Macrocybe

Macrocybe
unidentified Macrocybe species
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Tricholomataceae
Genus: Macrocybe
Pegler & Lodge (1998)
Type species
Macrocybe titans
(H.E.Bigelow & Kimbr.) Pegler, Lodge & Nakasone (1998)
Species

M. crassa
M. gigantea
M. lobayensis
M. pachymeres
M. praegrandis
M. spectabilis
M. titans

Macrocybe is a genus of fungi in the family Tricholomataceae. The genus contains seven species, widely distributed in tropical regions worldwide.[1]

The genus was established in 1998 by mycologists David Pegler and Deborah Jean Lodge, for several large white tropical species that had been placed in the genus Tricholoma.[2] The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words makros "long" and kube "head". The genus is related to the genus Calocybe.[2]

The species form huge pale fleshy mushrooms that often grow in clumps on dead wood in the ground. The weight of the cluster may exceed 30 kg.[2] The caps are convex to depressed, and sometimes have a central boss (umbo), and are white to cream or pale ochre or grey. One species, M. titans, has a cap that can reach a metre (40 in) in diameter. The white gills are sinuate. The flesh is white and does not change colour when bruised. The stipe is white and often has a swollen base. The spore print is white. The round to oval spores are less than 10 micrometres long and smooth.[2]

The species are saprobic, growing on dead wood in grass generally.[2] One species, M. gigantea, has been found growing on elephant dung in Kerala state in India,[3] and M. crassa has been cultivated on horse manure in Thailand.[2]

Some species have tasty mushrooms, which are eaten in the tropics.[2] An undescribed species is eaten by the Patamona people in Guyana.[4] Although edible, some species do contain traces of cyanide that require cooking to eliminate.[2]

Species

Seven species are recognised, with M. titans designated the type species.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi (10th ed.). Wallingford, UK: CAB International. p. 396. ISBN 978-0-85199-826-8.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pegler DN, Lodge DJ, Nakasone KK (1998). "The Pantropical Genus Macrocybe Gen. nov.". Mycologia. 90 (3): 494. doi:10.2307/3761408.
  3. ↑ Manimohan P, Agretious Thomas K, Shiva VS (2007). "Agarics on elephant dung in Kerala State, India" (PDF). 99: 147–57.
  4. ↑ Henkel TW, Aime MC, Chin M, Andrew C (2004). "Edible mushrooms from Guyana". Mycologist. 18 (3): 104–11. doi:10.1017/S0269915XO4003027.
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