Tricholoma pardinum

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Tricholoma
Tricholoma pardinum
Tricholoma pardinum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Tricholomataceae
Genus: Tricholoma
Species: T. pardinum
Binomial name
Tricholoma pardinum
Quél.
Synonyms

Tricholoma tigrinum
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Tricholoma pardinum
mycological characteristics:
 
gills on hymenium
 

cap is convex
 

hymenium is free
 

stipe is bare
 

spore print is white
 

ecology is mycorrhizal
 

edibility: poisonous

Tricholoma pardinum, commonly known as spotted tricholoma, tiger tricholoma, tigertop or dirty trich, is a gilled mushroom found across Europe and North America, generally growing in beech woodland in summer and autumn. It is an imposing mushroom with a pale grey cap up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter with darker brownish or greyish scales, white gills and white or pale grey-brown ringless stalk.

It is one of the more poisonous members of the genus Tricholoma and has been implicated in a number of episodes of mushroom poisoning, probably because it is a large, attractive mushroom with a superficial resemblance to a number of edible species as well as having a pleasant smell and taste. Ingesting T. pardinum even in small quantities causes a severe, persistent gastroenteritis due to the presence of an as yet unknown mycotoxin.

Contents

[edit] Taxonomy

Tricholoma pardinum was described by French mycologist Lucien Quélet in 1873.[1] The specific epithet pardinum is derived from the Latin pardus 'leopard',[2] referring to its mottled or spotted cap. The generic name derives from the Greek trichos/τριχος 'hair' and loma/λωμα 'hem', 'fringe' or 'border',[3] According to some authors, Tricholoma tigrinum is a synonym of T. pardinum, while others consider T. tigrinum a separate species. It is commonly known as spotted tricholoma, tiger tricholoma or tigertop. Dirty trich was a name coined by author Gary Lincoff in response to a publisher's request for a more accessible name than its binomial one, for North American guidebooks.[4]

[edit] Description

The fruiting body is a medium-sized mushroom, with a cap 6-10 cm (2½-4 in) in diameter, though larger specimens occasionally reach 15 cm (6 in). The cap is initially hemispherical before flattening with maturity. It is silvery-grey and covered with concentrically-patterned darker scales of a grey, brown or blackish colour that grow paler toward the cap margin. The free gills are white and thick, may have a yellow or greenish tint, and may drip water, as may the top of the stalk when broken. The spore print is white, the oval spores 8-10 μm long. The stout stalk may be white, pale grey or pale brown and is thicker at the base. There is no ring or volva. The flesh is whitish and has a pleasant mealy smell and taste.[5]

It may be confused with several edible grey-capped members of the genus Tricholoma, leading some authorities to not recommend picking any of these species for consumption. The smaller T. terreum lacks the mealy smell and cap scales, while T. orirubens has fine dark scales and pinkish gills.[6] The edible T. argyraceum is similar but with finer scales.[5] The edible and highly regarded T. portentosum is of a similar size, though has a uniform grey cap which is never scaled.[7]

[edit] Distribution and habitat

It is found on chalky soil in woodland with beech and fir in summer and autumn in Europe,[5] where it prefers areas of some elevation. It is abundant in the Jura Mountains in eastern France. It may be found in groups or fairy rings.[7] It is found widely across temperate North America,[8] commonly associated with conifers in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, and with tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) and madrone (Arbutus spp.) in California. It can be very abundant in some years, yet missing or rare in others.[9]

[edit] Toxicity

Tricholoma pardinum is one of several poisonous members of the genus Tricholoma; it is implicated in the most number due to its large size, fleshy appearance, and pleasant smell and taste. It was responsible for over 20% of cases of mushroom poisoning in Switzerland in the first half of the 20th century.[10] Many cases arise in the Jura Mountains in France, where it is abundant.[7] Eating it results in highly unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea.[5] These arise 15 minutes to 2 hours after consumption, and may persist for 4-6 days. Sweating and anxiety may be evident, and disturbance in liver function has been recorded.[8] In one case, seven people and a cat suffered severe symptoms after sharing a meal with only two mushroom caps. As of 2007, the identity of the toxin is unknown.[11]

These symptoms may be severe enough to warrant hospitalization. Treatment is supportive; antispasmodic medicines may lessen colicky abdominal cramps and activated charcoal may be administered early on to bind residual toxin. Intravenous fluids may be required if dehydration has been extensive, especially with children and the elderly.[12] Metoclopramide may be used in cases of recurrent vomiting once gastric contents are emptied.[13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Quélet L (1873). "Mém. Soc. Émul. Montbéliard, Sér. 2" 5: 339. 
  2. ^ Simpson, D.P. (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary, 5, London: Cassell Ltd., 883. ISBN 0-304-52257-0. 
  3. ^ Nilson, Sven; Olle Persson (1977). Fungi of Northern Europe 2: Gill-Fungi. Penguin, p. 24. ISBN 0-14-063006-6. 
  4. ^ Bakaitis, Bill (2003). A Morel in the Bush, Worth a Tour in the Can?. Entelechy: Mind & Culture.. Entelechy: Mind & Culture.. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
  5. ^ a b c d Zeitlmayr, Linus (1976). Wild Mushrooms:An Illustrated Handbook. Garden City Press, Hertfordshire, pp. 72-73. ISBN 0-584-10324-7. 
  6. ^ Haas, Hans (1969). The Young Specialist looks at Fungi. Burke, p. 144. ISBN 0-222-79409-7. 
  7. ^ a b c Lamaison, Jean-Louis; Polese, Jean-Marie (2005). The Great Encyclopedia of Mushrooms. Könemann, p. 89. ISBN 3-8331-1239-5. 
  8. ^ a b Ammirati, Joseph F.; James A Traquair and Paul A Horgen (1985). Poisonous mushrooms of the northern United States and Canada. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 328-29. ISBN 0-8166-1407-5. 
  9. ^ Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms demystified: a comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi, 2nd ed., Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 183. ISBN 0-89815-169-4. 
  10. ^ (German) Alder, A.E. (1960). "Pilzvergiftung in der Schweiz während 40 Jahren". Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Pilzkunde 38: 65–73. 
  11. ^ Benjamin, Denis R. (1995). s: poisons and panaceas — a handbook for naturalists, mycologists and physicians. New York: WH Freeman and Company, p. 370-71. ISBN 0-7167-2600-9. 
  12. ^ Benjamin, Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas, p. 354-55
  13. ^ Benjamin, Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas, p. 188
  • Miller, Orson K., Jr. Mushrooms of North America. E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc. ISBN 0-525-16165-1. 

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