''Flammulina velutipes'' is a species of gilled mushroom in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Physalacriaceae The Physalacriaceae are a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. Species in the family have a widespread distribution, ranging from the Arctic, ('' Rhizomarasmius''), to the tropics, e.g. '' Gloiocephala'', and from marine sites ('' Mycaureola ...

. In the UK, it has been given the recommended English name of velvet shank. The species occurs in Europe and North America. Until recently ''Flammulina velutipes'' was considered to be conspecific with the Asian''

Flammulina filiformis ''Flammulina filiformis'' is a species of agaric (gilled mushroom) in the family Physalacriaceae. It is well known for its role in Japanese cuisine, where it is called ''enokitake'' (榎茸, エノキタケ, ) and is widely cultivated in East A ...

'', cultivated for food as "enokitake" or "golden needle mushroom", but DNA sequencing has shown that the two are distinct.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described from England by botanist

William Curtis William Curtis (11 January 1746 – 7 July 1799) was an English botanist and entomologist, who was born at Alton, Hampshire, site of the Curtis Museum. Curtis began as an apothecary, before turning his attention to botany and other natural his ...

in 1782 as ''Agaricus velutipes''. It was transferred to the genus ''

Flammulina ''Flammulina'' is a genus of fungi in the family Physalacriaceae. The genus, widespread in temperate regions, has been estimated to contain 10 species. List of species * '' Flammulina callistosporioides'' * '' Flammulina elastica'' * '' Flamm ...

'' by

Rolf Singer Rolf Singer (June 23, 1906 – January 18, 1994) was a Germany, German-born mycologist and one of the most important Taxonomy (biology), taxonomists of gilled mushrooms (agarics) in the 20th century. After receiving his Ph.D. at the University ...

in 1951.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q84912346 Fungi of Europe Fungi described in 1782 velutipes Fungi of North America