Clavaria zollingeri
| Clavaria zollingeri | |
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| Species: | C. zollingeri
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| Clavaria zollingeri | |
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Clavaria lavandula Peck | |
Clavaria zollingeri, commonly known as the violet coral or the magenta coral, is a widely distributed species of fungus producing tubular, purple basidiocarps (fruit bodies) in clusters. It is is a typical member of the clavarioid or club fungi. Clavaria zollingeri is a saprobic species, growing on the ground in woodland litter.
Taxonomy
The species was first described scientifically by French mycologist Joseph-Henri Léveillé in 1846.[1] It was named after German mycologist Heinrich Zollinger, who researched the genus Clavaria.[2] It is commonly known as the "violet coral",[3] or the "magenta coral".[4]
Description
The fungus has a color ranging from violet to amethyst, with dimensions typically 5 to 10 cm (2.0 to 3.9 in) tall and 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) wide. The stem, or base, is short, and the branching starts a short distance above the ground. In mass, the spores (produced on the surface of the branches) are white. It has no distinguishable odor, and its taste is somewhat like radishes.[4] The edibility is unknown for this species.[2]
The spores are roughly spherical to broadly elliptic, and have dimensions of 4–7 by 3–5 μm.[4] The basidia (spore-bearing cells) do not have clamps, and measure 50–60 by 7–9 μm. [5]
Similar species
Other lavender to violet-colored corals include Clavulina amethystinoides, which is so multiply branched so as to appear toothed, and Clavulina amethystina which can only be reliably distinguished by its two-spored basidia in comparison to the four-spored basidia of Clavaria species.[2] In Alloclavaria purpurea, the branching is reduced and the color usually a duller purple.[6]
Habitat and distribution
The fungus grows solitarily or in clusters on the ground and in grassy spots, usually near hardwood trees.[2] It is a saprobic species,[6] deriving nutrients by breaking down organic matter. It has a widespread distribution, and has been found in Australia,[7] New Zealand,[8] North America,[6] South America,[9] Europe, and Asia (including Brunei[10] and Korea[11]). It is listed in the Danish Regional Red List of threatened species.[12]
Clavaria zollingeri contains lectins, a class of proteins that bind specific carbohydrates on the surface of cells, causing them to clump together. A Korean study demonstrated that extracts of the fungus caused lymphoagglutination, a specific form of agglutination that involves white blood cells.[11] In general, lectins are used in blood typing and serology, and they are widely used in affinity chromatography for purifying proteins.
References
- ^ Léveillé JH. (1846). "Descriptions des champignons de l'herbier du Muséum de Paris". Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique. III (in French). 5: 111–67.
- ^ a b c d Metzler V, Metzler S. (1992). Texas Mushrooms: a Field Guide. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 248. ISBN 0-292-75125-7. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
- ^ "Recommended English Names for Fungi in the UK" (PDF). British Mycological Society. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
- ^ a b c McKnight VB, McKnight KH. (1987). A Field Guide to Mushrooms: North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0-395-91090-0. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
- ^ Ellis JB, Ellis MB. (1990). Fungi without Gills (Hymenomycetes and Gasteromycetes): an Identification Handbook. London: Chapman and Hall. p. 64. ISBN 0-412-36970-2. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
- ^ a b c Kuo M. "Clavaria zollingeri". Mushroom Expert. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
- ^ Petersen RH. (1978). "Genus Clavaria in southeastern Australia". Australian Journal of Botany. 26 (3): 415–24.
- ^ "Family: Clavariaceae". The Hidden Forest. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
- ^ Henao LG. (1989). "Notes on the Aphyllophorales of Colombia Basidiomycetes Aphyllophorales". Caldasia (in Spanish). 16 (76): 1–9.
- ^ Roberts PJ, Spooner BM. (2000). "Cantharelloid, clavarioid and thelephoroid fungi from Brunei Darussalam". Kew Bulletin. 55 (4): 843–51.
- ^ a b Jeune-Chung KH, Kim MK, Chung SR. (1987). "Studies on lectins from mushrooms II. Screening of bioactive substance lectins from Korean wild mushrooms". Yakhak Hoeji (in Korean). 31 (4): 213–18.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Clavaria zollingeri Lév". NERI - The Danish Red Data Book. Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser. Retrieved 2010-06-26.