Stropharia

The genus ''Stropharia'' (sometimes known by the common name roundheads) is a group of medium to large agarics with a distinct membranous ring on the stipe. Well-known members of this genus include the edible ''Stropharia rugosoannulata'' and the blue-green verdigris agarics ('' Stropharia aeruginosa'' and allies). ''Stropharia'' are not generally regarded as good to eat and there are doubts over the edibility of several species. However the species ''Stropharia rugosoannulata'' is regarded as prized and delicious when young, and is now the premier mushroom for outdoor bed culture by mycophiles in temperate climates.

Taxonomy

The scientific name is derived from the Greek 'στροφος/strophos' meaning "belt", in reference to the annulus present on the stipe. Spore print color is generally medium to dark purple-brown with white edge at maturity, except for a few species that have rusty-brown spores. There is a great deal of variation, however, since this group as presently delimited is polyphyletic. Members of the core clade of ''Stropharia'' are characterized by crystalline acanthocytes among the hyphae of the mycelium and that make up the rhizoids at the base of the mushroom, and in one species, '' Stropharia acanthocystis'', also occur in the hymenium.

Description

Recent molecular work shows the core group of the genus most closely related to '' Hypholoma'' and ''Pholiota''. Other such as '' S. semiglobata'' are more distantly related. ''Stropharia'' had been divided into 'sections' by Rolf Singer among others, although some 'sections' were only informally named. Phylogenetically, some 'sections' have now been classified as separate genera by some authors for species lacking acanthocytes. Two examples of the reclassification of sections into genera are: '' Leratiomyces'' in 2008 in part replacing Section ''Stropholoma'' and ''Protostropharia'' in 2013 in part replacing section ''Stercophila''.

The psychedelic mushroom formerly known as ''Stropharia cubensis'' was reclassified into the genus ''Psilocybe'' by mycologist Rolf Singer and subsequently this classification was supported by modern phylogenetic analyses based upon DNA sequence comparison. It bears a superficial resemblance to ''Stropharia'' with its relatively large size, well-developed annulus, and dark spores, hence in some references it is referred to as '' Psilocybe cubensis'',O. T. Oss, O. N. Oeric
''Psilocybin: magic mushroom grower's guide: a handbook for psilocybin Enthusiasts''
Quick American Archives, 2nd ed. (1993), however, it is simply a large-size example of the bluing ''Psilocybe'' and hence is not a close relative of ''Stropharia''.

Species

*'' Stropharia acanthocystis''
*'' Stropharia aeruginosa''
*'' Stropharia agaricoides''
*'' Stropharia agrocyboides''
*'' Stropharia albivelata''
*'' Stropharia albonitens''
*'' Stropharia albosulphurea''
*'' Stropharia ambigua''
*'' Stropharia araucariae''
*'' Stropharia aurantiaca''
* '' Stropharia caerulea''
*'' Stropharia chrysocystidia'' – China
*'' Stropharia cifuentesii'' – Mexico
*'' Stropharia coronilla''
*'' Stropharia farlowiana''
*'' Stropharia formosa''
*'' Stropharia halophila''
* '' Stropharia hornemannii''
*'' Stropharia inuncta''
*'' Stropharia kauffmanii''
*'' Stropharia lepiotiformis''
*'' Stropharia luteonitens''
*'' Stropharia mammillata''
*'' Stropharia melanosperma''
*'' Stropharia pseudocyanea''
*'' Stropharia rubrobrunnea'' – Western Ghats, India
* ''Stropharia rugosoannulata''
*'' Stropharia squamulosa''
*'' Stropharia variicolor''
*'' Stropharia venusta''

Gallery

Image:Docs019.jpg, '' Stropharia aeruginosa''
Image:Stropharia ambigua 4.JPG , '' Stropharia ambigua''
File:Stropharia inuncta 77505.jpg , '' Stropharia inuncta''
File:2011-05-19 Stropharia rugosoannulata Farl. ex Murrill 183478.jpg , ''Stropharia rugosoannulata''

Legal status

United States

Louisiana

Except for ornamental purposes, growing, selling or possessing ''Stropharia'' spp. is prohibited by Louisiana State Act 159.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1634915

Strophariaceae