Tricholoma sulphureum

Taxobox
name = "Tricholoma sulphureum"

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption ="Tricholoma sulphureum"
in woodland, France.
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Tricholomataceae
genus ="Tricholoma"
species ="T. sulphureum"
binomial = "Tricholoma sulphureum"
binomial_authority = (Bull. ex Fr.) P. Kumm.mycomorphbox
name = Tricholoma sulphureum
hymeniumType=gills
capShape = convex
whichGills = adnexed
stipeCharacter=bare
sporePrintColor=white
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
howEdible=poisonous

"Tricholoma sulphureum", also known as sulphur knight or gas agaric, is an inedible or mildly poisonous mushroom found in woodlands in Europe. It has a distinctive bright yellow colour and an unusual smell likened to coal gas. It occurs in deciduous woodlands in Europe from spring to autumn.

Taxonomy

"Tricholoma sulphureum" was first described in 1784 by the French botanist Pierre Bulliard and given the name "Agaricus sulphureus", before being placed in the genus "Tricholoma" by German mycologist Paul Kummer in 1871. The specific epithet "sulfǔrěus" derived from the Latin 'of or pertaining to sulfur'. [cite book|author = Simpson DP| title = Cassell's Latin Dictionary | publisher = Cassell Ltd.| date = 1979|edition = 5|location = London|pages = 883| isbn=0-304-52257-0] It belongs to a complex of similar foul-smelling species such as "Tricholoma inamoenum". Another related species, "T. bufonium", may be an intraspecific variant.

Description

It has a convex cap with a vague umbo up to convert|8|cm|in|0|abbr=on across, sulphur yellow in colour. The thick, sinuate gills, stipe and flesh are similarly bright yellow. The smell, caused by the chemical scatol, is enough to distinguish it from other yellow fungi. John Ramsbottom reports that it has a complex smell that has been likened variously to Jasmine, "Narcissus", Hyacinth, "Hemerocallis flava", Lilac, "Tagetes", decayed hemp or coal gas, as well as described as nauseating or foetid. [*cite book | author = Ramsbottom J | year = 1953 | title = Mushrooms & Toadstools | publisher = Collins | id = ISBN ] The taste is bitter.

It could be confused with the darker "T. equestre", though the latter has a sticky cap, white flesh, thin crowded gills, and a mealy smell. However this latter species which was formerly considered a good edible mushroom, has itself caused cases of poisoning.

Distribution and habitat

"Tricholoma sulphureum" is found in deciduous woods, particularly beech, and can occur anytime from spring until autumn.cite book | author = Haas H | year = 1969 | title = The Young Specialist looks at Fungi |pages=p. 148| publisher = Burke | id = ISBN 0-222-79409-7] It is found across Europe and has been confirmed as far east as China. [cite journal|author=Deng H, Yao YJ |year=2005 |title=Revision of three species of "Tricholoma" reported from China|journal=Mycotaxon|volume=92|pages=77–84 |issn=0093-4666]

Toxicity

The fungus is usually classified as inedible in guidebooks, although there have been reports of poisoning. Symptoms are predominantly gastrointestinal with some neurological. [de iconcite journal |author=Veselský J, Dvorák J |year=1981|title=Über den Verlauf einer Vergiftung durch den Schwefelgelben Ritterling - "Tricholoma sulphureum" (Bull. ex Fr.) Kumm. |journal=Cĕská Mykologie |volume=35 |pages=114–15]

References

External links

* [http://healing-mushrooms.net/archives/tricholoma-sulphureum.html “"Tricholoma sulphureum"”] by Robert Sasata, "Healing-Mushrooms.net", Mar, 2008.