Biology
provided by Arkive
Fungi are neither plants nor animals but belong to their own kingdom. They are unable to produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis, as plants do; instead, they acquire nutrients from living or dead plants, animals, or other fungi, as animals do. In many larger fungi (lichens excepted) the only visible parts are the fruit bodies, which arise from a largely unseen network of threads called 'hyphae'. These hyphae permeate the fungus's food source, which may be soil, leaf litter, rotten wood, dung, and so on, depending on the species. With the exception of the earpick fungus Auriscalpium vulgare, all stipitate hydnoid fungi are ectomycorrhizal species; they form close symbiotic relationships with trees, and derive some of their nutrients from the tree's roots. This aids them in obtaining nutrients on poor quality soil, and means that are always found in association with trees (1).
Like Hydnellum, Phellodon species are often surprisingly free of invertebrate damage. It is thought that they may contain defensive chemicals that repel invertebrates and possibly even mammalian grazers (1).
Conservation
provided by Arkive
The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) has produced a Group Action Plan for the 14 species of stipitate hydnoid fungi that occur in the UK (2). A number of sites that support this species, including the New Forest, are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or reserves (2). The grey tooth fungus is afforded general protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but it is not one of the four species of fungi given special protection under Schedule 8. Much more research on these fungi is needed if they are to be conserved (1); it is unfortunate that fungi are truly 'the forgotten kingdom' when it comes to conservation action (8).
Description
provided by Arkive
The grey tooth fungus belongs to a group known as the stipitate hydnoid fungi. These fungi share some morphological characters, but are not naturally related (1). They are 'tooth fungi', fungi that release their spores from tooth-like structures. The fruit bodies are terrestrial and have a short stalk or 'stipe', hence the name 'stipitate' (1). The teeth are on the underside of the fruit body (1). The flesh of all members of the genus Phellodon is tough and somewhat leathery; it becomes 'corky' when it dries (1) and develops a distinct spicy smell (4). The caps may fuse together to form one mass with a number of stipes, and may grow around and even engulf blades of grass and twigs. The outer margin of the fruit body is the area of growth, and is paler in colour than the rest of the cap, which is brown with striations radiating out from the centre (4). This area of growth is wider in young specimens; the cap may change as it ages in terms of colour, shape and texture (1), but confusion can arise as the downy surface of the cap can darken greatly when it rains (4).
WARNING: many species of fungus are poisonous or contain chemicals that can cause sickness. Never pick and eat any species of fungus that you cannot positively recognise or are unsure about. Some species are deadly poisonous and can cause death within a few hours if swallowed.
Habitat
provided by Arkive
This species is associated with a wide range of host trees including oak, sweet chestnut, birch, pine, and spruce (1). It occurs on sandy soils, typically on bare or mossy ground, and its distribution indicates that it prefers warm areas (1).
Range
provided by Arkive
Widespread in Europe and North America. Rather than 'vulnerable', the status of this species is more realistically described as 'local and not uncommon' (7). It is known from southern England, Scotland, Wales (10), and western Ireland (4); it is one of the most widespread of the stipitate hydnoids in England, but seems to be fairly rare in Scotland (1). In Europe it is rare in Scandinavia but becomes widespread towards the south (1).
Status
provided by Arkive
Provisionally classified as Vulnerable in Great Britain (2). Digging up fungi without permission could also constitute theft under the Theft Act of 1968 (3).
Threats
provided by Arkive
All species of stipitate hydnoid fungi are vulnerable to the effects of atmospheric pollution (1), soil eutrophication, soil disturbance (eg by timber management) and competition from vascular plants (1).
Associations
provided by BioImages, the virtual fieldguide, UK
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Phellodon melaleucus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Pinus sylvestris
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Phellodon melaleucus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Betula
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Phellodon melaleucus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Castanea sativa
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Phellodon melaleucus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Fagus
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Phellodon melaleucus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Quercus
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Phellodon melaleucus
provided by wikipedia EN
Phellodon melaleucus, commonly known as the grey tooth,[2] is a species of tooth fungus in the family Bankeraceae. It was originally described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1815 as a species of Hydnum.[3] In 1881, Petter Karsten included it as one of the original three species in his newly circumscribed genus Phellodon.[4] The fungus is widely distributed in Europe and North America, where it associates mycorrhizally with a wide range of host trees. It is considered vulnerable in Switzerland.[5]
Description
The grey tooth is a small to medium-sized fungus with a leathery or corky fruiting body. On the underside it has pale grayish-brown spines from which spores are released rather than from gills. It may look like a convoluted single fruiting body but in fact each part has a blackish stem, and several caps can fuse together. The cap tends to be concentrically zoned with a reddish-brown to blackish-brown centre and a pale edge. The flesh is greyish-brown, darker near the base of the stem, and smells of fenugreek.[6]
Distribution and habitat
This species occurs in various parts of Europe and has been recorded in North America.[7] It is uncommon in the United Kingdom and very rare in Ireland. This is an ectomycorrhizal species that forms a symbiotic relationship with the roots of various plants, usually trees; the hyphae of the fungus wrap round the rootlets of the host tree, and there is an exchange of nutrients between the two.[8] It is typically found growing on the ground on mossy banks in the vicinity of its hosts. In the British Isles it is associated with various trees including oak, beech, sweet chestnut, birch, Scots pine and spruce.[6]
References
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Phellodon melaleucus: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Phellodon melaleucus, commonly known as the grey tooth, is a species of tooth fungus in the family Bankeraceae. It was originally described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1815 as a species of Hydnum. In 1881, Petter Karsten included it as one of the original three species in his newly circumscribed genus Phellodon. The fungus is widely distributed in Europe and North America, where it associates mycorrhizally with a wide range of host trees. It is considered vulnerable in Switzerland.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
