Gymnopilus

Taxobox
name = Gymnopilus luteofolius


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Gymnopilus luteofolius"
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Cortinariaceae
genus = "Gymnopilus"
genus_authority = P. Karst.

"Gymnopilus" is a genus of gilled mushrooms within the fungal family Cortinariaceae containing over 150 rusty-orange spored mushroom species formerly divided among "Pholiota" and the defunct genus "Flammula". The fruiting body is typically reddish brown to rusty orange to yellow, medium to large, often with a well developed veil. Most members of "Gymnopilus" grow on wood but at times may appear terrestrial if the wood is buried or decomposed. Members of "Pholiota" and "Cortinarius" are easy to confuse with "Gymnopilus". "Pholiota" can be distinguished by its viscid cap and duller (brown to cinnamon brown) spores, and "Cortinarius" grows on the ground. Beginners can confuse "Gymnopilus" with "Galerina", which contains deadly poisonous species.

The "Gymnopilus" genus has 200 species worldwide, [http://www.mycologia.org/cgi/content/full/95/6/1204] including 75 which occur in North America.

14 members of "Gymnopilus" contain psilocybin [http://www.magic-mushrooms.net/World_Wide_Distribution_of_Magic_Mushrooms.pdf] , although their bitter taste often deters recreational users. These species include "Gymnopilus aeruginosus", "Gymnopilus braendlei", "Gymnopilus intermedius", "Gymnopilus junonius", "Gymnopilus liquiritiae", "Gymnopilus luteofolius", "Gymnopilus luteoviridis", "Gymnopilus lutes", "Gymnopilus purpuratus", "Gymnopilus sapineus", "Gymnopilus subpurpuratus", "Gymnopilus validipes" and "Gymnopilus viridans". [ Gymnopilus Chemistry, Entheogen review, Vol VII No. 3 ] Subspecies of "Gymnopilus spectabilis" from Japan are reported to contain psilocybin, while some western North American members are inactive. [http://www.svims.ca/ff0608.pdf]

Several species of "Gymnopilus" contain bis-noryangonin [4-hydroxy-6-(4-hydrostyryl)-2-pyrone] and hispidine [4-hydroxy-6-(3,4-dihydroxystyryl)-2-pyrone] , which are closely related to the alpha-pyrones found in kava. [cite journal | quotes=no |author=G. M. Hatfield, L. R. Brady |year= 1969 |title=Occurrence of bis-noryangonin in "Gymnopilus spectabilis" |journal=Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences |volume=58 |issue=10 |pages=1298–1299 |doi=10.1002/jps.2600581039]

Clades

A recent study [http://www.mycologia.org/cgi/content/full/95/6/1204] identified five well-supported clades within "Gymnopilus":
# the spectabilis-imperialis group
# nevadensis-penetrans group
# a clade formed by "G. underwoodii", "G. validipes" and "G." cf. "flavidellus"
# aeruginosus-luteofolius group
# lepidotus-subearlei group

References

*C.J. Alexopolous, Charles W. Mims, M. Blackwell et al., "Introductory Mycology, 4^th ed." (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken NJ, 2004) ISBN 0-471-52229-5
* [http://www.mycologia.org/cgi/reprint/95/6/1204.pdf Mycologica - Scientific Gymnopilus information]
* [http://www.magic-mushrooms.net/World_Wide_Distribution_of_Magic_Mushrooms.pdf Worldwide distribution of Neurotropic Fungi]