Xerocomus silwoodensis
| Xerocomus silwoodensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Boletales |
| Family: | Boletaceae |
| Genus: | Xerocomus |
| Species: | X. silwoodensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Xerocomus silwoodensis Fr. (1832) | |
Xerocomus silwoodensis is a species of fungus first described in 2007. It was first discovered by scientists on Silwood Campus, Imperial College, London as was named after this accordingly. Its discovery on a campus of a leading academic institution has been used to show how little is known about many species. Its discovery was rated as the seventh best discovery of a new species in 2008 by the International Institute for Species Exploration.[1] It has since been found at two other sites in the UK and also in France and Italy. It has therefore been asserted that it is a widespread but rare species.[2]
DNA analysis has shown it is closely related to X. subtomentosus it was probably previously overlooked due to its similar appearance. It has a strong preference in associating with Populus species whereas X. chrysonemus associates with Quercus, X. subtomentosus with broadleaved hosts and X. ferrugineus with conifers. Microscopically, the spores of X. silwoodensis resemble those of X. chrysonemus, but are different from both X. subtomentosus and X. ferrugineus.[2]
References
- ↑ Top 10 - 2008 Number 7 – New Fun Guy on Campus?
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 AF, Taylor; Hills AE, Simonini G, Muñoz JA, Eberhardt U (April 2007). "Xerocomus silwoodensis sp. nov., a new species within the European X. subtomentosus complex.". Mycological Research 111 (4): 403–408. doi:10.1016/j.mycres.2007.01.014. PMID 17512181.