Pluteus exilis
Pluteus exilis is a species of agaric fungus in the family Pluteaceae. It was described as new to science by mycologist Rolf Singer in 1989, from specimens collected in Muir Woods, California.[1]
| Pluteus exilis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Pluteaceae |
| Genus: | Pluteus |
| Species: | P. exilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pluteus exilis Singer (1989) | |
Description
Fruit bodies of Pluteus exilis have caps that measure 3.5–7 cm (1.4–2.8 in) in diameter. They are initially hemispherical or bell-shaped, later becoming more convex in maturity, sometime with a shallow central depression. The cap color is brownish. Gills are spaced together closely, and are free from attachment to the stipe. Initially white, they later become pink with white edges.[2]
The spore print of Pluteus exilis is pinkish-brown. Its ellipsoid to egg-shaped spores measure 7–8 by 4.5–5.5 µm. Singer additionally described the variety P. exilis var. austriacus, from collections made in oak forests in Burgenland, Austria; it has grayish-brown caps.[1] Later work showed that this taxon is the same as Pluteus cervinus.[2]
The South American species Pluteus xylophilus is similar in appearance to Pluteus exilis, but can be distinguished by its smaller spores, and greater variability in fruit body size.[1]
Habitat and distribution
Pluteus exilis is a saprophytic fungus that feeds on decaying wood. It fruits singly or in groups on the well-rotted wood of both angiosperms, including alder and tanoak, and conifers, including spruce and Douglas-fir. The fungus is found along the coast of the Pacific Northwest region of North America, from Santa Cruz County to southern British Columbia.[2]
See also
References
- Singer R. (1981). "New taxa and new combinations of Agaricales (Diagnoses fungorum novorum Agaricalium 4)". Fieldiana Botany. 21: 96.
- Justo A, Malysehva E, Bulyonkova T, Vellinga EC, Cobian G, Nguyen N, Minnis AM, Hibbett DS (2014). "Molecular phylogeny and phylogeography of Holarctic species of Pluteus section Pluteus (Agaricales: Pluteaceae), with description of twelve new species". Phytotaxa. 180 (1): 1–85. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.180.1.1.