Lycoperdon umbrinum
| Lycoperdon umbrinum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Lycoperdon umbrinum, found in Gåla (Norway) in late August | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Agaricaceae |
| Genus: | Lycoperdon |
| Species: | L. umbrinum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lycoperdon umbrinum Pers. (1801)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
| Lycoperdon umbrinum saprotrophic | |
|---|---|
 | Edibility is edible |
Lycoperdon umbrinum, commonly known as the umber-brown puffball, is a type of Puffball mushroom in the genus Lycoperdon. It is found in China,[2] Europe,[3] Africa,[4] and North America.[5]
Description
This species has a
The fruit body is initially pale brown then reddish to blackish brown, and the outer wall has slender, persistent spines up to 1 mm long.
The species is considered edible.[5] Be sure to identify properly before eating because it could be confused with the toxic earth ball or deadly Amanita.[10][11]
Ecology and habitat
This fungus is saprophytic, commonly growing in forests and under conifers.[7] It has also been seen growing in poor quality soil in hardwood and conifer areas.[12] It has been observed growing by itself, dispersed, or many together.[7]
The fruiting period is from June through September.[12] Unlike agarics which have gills that hold spores, when conditions are right, these puffballs will become dry and burst to release their spores.[13] Upon rupturing, they can release trillions of spores.
An interesting characteristic about Lycoperdon umbrinum is that it likely has a mycorrhizal relationship with Pinus patula.[4] One study investigated this relationship and found these species were often growing near each other. Additionally, there were development of branched and finger-like mycorrhizae underneath the L. umbrinum fruiting bodies.[4] This study was done in South Africa where it is common that coniferous plants grown on large scale have this mutualism (and L. umbrinum is one of them).
Edibility and medicinal uses
Lycoperdon umbrinum is edible and has been found to have some medicinal purposes.[12] This mushroom has historically been used by the Mam ethnic group in Mexico. They call it “wutz anim” or “dead’s eye” which they use to keep away the evil eye. They typically prepare it by boiling and eat it by itself or with other plants. This group also uses it against asthma (creating a powder mixed with other plants) and additional uses that seem to overlap with the uses of baby powder. In some parts of the country, there is a mushroom gathering tradition (where these mushrooms are used for food, medicine, religious purposes, or for selling) that the whole family is a part of.[12]
In the lab, L. umbrinum has been found to have significant antibacterial properties[14] and potentially antimicrobial properties.[15] It was found that Aspergillus tamarii (an endophytic fungus) is associated with L. umbrinum through a beneficial mutualistic relation.[14] This fungus, extracted from L. umbrinum has significant antibacterial properties specifically on Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. [14] L. umbrinum was also found to have antimicrobial activities against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).[15] Lycoperdon umbrinum and Trametes versicolor were found to inhibit the MRSA growth to the greatest degree (compared to the other fungi in the study) indicating that these species could hold a new source of antimicrobial properties to fight MRSA.[15]
Although it may have helpful antibacterial and antimibrobial properties, spore inhalation should be avoided. Inhalation of Lycoperdon spp. could cause lycoperdonosis. This is a reaction to inhalation or ingestion of puffball spores which can lead to unpleasant symptoms.[13]
Nutrients
Lycoperdon umbrinum contains tocopherols with α- and β- isoforms and has high ash content (indicating it has minerals important for nutrition).[16]
References
- ^ Kew Mycology (2015). "Species Fungorum". Species Fungorum.
- ISBN 962-201-556-5.
- ISBN 0-7112-2378-5.
- ^ ISSN 0038-2167.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7627-3109-1.
- ^ Kew Mycology (2015). "Species Fungorum". Species Fungorum.
- ^ a b c d "Lycoperdon umbrinum (MushroomExpert.Com)". www.mushroomexpert.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ISSN 2077-7019.
- ISBN 0-412-36970-2.
- )
- ^ Freisen, M.; Pringle, A.; Callan, B.; Leathern, A. (2005). "Amanita phalloides heads north". Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology. 43 (6): 761–762 – via Google Scholar.
- ^ a b c d Arias, F.G.; Gallegos, R. H.; Sánchez, J.E. (2014). "Ethnomycology in the "Tacaná Volcano Biosphere Reserve," Chiapas, Mexico". Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products (ICMBMP8), New Delhi, India, 19–22 November 2014. 1 & 2: 98–107 – via ICAR- Directorate of Mushroom Research.
- ^ PMID 28964695.
- ^ a b c Ogbole, O. O.; Adebayo-Tayo, B. C.; Salawu, K. M.; Okoli, V. C. (March 2017). "Molecular Identification and Antimicrobial Activity of Endophytic Fungi Aspergillus tamarii (Trichomaceae)".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ S2CID 208585448.
- ISSN 0308-8146.
External links
