''Paralepistopsis acromelalga'' is a
basidiomycete
Basidiomycota () is one of two large divisions that, together with the Ascomycota, constitute the subkingdom Dikarya (often referred to as the "higher fungi") within the kingdom Fungi. Members are known as basidiomycetes. More specifically, Basid ...
fungus
A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...
in the
Tricholomataceae
The Tricholomataceae are a large family of fungi within the order Agaricales. Originally a classic "wastebasket taxon", the family included any white-, yellow-, or pink-spored genera in the Agaricales not already classified as belonging to e.g. t ...
family. It was formerly classified as ''Clitocybe'' ''acromelalga''.
Taxonomy
It was first
described in 1918 by the mycologist
T. Ichimura and classified as ''Clitocybe'' ''acromelalga''.
The ''
Paralepistopsis'' genus was created in 2012 by the Italian mycologist
Alfredo Vizzini to better classify two rare toxic species formerly located in the ''
Clitocybe
''Clitocybe'' is a genus of mushrooms characterized by white, off-white, buff, cream, pink, or light-yellow spores, gills running down the stem, and pale white to brown or lilac coloration. They are primarily saprotrophic, decomposing forest grou ...
'' genus and this species was subsequently reclassified.
Habitat and distribution
It has been found in Japan, South Korea and Mexico
Toxicity
It was discovered to be poisonous in 1918, when symptoms of
mushroom poisoning
Mushroom poisoning is poisoning resulting from the ingestion of mushrooms that contain toxicity, toxic substances. Signs and symptoms, Symptoms can vary from slight Gastrointestinal tract, gastrointestinal discomfort to death in about 10 days. Mus ...
occurred within three days of consumption. It had been mistaken for the edible tawny funnel cap (''
Paralepista flaccida'' formerly ''Lepista flaccida'').
Consumption of a related species, ''
Paralepistopsis amoenolens
''Paralepistopsis amoenolens'' is an agaric fungus in the Tricholomataceae family. It is commonly known as the paralysis funnel.
Taxonomy
It was first Species description, described in 1975 by the French mycologist Georges Jean Louis Malençon ...
'', from France has resulted in the same condition.
That species is commonly known as the paralysis cap and has been shown to contain acromelic acids including
acromelic acid A which is a potent
neurotoxin
Neurotoxins are toxins that are destructive to nervous tissue, nerve tissue (causing neurotoxicity). Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insult (medical), insultsSpencer 2000 that can adversely affect function ...
with the chemical formula of and is associated with causing paralysis and seizures
References
{{Authority control
Tricholomataceae
Paralepistopsis
Poisonous fungi
Fungi of Asia
Fungus species