''Thaxterogaster argyrionus'' is a species of sequestrate (
truffle
A truffle is the fruiting body of a subterranean ascomycete fungus, predominantly one of the many species of the genus ''Tuber''. In addition to ''Tuber'', many other genera of fungi are classified as truffles including ''Geopora'', ''Peziz ...
-like) fungus in the family
Cortinariaceae.
Described as a new species in 2010, it is known only from
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
.
Taxonomy
The species was first
described scientifically by Australian mycologists Melissa Danks, Teresa Lebel, and Karl Verns in a 2010 issue of the journal ''Persoonia''. The
type
Type may refer to:
Science and technology Computing
* Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc.
* Data type, collection of values used for computations.
* File type
* TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file.
* Ty ...
collection was made in
Armidale, New South Wales in July 2008.
Molecular
A molecule is a group of two or more atoms held together by attractive forces known as chemical bonds; depending on context, the term may or may not include ions which satisfy this criterion. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, and bioche ...
analysis shows that the species groups in a
clade
A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...
with species in the
section ''Purpurascentes'' of the genus ''
Cortinarius'', along with the sequestrate ''
C. caesibulga'' and ''
C. cinereoroseolus'', and the
agarics ''
C. porphyropus'' and ''
C. purpurascens''. 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 ...
''argyrionus'' is derived from the
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...
word meaning "silvery violet", and refers to the sheen and colour of the fruit bodies.
In 2022 the species was transferred from ''Cortinarius'' and reclassified as ''Thaxterogaster argyrionus'' based on genomic data.
Description
The
fruit body
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the Ovary (plants), ovary after flowering plant, flowering.
Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their ...
of ''Thaxterogaster argyrionus'' is sequestrate, meaning that its
spore
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, f ...
s are not forcibly discharged from the
basidia, and it remains enclosed during all stages of development, including at maturity. The
caps range in shape from roughly spherical to pear-shaped or like an inverted cone, and have dimensions of by . Caps are attached to the
stipe by a cottony
partial veil that is initially violet before becoming paler in maturity. The outer skin (
pellis The term pellis refers to the cellular cortical layers of a mushroom. The term was introduced by Dutch mycologist Cornelis Bas
Dr. Cornelis (Kees) Bas (1928 – February 10, 2013) was a Dutch mycologist.
Dr. Bas was born in Rotterdam and grad ...
) is wrinkled, and coloured pale violet to silvery-grey, with a metallic sheen. The white to cream-coloured
flesh has a diameter of , and is thickest at the top of the fruit body. The internal
hymenium
The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some ...
-bearing structure (
hymenophore
A hymenophore refers to the hymenium-bearing structure of a fungal fruiting body. Hymenophores can be smooth surfaces, lamellae, folds, tubes, or teeth. The term was coined by Robert Hooke
Robert Hooke FRS (; 18 July 16353 March 1703) was ...
) is brown. A white to silvery violet stipe extends into the fruit body, often through its entire length; it measures long by thick. Fruit bodies have no distinctive taste, but possess an odour the authors describe as "strong earthy fungoid". Spores are egg-shaped, and typically measure 7.7–9 by 5–6.5
μm
The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Unit ...
. They are densely covered with nodules that extend up to 1.5 μm high. The basidia (spore-bearing cells) are club-shaped to cylindrical, four-spored, and measure 20–40 by 5–7 μm.
Habitat and distribution
The fruit bodies of ''Thaxterogaster argyrionus'' are found in the ground under
leaf litter
Plant litter (also leaf litter, tree litter, soil litter, litterfall or duff) is dead plant material (such as leaves, bark, needles, twigs, and cladodes) that have fallen to the ground. This detritus or dead organic material and its constituent ...
in low-lying hills and plains near
Mount Duval.
They occur in June and July and grow in large clusters, sometimes with the fruit bodies clumped together. Nearby vegetation associated with the fungus typically includes ''
Acacia filicifolia
''Acacia filicifolia'', commonly known as fern-leaved wattle, is a plant in the legume family, Fabaceae and is native to eastern Australia. It is a shrub or tree with compound leaves resembling fern fronds, and spherical heads of yellow or brig ...
'', ''
Eucalyptus nova-anglica
''Eucalyptus nova-anglica'', commonly known as the New England peppermint or black peppermint, is a species of small to medium-sized tree endemic to eastern Australia. It has thick, rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-sha ...
'', ''
E. stellulata'', ''
E. viminalis'', ''
Hakea microcarpa
''Hakea microcarpa '', commonly known as small-fruit hakea is a flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a spreading shrub, often growing in woodlands, heathlands and near swamps in montane areas of east ...
'', ''
H. salicifolia'' and ''
Leptospermum flavescens''.
See also
*
List of ''Cortinarius'' species
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5173310
argyrionus
Fungi described in 2010
Fungi of Australia
Taxa named by Teresa Lebel