''Flammulina filiformis'' is a species of

agaric An agaric () is a type of fungus fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus (cap) that is clearly differentiated from the stipe (stalk), with lamellae (gills) on the underside of the pileus. In the UK, agarics are called "mushroom ...

(gilled mushroom) in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Physalacriaceae. It is well known for its role in

Japanese cuisine Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan (Japanese: ) is based on rice with miso soup and oth ...

, where it is called ''enokitake'' (榎茸, エノキタケ, ) and is widely cultivated in East Asia. Until recently, the species was considered to be conspecific with the European '' Flammulina velutipes'', but DNA sequencing has shown that the two are distinct.

Taxonomy

''Flammulina filiformis'' was originally described from China in 2015 as a

variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

of ''F. velutipes'', based on ITS sequences. Further molecular research using a combination of different sequences has shown that ''F. filiformis'' and ''F. velutipes'' are distinct and should be recognized as separate species.

Vernacular names

The names ''enokitake'' ( 榎茸、エノキタケ), ''enokidake'' (榎茸、エノキダケ) and ''enoki'' ( 榎、エノキ) are derived from the

Japanese language is spoken natively by about 128 million people, primarily by Japanese people and primarily in Japan, the only country where it is the national language. Japanese belongs to the Japonic or Japanese- Ryukyuan language family. There have been ...

. In Mandarin Chinese, the mushroom is called (', "gold needle mushroom") or 金菇 (''jīngū'', "gold mushroom"). In India it is calle
''futu''
in Korean, it is called ''paengi beoseot'' (팽이버섯) which means "mushroom planted near catalpa", and ''nấm kim châm'' in

Vietnamese Vietnamese may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia ** A citizen of Vietnam. See Demographics of Vietnam. * Vietnamese people, or Kinh people, a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to Vietnam ** Overse ...

Description

Basidiocarps In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome, or basidioma () is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the spore-producing hymenium is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the hymenomycetes; rusts and smuts do not ...

are

agaricoid An agaric () is a type of fungus fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus (cap) that is clearly differentiated from the stipe (stalk), with lamellae (gills) on the underside of the pileus. In the UK, agarics are called "mushrooms ...

and grow in clusters. Individual fruitbodies are up to 50mm (2 in) tall, the cap convex at first, becoming flat when expanded, up to 45mm (1.75 in) across. The cap surface is smooth, viscid when damp, ochraceous yellow to yellow-brown. The

lamellae Lamella (plural lamellae) means a small plate or flake in Latin, and in English may refer to: Biology * Lamella (mycology), a papery rib beneath a mushroom cap * Lamella (botany) * Lamella (surface anatomy), a plate-like structure in an animal * ...

(gills) are cream to yellowish white. The stipe (stem) is smooth, pale yellow at the apex, yellow-brown to dark brown towards the base, lacking a ring. The

spore print 300px, Making a spore print of the mushroom ''Volvariella volvacea'' shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print. A 3.5-centimeter ...

is white, the spores (under a microscope) smooth,

inamyloid In mycology a tissue or feature is said to be amyloid if it has a positive amyloid reaction when subjected to a crude chemical test using iodine as an ingredient of either Melzer's reagent or Lugol's solution, producing a blue to blue-black stain ...

, ellipsoid to cylindical, c. 5 to 7 by 3 to 3.5μm. There is a significant difference in appearance between

wild Wild, wild, wilds or wild may refer to: Common meanings * Wild animal * Wilderness, a wild natural environment * Wildness, the quality of being wild or untamed Art, media and entertainment Film and television * ''Wild'' (2014 film), a 2014 A ...

and cultivated basidiocarps. Cultivated enokitake are not exposed to light, resulting in white or pallid fruitbodies with long stipes and small caps.

Habitat and distribution

The fungus is found on dead wood of ''

Betula platyphylla ''Betula platyphylla'', the Asian white birch or Japanese white birch, is a tree species in the family Betulaceae. It can be found in subarctic and temperate Asia in Japan, China, Korea, Mongolia, and Russian Far East and Siberia Siberia ...

'', ''

Broussonetia papyrifera The paper mulberry (''Broussonetia papyrifera'', syn. ''Morus papyrifera'' L.) is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae. It is native to Asia,Dipentodon sinicus Dipentodon is a genus of flowering plants in the family Dipentodontaceae. Its only species, ''Dipentodon sinicus'', is a small, deciduous tree native to southern China, northern Myanmar, and northern India.Jinshuang Ma and Bruce Bartholomew. 200 ...

'', ''

Neolitsea ''Neolitsea'' is a genus of about 85 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the laurel family Lauraceae. They range from Indo-Malaysia to East Asia to Australia. The leaves are alternate, clustered, or verticillate, rarely subopposite. Sp ...

'' sp., ''

Salix Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist s ...

'' spp, and other broad-leaved trees. It grows naturally in China, Korea, and Japan.

Cultivation and food

Enoki mushroom Korean sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew)

''Flammulina filiformis'' has been cultivated in China since 800 AD. Commercial production in China was estimated at 1.57 million tonnes per annum in 2010, with Japan producing an additional 140,000 tonnes per annum. The fungus can be cultivated on a range of simple, lignocellulosic substrates including sawdust, wheat straw, and paddy straw. Enokitake are typically grown in the dark, producing pallid fruitbodies having long and narrow stipes with undeveloped caps. Exposure to light results in more normal, short-stiped, coloured fruitbodies. Cultivated ''F. filiformis'' is sold both fresh and canned. The fungus has a crisp texture and can be

refrigerated The term refrigeration refers to the process of removing heat from an enclosed space or substance for the purpose of lowering the temperature.International Dictionary of Refrigeration, http://dictionary.iifiir.org/search.phpASHRAE Terminology, ht ...

for approximately one week. It is a common ingredient for soups, especially in

East Asian cuisine This is a list of Asian cuisines, by region. A cuisine is a characteristic style of cooking practices and traditions, usually associated with a specific culture or region. Asia, being the largest, most populous and culturally diverse continent, ...

, but can be used for

salad A salad is a dish consisting of mixed, mostly natural ingredients with at least one raw ingredient. They are typically served at room temperature or chilled, though some can be served warm. Condiments and salad dressings, which exist in a va ...

s and other dishes.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q107676073 Fungi of Asia Edible fungi Fungi in cultivation Chinese edible mushrooms Fungi described in 2015 Physalacriaceae Japanese cuisine terms Medicinal fungi