''Gliophorus perplexus'' is a species of

agaric An agaric () is a type of fungal 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. It is a type of mushroom (or toadstool) ...

fungus in the family

Hygrophoraceae The Hygrophoraceae are a family (biology), family of fungi in the order (biology), order Agaricales. Originally conceived as containing white-spored, thick-gilled agarics (gilled mushrooms), including ''Hygrophorus'' and ''Hygrocybe'' species (th ...

. It was first described in 1954 by American mycologists

Alexander H. Smith Alexander Hanchett Smith (December 12, 1904 – December 12, 1986) was an American mycologist known for his extensive contributions to the taxonomy and phylogeny of the higher fungi, especially the agarics. Early life Smith, born in Crandon, Wis ...

and

Lexemuel Ray Hesler Lexemuel Ray Hesler (20 February 1888 – 20 November 1977) was an American mycologist Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their taxonomy, genetics, biochemical properties, and use by humans. Fungi ...

as ''Hygrophorus perplexus''.

Description

''Gliophorus perplexus'' is a small and slimy

mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing Sporocarp (fungi), fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. ''Toadstool'' generally refers to a poisonous mushroom. The standard for the n ...

, with the

cap A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. The origin of the word "cap" comes from the Old French word "chapeau" which means "head co ...

barely reaching over an inch and the stipe (stem) two and a half inches in maturity. The sliminess, which covers all parts of the

fruiting body The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cyc ...

including the

gills A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...

, is a characteristic of the entire

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

. The cap color ranges from yellow to orange, can sometimes have an umbo (central bump), and has translucent striations on the cap margin. The gills are pale pink when young and can become yellow-orange in maturity. The stipe is usually a more yellow or paler colored version of the cap, and is hollow.

Similar Species

When young, '' Gliophorus psittacinus'' has strong green colors that fade upon maturity.

Ecology

''Gliophorus perplexus'' is thought to be

saprobic Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi ...

, but more research is needed.

Edibility

While not poisonous, ''G. perplexus'' is too small to be considered as a viable edible.

References

External links

* Hygrophoraceae Fungi described in 1954 Fungi of North America Taxa named by Alexander H. Smith Fungus species {{Hygrophoraceae-stub