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 ...
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 def ...
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 se ...
- 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 w ...
'' (morels).
Taxonomy
The name ''Gyromitra'' comes from ''gyro'' meaning ''convoluted'' and ''mitra'' meaning ''turban''.
Analysis of the
ribosomal DNA
The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) consists of a group of ribosomal RNA encoding genes and related regulatory elements, and is widespread in similar configuration in all domains of life. The ribosomal DNA encodes the non-coding ribosomal RNA, integral struc ...
of many of the Pezizales showed the genus ''Gyromitra'' to be most closely related to the genus ''
Discina
DisCina was a French film production and film distribution, distribution company established in 1938 by Michel Safra and André Paulvé. It reached its peak during the 1940s and early 1950s, remaining active during the Occupation of France.
It al ...
'', and also ''
Pseudorhizina
''Pseudorhizina'' is a genus of ascomycete fungi related to the false morels of the genus ''Gyromitra''. The type species
In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the sp ...
'', ''
Hydnotrya
''Hydnotrya'' is a genus of ascomycete fungi related to the false morels of the genus ''Gyromitra''. There are about 15 species in the genus. A molecular phylogenetic study recovered a species that was described but neglected for 50 years, ''Hydn ...
'', and only distantly related to ''
Helvella
''Helvella'' is a genus of ascomycete fungus of the family Helvellaceae. The mushrooms, commonly known as elfin saddles, are identified by their irregularly shaped caps, fluted stems, and fuzzy undersurfaces. They are found in North America and ...
''. Thus the four genera are now included 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 Benedix in 1961, it was found to be a discrete clade in a molecular study of rib ...
.
Species
The genus consists of the following species:
* ''
Gyromitra accumbens
''Gyromitra'' () is a genus of about 18 species of Ascomycota, 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'' ...
'' Harmaja (1986)
* ''
Gyromitra apiculatula
''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 ...
Gyromitra californica
''Gyromitra californica'', commonly known as the umbrella false morel, is a species of fungus in the family Discinaceae. It was described as ''Helvella californica'' by W. Phillips in 1879, collected near Yét Atwam Creek, just south of McCloud ...
'' (W. Phillips) Raitv. (1965)
* ''
Gyromitra chirripoensis
''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 ...
Gyromitra discinoides
''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 ...
'' (S. Imai) S. Imai (1954)
* ''
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 Ascocarp, fruiting bod ...
''
Pers.
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (31 December 1761 – 16 November 1836) was a Cape Colony mycologist who is recognized as one of the founders of mycological taxonomy.
Early life
Persoon was born in Cape Colony at the Cape of Good Hope, the thi ...
Gyromitra fluctuans
''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 ...
'' (Nyl.) Harmaja (1986)
* ''
Gyromitra grandis
''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 ...
'' (A. Cumino) Van Vooren & M. Carbone (2019)
* ''
Gyromitra intermedia
''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 ...
'' (Benedix) Harmaja (1976)
* ''
Gyromitra korfii
''Gyromitra'' () is a genus of about 18 species of Ascomycota, 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'' ...
'' (Raitv.) Harmaja (1973)
* ''
Gyromitra korshinskii
''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 ...
'' (Jacz.) P.M. Kirk (2015)
* ''
Gyromitra labyrinthica
''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 ...
'' Fr. (1871)
* ''
Gyromitra lactea
''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 ...
'' J.Z. Cao, L. Fan & B. Liu (1990)
* ''
Gyromitra larryi
''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 ...
'' (McKnight) Harmaja (1976)
* ''
Gyromitra leucoxantha
''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 ...
'' (Bres.) Harmaja (1969)
* ''
Gyromitra longipes
''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 ...
'' Harmaja (1979)
* ''
Gyromitra macrospora
''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 ...
Gyromitra neuwirthii
''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 ...
Gyromitra pratensis
''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 ...
Gyromitra venenata
''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 ...
'' Hai J. Li, Z.H. Chen & Zhu L. Yang (2020)
* ''
Gyromitra warnei
''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 ...
'' (Peck) Harmaja (1973)
Toxicity
Some species of the genus ''Gyromitra'' are highly poisonous when eaten 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 are edible when cooked and ''Gyromitra'' spp. are sought after in Scandinavian countries. Widespread
hemolysis
Hemolysis or haemolysis (), also known by #Nomenclature, 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 ...
has been reported from ingestion which can result in
kidney failure
Kidney failure, also known as renal failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), 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 fa ...
.
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. As a medication, it is mainly used to treat methemoglobinemia. It has previously been used for treating cyanide poisoning and urinary trac ...
.
Seizure
A seizure is a sudden, brief disruption of brain activity caused by abnormal, excessive, or synchronous neuronal firing. Depending on the regions of the brain involved, seizures can lead to changes in movement, sensation, behavior, awareness, o ...
s can also develop via inhibition of the neurotransmitter
GABA
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid, γ-aminobutyric acid) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the developmentally mature mammalian central nervous system. Its principal role is reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.
GA ...