Gomphidius roseus

Gomphidius roseus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Boletales
Family:	Gomphidiaceae
Genus:	Gomphidius
Species:	G. roseus
Binomial name
Gomphidius roseus (Pers.) Roussel (1898)

Gomphidius roseus
Mycological characteristics
	gills on hymenium
	cap is flat or convex
	hymenium is decurrent
	stipe has a ring
	spore print is blackish-brown
	ecology is mycorrhizal
	edibility: edible

Gomphidius roseus, commonly known as the rosy spike-cap or pink gomphidius, is a gilled mushroom found in Europe. Although it has gills, it is a member of the order Boletales, along with the boletes. It is a coral pink-capped mushroom which appears in pine forests in autumn, always near the related mushroom Suillus bovinus, on which it appears to be parasitic.

Taxonomy

Gomphidius roseus was initially described by Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries as Agaricus glutinosus β roseus in 1821,^[1] before he elevated it to species status and gave its current genus and binomial name in 1838. The genus name is derived from the Greek 'γομφος' gomphos meaning "plug" or "large wedge-shaped nail".^[2] The specific epithet roseus is the Latin adjective "pink".^[3]

Description

The mushroom has a coral-pink cap up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, though sometimes larger, which is initially convex and later flattening and becoming a more brick colour with maturity. Often slimy or sticky as with other members of the genus, its cap lacks the blackish markings of the related G. glutinosus.^[4] The stipe is 2.5–4.5 cm (1–1.6 in) high and 0.4–1 cm wide and bears an indistinct ring. It is white with a pinkish or wine-coloured tint and often flushed yellow at the base. The whitish flesh may also be tinged pink and has little taste or smell. The decurrent gills are grey, and the spore print is brownish-black.^[5]

Distribution and habitat

An uncommon fungus, Gomphidius roseus is found in Europe, but not in North America. A similar pinkish species, G. subroseus occurs in North America.^[6] It is found in pine woods, particularly Pinus sylvestris, associated with Suillus bovinus, and is often hidden in undergrowth.^[7] Fruiting bodies sprout in the autumn.^[5]

Ecology

Like other members of the family Gomphidiaceae, Gomphidius roseus has been thought to be ectomycorrhizal, forming symbiotic relationship with their host trees.^[8] However, there is now evidence that many (and perhaps all) species in this group are parasitic upon ectomycorrhizal boletes, in relationships that are often highly species-specific, in this case Suillus bovinus.^[8]

Edibility

Gomphidius roseus is not known to be toxic but is reported to be of poor quality and hence not recommended for picking.^[5][9]

References

1. (Latin) Fries, Elias Magnus (1821). Systema mycologicum, sistens fungorum ordines, genera et species huc usque cognitas [Taxonomical System for Mycology, consisting of an ordering of the fungi, genera and species, as currently understood], Vol. 1. p. 315.
2. Liddell HJ, Scott R (1980). Greek-English Lexicon, Abridged Edition. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. ISBN 0-19-910207-4.
3. Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 883. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
4. Nilson S & Persson O (1977). Fungi of Northern Europe 1: Larger Fungi (Excluding Gill-Fungi). Penguin. p. 112. ISBN 0-14-063005-8.
5. Roger Phillips (2006). Mushrooms. Pan MacMillan. pp. 270–71. ISBN 0-330-44237-6.
6. David Arora (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press. p. 483. ISBN 0-89815-169-4.
7. Haas, Hans (1969). The Young Specialist looks at Fungi. Burke. p. 52. ISBN 0-222-79409-7.
8. Olsson PA, et al. (2000). Molecular and anatomical evidence for a three-way association between Pinus sylvestris and the ectomycorrhizal fungi Suillus bovinus and Gomphidius roseus. Mycological Research 104: 1372–1378. (abstract)
9. Lamaison, Jean-Louis; Polese, Jean-Marie (2005). The Great Encyclopedia of Mushrooms. Könemann. p. 34. ISBN 3-8331-1239-5.