''Pluteus'' is a large

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

fungi 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 ...

with over 300 species. They are wood rotting

saprobes 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 (f ...

with pink

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 and

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 ...

that are free from the

stem Stem or STEM may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...

. The Latin word ''Pluteus'' means ''shed or penthouse''.

Characteristics of the genus

Characteristics of the ''Pluteus'' genus are: #These fungi grow on wood or wood remains. #The spore powder is deep pink, soon giving a pink tint to the initially pale gills. #The gills are free from the stipe. #There is no volva or ring (exception: the rare recently reclassified North American species ''P. mammillatus'', previously ''Chamaeota sphaerospora''). #Microscopically, they often have abundant, distinctive

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 ...

. The spores are smooth and roughly egg-shaped. ''Pluteus'' is separated from ''

Volvariella ''Volvariella'' is a genus of mushrooms with deep salmon pink gills and spore prints. Description They lack a ring, and have an Amanita-like volva at the stem base. Some species of Amanita look similar, but Amanita has white spores and often h ...

'' due to the lack of a volva, and from ''

Entoloma ''Entoloma'' is a large genus of terrestrial pink-gilled mushrooms, with about 1,000 species. Most have a drab appearance, pink gills which are attached to the stem, a smooth thick cap, and angular spores. Many entolomas are saprobic but some ...

'' by growing on wood and by microscopic features (''Entolomas'' have angular spores).

Naming

The name ''Pluteus'' was established in 1837 by the founding mycologist

Elias Magnus Fries Elias Magnus Fries (15 August 1794 – 8 February 1878) was a Swedish mycologist and botanist. Career Fries was born at Femsjö (Hylte Municipality), Småland, the son of the pastor there. He attended school in Växjö. He acquired ...

at a time when agaric mushrooms were first being assigned to different genera. The Latin word "pluteus" has various meanings related to military protective structures and its signification here may be that of a shield (the shape of the cap). Etymology section of

Remarks on particular species

Some of these mushrooms are edible including ''P. petasatus'' and '' P. cervinus'', though most people rate their taste and consistency as average at best. ''Pluteus cervinus'' is the best known species in Europe and North America. Several species of this genus bruise blue and contain

psilocybin Psilocybin ( , ) is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi. The most potent are members of the genus ''Psilocybe'', such as '' P. azurescens'', '' P. semilanceata'', and '' P.&nbs ...

including ''

Pluteus brunneidiscus ''Pluteus brunneidiscus'' is a species of agaric fungus in the family Pluteaceae. It was first described scientifically by American mycologist William Alphonso Murrill in 1917. It is found in Europe (Spain) and North America. Description Pileus ...

'', ''

Pluteus salicinus ''Pluteus salicinus'' is a European psychedelic mushroom that grows on wood. It is an edible mushroom after parboiling. Taxonomy The species was originally described by Christian Hendrik Persoon as ''Agaricus salicinus'' in 1798. Paul Kummer tr ...

'', ''

Pluteus cyanopus ''Pluteus cyanopus'' is a species of agaric fungus in the family Pluteaceae. Found in Africa, Europe, and North America, its fruit bodies contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin. The species was first described scientificall ...

'', '' Pluteus glaucus'', ''

Pluteus nigroviridis ''Pluteus nigroviridis'' is a mushroom in the family Pluteaceae. Found in Europe, it was first described scientifically by Hungarian mycologist Margit Babos in 1983. Chemistry Fruit bodies of the fungus contain the psychoactive compounds psilo ...

'', ''

Pluteus phaeocyanopus ''Pluteus phaeocyanopus'' is an agaric fungus in the family Pluteaceae. Described as a new species in 2010, it has only been collected from California, where it grows singularly or in groups on the decaying wood of oak. The fruit body has a smo ...

'' and ''

Pluteus villosus ''Pluteus villosus'' is a medicinal mushroom in the Pluteaceae family. Chemistry The mushroom contains psilocybin. See also *List of Psilocybin mushrooms Psilocybin mushrooms are mushrooms which contain the hallucinogenic substances psiloc ...

''.Fungifama site
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Characteristics of the genus

Naming

Remarks on particular species

See also

References

Further reading