Pseudohydnum gelatinosum, commonly known as the toothed jelly fungus, cat's tongue, or jelly tooth,[1] is an Eurasian species of fungus in the order Auriculariales. Its common names refer to its gelatinous consistency and hydnoid (toothed) undersurface.
| Pseudohydnum gelatinosum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pseudohydnum gelatinosum, Abernethy Forest, Scotland | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Auriculariales |
| Family: | incertae sedis |
| Genus: | Pseudohydnum |
| Species: | P. gelatinosum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudohydnum gelatinosum | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Pseudohydnum gelatinosum | |
|---|---|
 | Teeth on hymenium |
 | No distinct cap |
 | Ecology is saprotrophic |
 | Edibility is edible |
Description
editThe gelatinous fruit bodies are whitish to light grayish or tan, 2–5 centimetres (3⁄4–2 inches) wide, with teeth up to 2 millimetres (1⁄16 in) long. The spore print is white.[2]
Taxonomy
editA subspecies, Pseudohydnum gelatinosum ssp. pusillum, is found in North America.[3] It is the only toothed jelly fungus known in the region.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThe species was thought to be cosmopolitan, but recent DNA evidence suggests that it is confined to Europe and northern Asia, with superficially similar (but distinct) taxa elsewhere.[4] P. gelatinosum grows on dead conifer wood.[5]
The North American species can be found near both coasts, between November– February on the west and July–September in other places.[2]
Uses
editThe jelly tooth is edible, even raw,[6] and it is consumed as a wild food in parts of Bulgaria, Russia, and Siberia.[7]
References
edit- ^ Holden L. (April 2022). "English names for fungi 2022". British Mycological Society. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ a b c Audubon (2023). Mushrooms of North America. Knopf. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-593-31998-7.
- ^ Spirin V, Malysheva V, Viner I, Dudka V, Grebenc T, Miettinen O (2023). "Taxonomy and multigene phylogeny of Pseudohydnum (Auriculariales, Basidiomycota)". Mycological Progress. 22. doi:10.1007/s11557-023-01895-4. hdl:20.500.12556/DiRROS-16576-b511a502-e6f0-911f-ba59-34147b859cbc.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Zhou H, Liu H, Gates GM, Wu F, Dai Y, Cooper JA. (2022). "Phylogeny and diversity of the genus Pseudohydnum (Auriculariales, Basidiomycota)". Journal of Fungi. 8 (7): 658. doi:10.3390/jof8070658. PMC 9325116. PMID 35887415.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Roberts P, Evans S (2011). The Book of Fungi. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. p. 453. ISBN 978-0-226-72117-0.
- ^ Stoyneva-Gärtner, M. P.; Uzunov, B. A.; Dimitrova, P. (June 15, 2017). "Jelly-like algae and fungi used as food in Bulgaria". International Journal of Nutrition and Health Sciences. 2 (1): 6–9.
- ^ Boa ER. (2004). Wild Edible Fungi: A Global Overview of Their Use and Importance to People. Food & Agriculture Organization. p. 138. ISBN 978-92-5-105157-3.