''Agaricus hondensis'', commonly known as the felt-ringed agaricus, is a species of
fungus
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from t ...
in the family
Agaricaceae
The Agaricaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi and include the genus ''Agaricus'', as well as basidiomycetes previously classified in the families Tulostomataceae, Lepiotaceae, and Lycoperdaceae.
Taxonomy
The family Agaricaceae was publishe ...
. The species was officially described in 1912 by mycologist
William Alphonso Murrill
William Alphonso Murrill (October 13, 1869 – December 25, 1957) was an American mycologist, known for his contributions to the knowledge of the Agaricales and Polyporaceae. In 1904, he became the assistant Curator at the New York Botanical ...
, along with three other ''
Agaricus
''Agaricus'' is a genus of mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species, with over 400 members worldwide and possibly again as many disputed or newly-discovered species. The genus includes the common ("button") mushroom ('' Agaricus bi ...
'' species that have since been placed in
synonymy
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
with ''A. hondensis''. Found in the
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Tho ...
region of North America, ''A. hondensis'' fruits in the fall under
conifers or in
mixed forest
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest is a temperate climate terrestrial habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature, with broadleaf tree ecoregions, and with conifer and broadleaf tree mixed coniferous forest ecoregions.
These fo ...
s.
The fungus produces
fruit bodies
The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cyc ...
(
mushroom
A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans.
The standard for the name "mushroom" is ...
s) with white to gray-brown
caps
Caps are flat headgear.
Caps or CAPS may also refer to:
Science and technology Computing
* CESG Assisted Products Service, provided by the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters
* Composite Application Platform Suite, by Java Caps, a Ja ...
up to in diameter covered with pale pinkish-brown scales that darken in age. The tightly-packed
gills
A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
on the cap underside are initially white before becoming pinkish,
lilac-gray, and finally brownish as the
spores mature. The stout
stipe is bulbous and has a thick, white, felt-like
ring
Ring may refer to:
* Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry
* To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell
:(hence) to initiate a telephone connection
Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...
. The mushroom is
poisonous
Poison is a chemical substance that has a detrimental effect to life. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broa ...
, and causes severe gastrointestinal upset if consumed. It has an unpleasant odor similar to
phenol
Phenol (also called carbolic acid) is an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a white crystalline solid that is volatile. The molecule consists of a phenyl group () bonded to a hydroxy group (). Mildly acidic, it ...
or
creosote
Creosote is a category of carbonaceous chemicals formed by the distillation of various tars and pyrolysis of plant-derived material, such as wood or fossil fuel. They are typically used as preservatives or antiseptics.
Some creosote types were ...
, and develops a soapy-metallic taste when cooked. ''Agaricus hondensis'' can be distinguished from similar ''Agaricus'' species by differences in geographic range, habitat, staining reaction, and odor.
Systematics
The species was first
described as new to science by American mycologist
William Alphonso Murrill
William Alphonso Murrill (October 13, 1869 – December 25, 1957) was an American mycologist, known for his contributions to the knowledge of the Agaricales and Polyporaceae. In 1904, he became the assistant Curator at the New York Botanical ...
in 1912, based on collections he made in November, 1911 under Californian
redwoods
Sequoioideae, popularly known as redwoods, is a subfamily of coniferous trees within the family Cupressaceae. It includes the largest and tallest trees in the world.
Description
The three redwood subfamily genera are '' Sequoia'' from co ...
. In the same publication, Murrill also described the species ''Agaricus bivelatoides'', ''A. hillii'', and ''A. macmurphyi'', all from the
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Tho ...
region of North America. The latter two were named to honor their original collectors, Albert Hill and
James Ira Wilson McMurphy
James is a common English language surname and given name:
*James (name), the typically masculine first name James
* James (surname), various people with the last name James
James or James City may also refer to:
People
* King James (disambiguati ...
, respectively, while the former was named for its resemblance to ''
A. bivelatus''.
In 1944,
Alexander H. Smith
Alexander Hanchett Smith (December 12, 1904 – December 12, 1986) was an American mycologist known for his extensive contributions to the taxonomy and phylogeny of the higher fungi, especially the agarics.
Early life
Smith, born in Crandon, Wi ...
examined the type material of several of Murrill's species, and concluded that were no
characters
Character or Characters may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''Character'' (novel), a 1936 Dutch novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk
* ''Characters'' (Theophrastus), a classical Greek set of character sketches attributed to The ...
to separate ''A. hondensis'' from ''A. bivelatoides'', ''A. hillii'', or ''A. macmurphyi''. He also determined that
Sanford Myron Zeller
Sanford Myron Zeller (19 October 1885 – 4 November 1948) was an American mycologist.
Born in Coldwater, Michigan, Zeller was educated at Lawrence College in Wisconsin, then Greenville College in Illinois, from which he received a Bachelor of S ...
's ''A. glaber'', published as new in 1938,
was also the same species as ''A. hondensis''.
The nomenclatural database
MycoBank
MycoBank is an online database, documenting new mycological names and combinations, eventually combined with descriptions and illustrations. It is run by the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute in Utrecht.
Each novelty, after being screened ...
considers these names
synonymous.
The
epithet ''hondensis'' refers to the
type location,
La Honda, California
La Honda ( Spanish for "The Sling") is a census-designated place (CDP) in southern San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 979 at the 2020 census. It is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains between the Santa Clara Valley a ...
.
The mushroom is
commonly known as the "felt-ringed agaricus".
''Agaricus hondensis'' has traditionally been
classified in the
section
Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea
* Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents
** Section sig ...
''Xanthodermatei'', a grouping of ''Agaricus'' species related to ''
A. xanthodermus'' that are characterized by fruit bodies with
phenol
Phenol (also called carbolic acid) is an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula . It is a white crystalline solid that is volatile. The molecule consists of a phenyl group () bonded to a hydroxy group (). Mildly acidic, it ...
ic odors, temporary yellowing discolorations in some parts of the fruit body, a negative
Schaeffer’s reaction, and
toxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subs ...
. A
molecular analysis has shown that it, along with the related species ''
A. freirei'' and ''
A. phaeolepidotus'', comprise a
basal lineage in a
clade of related
sylvan
Sylvan or Sylvans (from the Latin ''silva'': "forest, woods") may refer to:
Places
United States
* Sylvan, Illinois, a former settlement
* Sylvan, Wisconsin, a town
** Sylvan (community), Wisconsin, an unincorporated area in the town
* Sylvan ...
species that have weak yellowing reactions and some tendencies toward reddish bruising reactions. This lineage is closely related to a group of ''Agaricus'' species that are typically placed in the section ''Sanguinolenti''. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that these three species belong to a clade that
diverged shortly after the presumed split of the sections ''Xanthodermatei'' and ''Duploannulati''.
Description
The
cap
A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...
is initially convex before flattening out, and reaches a diameter of . The dry and smooth cap surface is whitish or has pale pinkish-brown to pinkish-gray to
fawn
Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the reindee ...
-colored flattened fibrils or fine
fibrillose scales (at least in the center). In maturity, the fibrils usually darken to brown, reddish-brown, or reddish-gray, but in one northern form the fibrils are darker brown from the beginning. The
flesh
Flesh is any aggregation of soft tissues of an organism. Various multicellular organisms have soft tissues that may be called "flesh". In mammals, including humans, ''flesh'' encompasses muscles, fats and other loose connective tissues, but ...
is thick and white. When bruised or injured, the flesh either does not change color, or may stain pale yellowish, then often slowly discolors pinkish. The odor of the crushed flesh is mild or faintly phenolic, but is usually distinctly phenolic in the base of the stipe.
The
gills
A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
are initially pale pinkish to pinkish-gray before becoming brown, then chocolate-brown or darker when the
spores
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, ...
mature. In maturity, the gills are free from attachment to the stipe, and are packed close together with little intervening spaced between them. The
stipe is long, and thick but with a thicker or bulbous base.
Firm, smooth, and lacking the scales found on the cap, the stipe is white but discolors dingy pinkish or brownish in age or after handling. The flesh in the extreme base usually stains pale yellowish when bruised. The
partial veil
In mycology, a partial veil (also called an inner veil, to differentiate it from the "outer", or universal veil) is a temporary structure of tissue found on the fruiting bodies of some basidiomycete fungi, typically agarics. Its role is to isola ...
is membranous, white, and forms a thick, felt-like
ring
Ring may refer to:
* Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry
* To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell
:(hence) to initiate a telephone connection
Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...
on the upper portion of the stipe. The ring is skirtlike but often flares outward instead of collapsing against the stipe.
A drop of dilute
potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula K OH, and is commonly called caustic potash.
Along with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), KOH is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications, most of which exp ...
placed on the cap turns yellow.
Spore print
300px, Making a spore print of the mushroom ''Volvariella volvacea'' shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print. A 3.5-centimeter ...
s are purplish brown to chocolate brown. The smooth, thick-walled spores are broadly
ellipsoidal, and typically measure 5.8–7.3 by 3.7–4.4
μm. The
basidia
A basidium () is a microscopic sporangium (a spore-producing structure) found on the hymenophore of fruiting bodies of basidiomycete fungi which are also called tertiary mycelium, developed from secondary mycelium. Tertiary mycelium is highly- ...
(spore-bearing cells) are four-spored, club-shaped,
hyaline (translucent, and measure 20–21.3 by 5.8–7.0 μm.
Cystidia
A cystidium (plural cystidia) is a relatively large cell found on the sporocarp of a basidiomycete (for example, on the surface of a mushroom gill), often between clusters of basidia. Since cystidia have highly varied and distinct shapes that ar ...
on the gill edge (cheilocystidia) are sac-shaped to club-shaped, hyaline to pale yellowish brown in color, and have dimensions of 18.3–25.6 by 7.3–11.0 μm; there are no cystidia on the gill face (pleurocystidia).
Similar species
Distinctive field characteristics of ''Agaricus hondensis'' include its woodland habitat, the yellow staining reaction with KOH, and its odor.
''Agaricus freirei'' closely resembles ''A. hondensis'', and, based on similarities in
DNA sequences, is a close relative.
''A. freirei'' is found in coastal regions of Spain.
''A. hondensis'' has also been confused with ''
A. silvaticus'' and ''
A. placomyces''.
''A. sylvaticus'' does not have foul-smelling flesh, and has a negative KOH reaction.
''A. placomyces'' is found from the midwestern United States eastward.
Another lookalike, the edible ''
A. subrutilescens'', has similar overall coloration, but is distinguished from ''A. hondensis'' by a mild odor, a shaggy stipe, and a less substantial ring.
''
A. moelleri'' is also similar.
Habitat and distribution
A
saprobic
Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi ( ...
species,
the fruit bodies of ''Agaricus hondensis'' grow scattered or in groups under
conifers or in
mixed forest
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest is a temperate climate terrestrial habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature, with broadleaf tree ecoregions, and with conifer and broadleaf tree mixed coniferous forest ecoregions.
These fo ...
s.
They have also been reported to grow in
fairy ring
A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle, elf ring or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. They are found mainly in forested areas, but also appear in grasslands or rangelands. Fairy rings are detectable by ...
s.
The fungus is found in the
Pacific Coast of North America, from
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
in Canada south to
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
,
but is most common in California.
The mushroom fruits in the fall from September to October throughout much of its range, but in California the fruiting season tends to be from November to February.
Toxicity
''Agaricus hondensis'' mushrooms are
toxic
Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subs ...
, and consuming the fruit bodies causes
gastroenteritis.
Some fruit bodies smell of
creosote
Creosote is a category of carbonaceous chemicals formed by the distillation of various tars and pyrolysis of plant-derived material, such as wood or fossil fuel. They are typically used as preservatives or antiseptics.
Some creosote types were ...
, an odor that becomes even more prevalent if the mushrooms are cooked. Cooking also introduces an unpleasant soapy-metallic flavor.
The fruit bodies are used as food by the
vagrant shrew
The vagrant shrew (''Sorex vagrans''), also known as the wandering shrew, is a medium-sized North American shrew. At one time, the montane shrew and the Orizaba long-tailed shrew were considered to belong to the same species.
Range and habitat
...
(''Sorex vagrans'') and the
American shrew mole
The American shrew mole (''Neurotrichus gibbsii'') is the smallest species of mole. It is the only living member of the genus ''Neurotrichus'' and the tribe Neurotrichini. It is also known as Gibb's shrew mole and least shrew mole. It is not c ...
(''Neurotrichus gibbsii'').
Relatively high levels of the chemical
hydroquinone
Hydroquinone, also known as benzene-1,4-diol or quinol, is an aromatic organic compound that is a type of phenol, a derivative of benzene, having the chemical formula C6H4(OH)2. It has two hydroxyl groups bonded to a benzene ring in a ''para' ...
are present in fruit bodies.
See also
*
List of ''Agaricus'' species
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4691340
hondensis
Fungi described in 1912
Fungi found in fairy rings
Fungi of Canada
Fungi of California
Poisonous fungi
Taxa named by William Alphonso Murrill