Gymnopilus

Gymnopilus
Gymnopilus luteofolius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Strophariaceae
Genus: Gymnopilus
P.Karst.
Diversity
c. 200 species

Gymnopilus is a genus of gilled mushrooms within the fungal family Strophariaceae containing about 200[1] rusty-orange spored mushroom species formerly divided among Pholiota and the defunct genus Flammula. The fruiting body is typically reddish brown to rusty orange to yellow, medium to large, often with a well-developed veil. Most members of Gymnopilus grow on wood but at times may appear terrestrial if the wood is buried or decomposed. Members of Pholiota and Cortinarius are easy to confuse with Gymnopilus. Pholiota can be distinguished by its viscid cap and duller (brown to cinnamon brown) spores, and Cortinarius grows on the ground. Beginners can confuse Gymnopilus with Galerina, which contains deadly poisonous species.

The Gymnopilus genus has over 200 species worldwide.[2]

The name means naked pileus.

Psychoactive species

14 members of Gymnopilus contain psilocybin,[3] although their bitter taste often deters recreational users. These species include G. aeruginosus, G. braendlei, G. cyanopalmicola,[4] G. intermedius, G. junonius, G. luteofolius, G. luteoviridis, G. luteus, G. purpuratus,[4] G. subearlei,[4] G. subpurpuratus,[4] Gymnopilus validipes and Gymnopilus viridans.[5] Subspecies of G. junonius from Japan are reported to contain psilocybin, while some western North American members are inactive.[6]

Several species of Gymnopilus contain bis-noryangonin [4-hydroxy-6-(4-hydrostyryl)-2-pyrone] and hispidine [4-hydroxy-6-(3,4-dihydroxystyryl)-2-pyrone], which are closely related to the alpha-pyrones found in kava.[7]

Phylogenetics

A 2003 phylogenetics study identified five well-supported clades within Gymnopilus:[2]

  1. the spectabilis-imperialis group
  2. nevadensis-penetrans group
  3. a clade formed by G. underwoodii, G. validipes and G. cf. flavidellus
  4. aeruginosus-luteofolius group
  5. lepidotus-subearlei group

Although the genus Gymnopilus was found to be monophyletic, the phylogenetically related groups do not support the traditional infrageneric classifications based on morphology.

References

  1. ↑ Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA. (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi. (10th ed.). Wallingford: CABI. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-85199-826-8.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Guzmán-Dávalos, Laura; Mueller, Gregory M; Cifuentes, Joaquín; Miller, Andrew N; Santerre, Anne (2003). "Traditional infrageneric classification of Gymnopilus is not supported by ribosomal DNA sequence data" (PDF). Mycologia 95 (6): 1204–14. doi:10.2307/3761920. PMID 21149021.
  3. ↑ Guzmán, Gastón; Allen, John W.; Gartz, Jochen (1998). "A worldwide geographical distribution of the neurotropic fungi, an analysis and discussion". Ann. Mus. civ. Rovereto 14: 189.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3
  5. ↑ Gymnopilus Chemistry, Entheogen review, Vol VII No. 3
  6. ↑ http://www.svims.ca/ff0608.pdf
  7. ↑ G. M. Hatfield, L. R. Brady (1969). "Occurrence of bis-noryangonin in Gymnopilus spectabilis". Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 58 (10): 1298–99. doi:10.1002/jps.2600581039. PMID 5388695.
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