully matured. The very thin, smooth stemStipe (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...
measures between 2 and 3 mm (0.078740157480315 and 0.118110236220472 in) in length by 0.3 to 0.4 mm (0.0118110236220472 to 0.015748031496063 in) thick. It connects to the centre of the cap, and is a dark brown to black colour. Mycelial cord
Mycelial cord
Mycelial cords are linear aggregations of parallel-oriented hyphae. The mature cords are composed of wide, empty vessel hyphae surrounded by narrower sheathing hyphae...
s cannot be seen at the base of the stem, which anchors itself into the substrate
Substrate (biology)
In biology a substrate is the surface a plant or animal lives upon and grows on. A substrate can include biotic or abiotic materials and animals. For example, encrusting algae that lives on a rock can be substrate for another animal that lives on top of the algae. See also substrate .-External...
. The white gills can be adnexed (attaching to the stem by only part of their depth) to adnate (attaching by their full depth). They are not at all crowded, with between 6 and 8 separate gills, all of which reach the stem. Each gill is up to 2 mm (0.078740157480315 in) broad, though it is thinner at the edge. The mushrooms have a very thin layer of whitish flesh
Trama (mycology)
In mycology trama is a term for the inner, fleshy portion of a mushroom's basidiocarp, or fruit body. It is distinct from the outer layer of tissue, known as the pileipellis or cuticle, and from the spore-bearing tissue layer known as the hymenium....
up to 0.4 mm (0.015748031496063 in) thick. The tough but flexible flesh lacks any odour or taste.
Microscopic characteristics
Marasmius sasicola produces colourless, ellipsoid basidiospores of between 8 and 10 by 4 to 6 micrometreMicrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
s (μm). The spores have no ornamentation, are not amyloid
Amyloid (mycology)
In mycology the term amyloid refers to a crude chemical test using iodine in either Melzer's reagent or Lugol's solution, to produce a black to blue-black positive reaction. It is called amyloid because starch gives a similar reaction, and that reaction for starch is also called an amyloid reaction...
and have thin cell wall
Cell wall
The cell wall is the tough, usually flexible but sometimes fairly rigid layer that surrounds some types of cells. It is located outside the cell membrane and provides these cells with structural support and protection, and also acts as a filtering mechanism. A major function of the cell wall is to...
s. In his examinations, Takahashi did not observe any basidia, but he did describe the club-shaped basidioles (immature basidia) which measured from 18 to 26 by 6 to 10 μm. The tightly packed cheilocystidia (cystidia on the edge of the gill) form a sterile edge to the gill, and there are no pleurocystidia (cystidia on the face of the gill). The pileipellis
Pileipellis
thumb|300px||right|The cuticle of some mushrooms, such as [[Russula mustelina]] shown here, can be peeled from the cap, and may be useful as an identification feature....
, the top layer of the cap, forms a hymeniderm, a cell structure reminiscent of the hymenium
Hymenium
The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some cells develop into sterile cells called cystidia or...
on the gills. This is made up of club-shaped cells measuring between 2 and 8 by 7 to 10 μm, with reddish-brown, smooth cell walls up to 1 μm thick. The stipitipellis, the outermost layer of the stem, is made up of cylindrical hyphae measuring from 3 to 6 μm in width, which run parallel to one another. They have featureless brown cell walls measuring up to 1 μm thick, and the septa (the walls separating individual cells) have clamp connection
Clamp connection
A clamp connection is a structure formed by growing hyphal cells of certain fungi. It is created to ensure each septum, or segment of hypha separated by crossed walls, receives a set of differing nuclei, which are obtained through mating of hyphae of differing sexual types...
s.
The flesh in the cap is made up of irregularly arranged cylindrical hyphae from 5 to 15 μm wide. They stain a dark reddish-brown in Melzer's reagent
Melzer's Reagent
Melzer's reagent is a chemical reagent used by mycologists to assist with the identification of fungi.-Composition:...
or Lugol's solution. The flesh in the stem is made up of hyphae which run down the stem and measure 4 to 11 μm in thickness. The smooth cell walls are colorless, but again stain a dark reddish-brown in Melzer's reagent or Lugol's solution. The septa have clamp connections.
Similar species
Marasmius subconiatus, known from Sri Lanka and Indonesia, is somewhat similar to M. sasicola. It can be differentiated as its stem does not enter the substrate, and the gills differ. In M. subconiatus, the gills are orange, and sport cheilocystidia which are pale yellow.Habitat and distribution
Marasmius sasicola is known from the lowland forests of Kanagawa PrefectureKanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, Japan, and can be found in June. Mushrooms grow in large numbers close together, and grow from dead leaves of Sasa
Sasa (genus)
Sasa is a genus of running bamboo. These species have at most one branch per node....
(grass bamboo) which have fallen.
External links
- Agaricales of Southwestern Japan Images of holotypeHolotypeA holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
specimen