genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
of about 18 species of
ascomycete
Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The d ...
fungi. They are a
false morel
The name false morel is given to several species of mushroom which bear a resemblance to the highly regarded true morels of the genus '' Morchella''. Like ''Morchella'', false morels are members of the Pezizales, but within that group represent s ...
- a frequently toxic mushroom that can be mistaken for edible mushrooms of the genus ''
Morchella
''Morchella'', the true morels, is a genus of edible sac fungi closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi in the order Pezizales (division Ascomycota). These distinctive fungi have a honeycomb appearance due to the network of ridges with ...
'' (morels).
Taxonomy
The name ''Gyromitra'' comes from ''gyro'' meaning ''convoluted'' and ''mitra'' meaning ''turban''.
Analysis of the
ribosomal DNA
Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is a DNA sequence that codes for ribosomal RNA. These sequences regulate transcription initiation and amplification, and contain both transcribed and non-transcribed spacer segments.
In the human genome there are 5 chrom ...
of many of the Pezizales showed the genus ''Gyromitra'' to be most closely related to the genus '' Discina'', and also '' Pseudorhizina'', '' Hydnotrya'', and only distantly related to '' Helvella''. Thus the four genera are now included in the family Discinaceae.
Gyromitra brunnea
''Gyromitra fastigiata'' is a species of fungus in the family Discinaceae
The Discinaceae are a family of ascomycete fungi, the best known members of which are the false morels of the genus ''Gyromitra''. Originally erected by Erich Heinz Ben ...
Gyromitra caroliniana
''Gyromitra caroliniana'', known commonly as the Carolina false morel or big red, is an ascomycete fungus of the genus ''Gyromitra'', within the Pezizales group of fungi. It is found in hardwood forests of the southeastern United States, where ...
'' (North America)
* ''
Gyromitra esculenta
''Gyromitra esculenta'' is an ascomycete fungus from the genus '' Gyromitra'', widely distributed across Europe and North America. It normally fruits in sandy soils under coniferous trees in spring and early summer. The fruiting body, or mush ...
Gyromitra fastigiata
''Gyromitra fastigiata'' is a species of fungus in the family Discinaceae. It is related to species containing the toxin monomethylhydrazine
Monomethylhydrazine (mono-methyl hydrazine, MMH) is a highly toxic, volatile hydrazine derivative with ...
''
* '' Gyromitra gigas'' – snow morel
** '' Gyromitra korfii'' – possibly a synonym of ''G. gigas''
** '' Gyromitra montana'' – North American snow morel, possibly a synonym of ''G. gigas''
* ''
Gyromitra infula
''Gyromitra infula'', commonly known as the hooded false morel or the elfin saddle, is a fungus in the family Helvellaceae. The dark reddish-brown caps of the fruit bodies develop a characteristic saddle-shape in maturity, and the ends of bo ...
Gyromitra tasmanica
''Gyromitra'' () is a genus of about 18 species of ascomycete fungi. They are a false morel - a frequently toxic mushroom that can be mistaken for edible mushrooms of the genus ''Morchella'' (morels).
Taxonomy
The name ''Gyromitra'' comes from ...
''
Toxicity
Some types of ''Gyromitra'' are highly poisonous when raw due to the presence of
gyromitrin
Gyromitrin is a toxin and carcinogen present in several members of the fungal genus '' Gyromitra'', like '' G. esculenta''. Its formula is . It is unstable and is easily hydrolyzed to the toxic compound monomethylhydrazine . Monomethylhydraz ...
, although some species are edible when cooked and ''Gyromitra'' are sought after in Scandinavian countries. Widespread
hemolysis
Hemolysis or haemolysis (), also known by several other names, is the rupturing (lysis) of red blood cells (erythrocytes) and the release of their contents (cytoplasm) into surrounding fluid (e.g. blood plasma). Hemolysis may occur in vivo o ...
has been reported from ingestion which can result in
kidney failure
Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, is a medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste products from the blood, functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Kidney failure is classified as eit ...
.
Methemoglobinemia
Methemoglobinemia, or methaemoglobinaemia, is a condition of elevated methemoglobin in the blood. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, poor muscle coordination, and blue-colored skin (cyanosis). Complications ma ...
has also been seen, although it is typically responsive to treatment with
methylene blue
Methylthioninium chloride, commonly called methylene blue, is a salt used as a dye and as a medication. Methylene blue is a thiazine dye. As a medication, it is mainly used to treat methemoglobinemia by converting the ferric iron in hemoglob ...
.
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, informally known as a seizure, is a period of symptoms due to abnormally excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Outward effects vary from uncontrolled shaking movements involving much of the body with l ...
s can also develop via inhibition of the neurotransmitter GABA.Brozen, R. "Mushroom Toxicity - Gyromitra Toxin." Emedicine.com, Last updated: 2/29/08.