Hypholoma fasciculare

Hypholoma fasciculare, commonly known as the Sulphur Tuft, Sulfur Tuft or Clustered Woodlover, is a common woodland mushroom, often in evidence when hardly any other mushrooms are to be found. This small gill fungus grows prolofically in large clumps on stumps, dead roots or rotting trunks of broadleaved trees.

The Sulphur Tuft is bitter and poisonous; consuming it can cause vomiting ,diarrhoea and convulsions, and the death case by this mushroom is reported in Japan. The principal toxic constituents have been named fasciculol E and fasciculol F. [1]

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Taxonomy and naming

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin fascicularis 'in bundles' or 'clustered',^[1] referring to its habit of growing in clumps. Its name in Japanese is Nigakuritake.

Description

The hemispherical cap can reach 6 cm (2⅓ in) diameter. It is smooth and sulphur yellow with an orange-brown centre and whitish margin. The crowded gills are initially yellow but darken to a distinctive green colour as the blackish spores develop on the yellow flesh. It has a purple brown spore print.^[2] The stipe is up to 10 cm (4 in) tall and 1 cm (⅓ in) wide, light yellow, orange-brown below, often with an indistinct ring zone coloured dark by the spores. The taste is very bitter, though not bitter when cooked, but still poisonous.

Distribution and habitat

Hypholoma fasciculare grows prolifically on dead wood of deciduous trees and is widespread and abundant in northern Europe. It can appear anytime from spring to autumn.^[2]

Toxicity

Symptoms may be delayed for 5-10 hours after consumption, after which time there may be diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, proteinuria and collapse. Paralysis and impaired vision have been recorded. Symptoms generally resolve over a few days. The autopsy of one fatality revealed fulminant hepatitis reminiscent of amatoxin poisoning, along with involvement of kidneys and myocardium. The mushroom was consumed in a dish with other species so the death cannot be attributed to sulfur tuft with certainty.^[3]

References

• Mostly taken from the German page.