Snowbank fungus

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Clitocybe glacialis

A snowbank fungus is any one of a number of diverse species of

mycorrhizal, or in the case of Caloscypha fulgens, pathogenic.[1]

History

William Bridge Cooke was the first to discuss the snowbank fungi as a distinct ecological group in 1944 when he discussed the fungal flora of Mount Shasta in California.[2] He followed this with another publication 11 years later.[3] In his 1975 book A Field Guide to Western Mushrooms, Alexander H. Smith discussed what he called the "snowbank flora", noting "It seems obvious to me that the species in this group are well established throughout the forest zone, and have adjusted to this fruiting pattern, possibly as a response to the habitat drying out and warming up as summer progresses."[4]

Species

Snowbank fungi include members of the

gasteroid species Pholiota nubigena
. White-spored species include the saprobes Clitocybe albirhiza, C.  glacialis, Lentinellus montanus (formerly Lyophyllum[5]), Mycena overholtsii, and the conifer cone decomposers Strobilurus albipilatus and S. occidentalis. Also white spored, H. goetzii, H.  marzuolus, and H. subalpinus are believed to be (or suspected to be) mycorrhizal with conifers. The ecological preferences of Melanoleuca angelesiana and Pseudoomphalina angelesiana are unknown. Non-gilled basidiomycetes include Pycnoporellus alboluteus and Tyromyces leucospongia.[1]

Ascomycete snowbank fungi include the decomposers

Picea.[1]

Habitat and distribution

In North America, snowbank fungi range from northern

whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), all of which can provide sufficient shade to prevent fast snowmelt. Several species are endemic to western North America,[1] and the phenomenon appears to be restricted to this part of the world.[6] They are not associated with other cold environments, such as arctic or alpine habitats, or with glaciers.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Cripps C. (Spring 2009). "Snowbank Fungi Revisited" (PDF). Fungi. 2 (1): 47–53.
  2. JSTOR 2421394
    .
  3. JSTOR 1931437
    .
  4. ISBN 0-472-85599-9
    .
  5. ^ Redhead SA, Ammirati J, Norvell L, Seidl M (2000). "Notes on western North American snowbank fungi". Mycotaxon. 76: 321–8.
  6. ISBN 978-0-89327-459-7
    .
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