''Inocybe erubescens'', also known as ''I. patouillardii'', commonly known as the deadly fibrecap, brick-red tear mushroom or red-staining Inocybe, is a poisonous

basidiomycete Basidiomycota () is one of two large divisions that, together with the Ascomycota, constitute the subkingdom Dikarya (often referred to as the "higher fungi") within the kingdom Fungi. Members are known as basidiomycetes. More specifically, Basi ...

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 th ...

, one of many in the genus ''

Inocybe ''Inocybe'' is a large genus of mushroom-forming fungi with over 1400 species, including all forms and variations. Members of ''Inocybe'' are mycorrhizal, and some evidence shows that the high degree of speciation in the genus is due to adaptatio ...

'' and one of the few known to have caused death. It is found growing in small groups on leaf litters in association with beech. All mushroom guidebooks as well as the mushroomers advise that the entire genus should be avoided. The

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 ...

(''i.e.'', the

mushrooms A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing Sporocarp (fungi), 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 na ...

) appear in spring and summer; the bell-shaped

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 Java ...

are generally pale pinkish in colour with red stains, with a reddish-pink stipe and

gill 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 ...

Taxonomy and naming

The red-staining inocybe was first described by Norwegian naturalist

Axel Gudbrand Blytt Axel Gudbrand Blytt (19 May 1843 – 18 July 1898) was a Norwegian professor, botanist and geologist. He was the author of a number of books regarding the flora of Norway. Today he is most associated with his role in developing the Blytt-Sernand ...

in 1904 as ''Inocybe erubescens''. However, it was widely known for many years as ''I. patouillardii'', as named by Italian mycologist

Giacomo Bresadola Giacomo Bresadola ( Mezzana, Trento; often given as Giacopo) 14 February 1847 – Trento 9 June 1929) was an eminent Italian mycologist. Fungi he named include the deadly '' Lepiota helveola'' and ''Inocybe patouillardii'', though the latter ...

in 1905 in honour of the French botanist

Narcisse Théophile Patouillard Narcisse Théophile Patouillard (2 July 1854 – 30 March 1926) was a French pharmacist and mycologist. He was born in Macornay, a town in the department of Jura (department), Jura. He studied in Besançon, then furthered his education at the � ...

. However, the former name takes priority due to age. A 2019 multigene phylogenetic study by Matheny and colleagues found that ''I. erubescens'' and its relatives in the subgenus ''Inosperma'' were only distantly related to the other members of the genus ''

''. ''

Inosperma ''Inosperma'' is a genus of gilled mushroom in the family Inocybaceae. Previously defined as a subgenus within the large genus ''Inocybe'' by Robert Kühner in 1980, these fungi were found to be more distantly related in a 2019 multigene phylogen ...

'' was raised to genus rank and the species became ''Inosperma erubescens''.

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 hemispherical before flattening out and can reach 8 cm (3.4 in) in diameter. It is variable in colour, initially white though becoming yellow or brownish with age, and stained with pink-white and red marks or lines. The edge of the cap is often irregular with split edges and rough texture. The adnexed

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 reddish-pink. The stipe, dark red-pink, is thin with no

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

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 muscle Skeletal muscles (commonly referred to as mu ...

is initially yellowish, later dark pink. The colour tends to fade in direct sunlight. It may be mistaken for ''

Calocybe gambosa ''Calocybe gambosa'', commonly known as St. George's mushroom, is an edible mushroom that grows mainly in fields, grass verges and roadsides. Deriving its common name from when it first appears in the UK, namely on St George's Day (23 April). I ...

'', though the latter does not stain red, ''

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 bisp ...

'' species or ''

Cortinarius caperatus ''Cortinarius caperatus'' is an edible mushroom of the genus ''Cortinarius'' found in northern regions of Europe and North America. It was known as ''Rozites caperata'' for many years before genetic studies revealed that it belonged to the ge ...

''.

Distribution and habitat

It is commonest in

beech Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...

woods and chalky soils, but grows in other broad-leaved woodland as well. It mainly grows on leaf litter usually during the spring and summer seasons. It is found in southern Europe and has been recorded from eastern

Anatolia Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...

in Turkey. In Israel, ''I. erubescens'' grows under Palestine oak (''

Quercus calliprinos ''Quercus calliprinos'' is an oak classified as part of the ''Ilex'' section of the genus growing in the Mediterranean climate zone, mainly on limestone, in mid-elevations, often dominating the flora, alongside terebinths (''Pistacia terebinthu ...

'') and pines, with mushrooms still appearing in periods of little or no rain as they are mycorrhizal.

Toxicity

''Inocybe erubescens'' contains the toxin

muscarine Muscarine, L-(+)-muscarine, or muscarin is a natural product found in certain mushrooms, particularly in ''Inocybe'' and ''Clitocybe'' species, such as the deadly '' C. dealbata''. Mushrooms in the genera ''Entoloma'' and ''Mycena'' have al ...

, in much higher doses than ''

Amanita muscaria ''Amanita muscaria'', commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a basidiomycete of the genus ''Amanita''. It is also a muscimol mushroom. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, ''Amanita muscar ...

'', and has been known to cause death.Benjamin DR. (1995). ''Mushrooms, Poisons and Panaceas: A Handbook for Naturalists, Mycologists, and Physicians''. W H Freeman & Co. One fatality was recorded in

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

in southern England in 1937. In Israel, it is confused with edible mushrooms of the genus ''

Tricholoma ''Tricholoma'' is a genus of fungus that contains many fairly fleshy white-spored gilled mushrooms which are found worldwide generally growing in woodlands. These are ectomycorrhizal fungi, existing in a symbiotic relationship with various spec ...

'', particularly ''

Tricholoma terreum ''Tricholoma terreum'', commonly known as the grey knight or dirty tricholoma, is a grey-capped mushroom of the large genus ''Tricholoma''. It is found in coniferous woodlands in Europe, and has also been encountered under introduced pine trees ...

'', and ''

Suillus granulatus ''Suillus granulatus'' is a pored mushroom of the genus ''Suillus'' in the family Suillaceae. It is similar to the related '' S. luteus'', but can be distinguished by its ringless stalk. Like ''S. luteus'', it is an edible mushroom ...

'', all of which grow in similar habitat.

References

*
Toxicity, Mushrooms - Muscarine

External links