''Termitomyces heimii'' is a species of

agaric An agaric () is a type of fungus fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus (cap) that is clearly differentiated from the stipe (stalk), with lamellae (gills) on the underside of the pileus. In the UK, agarics are called "mushrooms ...

fungus in the family

Lyophyllaceae The Lyophyllaceae is a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. A 2008 estimate indicated eight genera and 157 species; , the Catalog of Life lists 13 genera in the family. Lyophyllaceae was circumscribed by mycologist Walter Jülich in 1981. S ...

. It has symbiotic relationship with termites. Described as new to science in 1979, it is found in India. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

''heimii'' honors French mycologist

Roger Heim Roger Heim (February 12, 1900 – September 17, 1979) was a French botanist specialising in mycology and tropical phytopathology. He was known for his studies describing the anatomy of the mushroom hymenium, the systematics and phylogeny of high ...

. 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 ...

(mushrooms) produced by the fungus are

edible An edible item is any item that is safe for humans to eat. "Edible" is differentiated from "eatable" because it does not indicate how an item tastes, only whether it is fit to be eaten. Nonpoisonous items found in nature – such as some mushroo ...

Description

Macroscopic features

The cap has a diameter of 8 to 12.5 centimeters with a smooth, silky white surface. It is gray in the middle, and turns brownish over time. It is arched convex to flat arched (plano-convex) with a distinct hump. The edge is curved. The up to 8 millimeters wide lamellae are free, white, turns pink over time with a sawn edge. Lamellettes are available. The stem is up to 19 inches long and up to 2 inches thick, white, smooth, cylindrical, not hollow with a pronounced ring . It is extended like a root (pseudorhiza).

Microscopic features

The hyphae in the pulp are interwoven, thick-walled and up to 18 micrometers wide. The top layer of the hat consists of radially arranged hyphae up to 5 micrometers thick. The basidia are club-shaped, 19.5 to 21 micrometers long and 5.5 to 7 micrometers wide and have 2 to 4 sterigms . Pleurocystidia are rare, if present they are club-shaped, 46 by 18 micrometers in size. The spores are elliptical, smooth, translucent, inamyloid, and grow to 7 to 8.4 by 4.2 to 5.6 micrometers in size. There are no buckles . The spore print is pink.

Ecology

Like other ''Termitomyces'' species, the fungus lives symbiotically in and on termite nests. It can be found on forests as well as cocoa, oil palm and rubber tree plantations, and also in gardens, orchards and pastures where termites of the genus ''Odontotermes'' occur. It grows in groups, often with more than 300 specimens, rooted in a single termite nest that can accommodate up to 40 or more mushroom chambers. The termites literally breed the mushroom, plant mushroom gardens and use it as food. The gardens are laid out in special chambers using excrement pills containing spores. The mycelium grows through the substrate (the accumulations of feces), and after a few weeks the fungus begins to form vegetative nodules that serve as food for the termites.

Distribution

''Termitomyces heimii'' is common in South Asia.

Systematics and taxonomy

''Termitomyces heimii'' was first described by K. Natarajan in 1979 . He found it on the Madras University campus . The specific epithet honors the French mycologist Roger Heim . The generic name refers to the close association of the fungus with termites.

Use as food

''Termitomyces heimii'' is considered to be one of the most sought-after wild mushrooms. It is mainly collected and sold in India, China, Malaysia and Nepal.

References

External links

* Edible fungi Fungi described in 1979 Fungi of Asia Lyophyllaceae {{Agaricales-stub