Finger telephon (Thelephora palmata)
Systematics:
- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (undefined)
- Order: Thelephorales
- Family: Thelephoraceae (Telephorae)
- Genus: Thelephora (Telefora)
- Species: Thelephora palmata (Telefora palmata)
Synonyms:
-
Telefora palm-shaped
- Clavaria palmata
- Ramaria palmata
- Merisma palmatum
- Phylacteria palmata
- Thelephora diffusa
The telephorus palmata (Thelephora palmata) is a species of coral fungus in the telephoric family. The fruiting bodies are leathery and coral-like, with narrow branches at the base, which then fan out and split into numerous flattened teeth. The wedge-shaped tips are whitish while young, but darken as the fungus matures. A widespread but unusual species, it is found in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America, and bears fruit on the ground in coniferous and mixed forests. Finger-shaped telephon, although it is not considered a rare mushroom, nevertheless, does not often catch the eye of mushroom pickers: it is very well disguised as the surrounding space.
A small excursion into history
The species was first described in 1772 by the Italian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli as Clavaria palmata. Elias Fries passed it on to the Thelephora family in 1821. This species has several synonyms resulting from several common transmissions in its taxonomic history, including Ramaria, Merisma and Phylacteria. Other historical synonyms are Merisma foetidum and Clavaria schaefferi. Mycologist Christian Hendrik Persun published a description of another species called Thelephora palmata in 1822, but since the name is already in use, it is an illegal homonym and the species Persun described is now known as Thelephora anthocephala.
Despite its coral-like appearance, Thelephora palmata is a close relative of the Terrestrial Telephora and the Clove Telephora. The specific epithet palmata 'finger' comes from Latin and means 'to have the shape of a hand'. Common (English) names of the mushroom are associated with its acrid odor, similar to the stench of rotten garlic. For example, the mushroom is called 'stinking earthfan' – 'smelly fan' or 'fetid false coral' – 'fetid fake coral'. Samuel Frederick Gray, in his 1821 work, The Natural Arrangement of British Plants, called this mushroom 'stinking branch-ear' – 'stinking branching ear'.
Mordechai Cubitt Cook, an English botanist and mycologist, put it this way in 1888: Telefora fingertip is probably one of the most fetid mushrooms. One scientist once took several specimens to his bedroom in Aboyne, and after a couple of hours he was horrified to find that the smell was much worse than in any anatomical room. He tried to save the samples, but the smell was so strong that it was completely unbearable until he wrapped them in twelve layers of the thickest wrapping paper. Other sources also note the very unpleasant smell of this mushroom, however, they indicate that in fact the stench is not as fatal as Cook described it.
Description
Ecology: Forms mycorrhiza with conifers. Fruit bodies grow singly, scattered or in groups on the ground in both coniferous and mixed forests and grassy fields. Prefers moist soils, often grows along forest roads. Forms fruiting bodies from mid-summer to mid-autumn.
The fruiting body of the palmate telephora is a coral-like bundle that branches many times from the central stem, reaching dimensions of 3.5-6.5 (according to some sources, up to 8) cm in height and also in width. The branches are flat, with vertical grooves, ending in spoon-shaped or fan-shaped ends, which seem to be incised. Very light edging can often be seen. The twigs are initially whitish, creamy, pinkish, but gradually turn gray to purple-brown at maturity. The tips of the branches, however, remain whitish or significantly paler than the lower parts. The lower parts are pinkish-brownish, the lower parts are dark brown, brownish brown. The stem (the common base from which the branches extend) is about 2 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, uneven, often warty.
Flesh: tough, leathery, fibrous, brown. Hymenium (fertile, spore-bearing tissue): amphigenic, that is, it is found on all surfaces of the fruiting body.
Odor: rather unpleasant, reminiscent of offensive garlic, also described as 'old cabbage water' or 'overripe cheese'. Fingertip telephon has been named “a candidate for the most stinking mushroom in the forest.” The unpleasant odor intensifies after drying.
Spore powder: brown to brown Under the microscope: Spores appear purple, angular, lobed, warty, with small spines 0.5-1.5 microns long. The total dimensions of elliptical spores are 8-12 7-9 microns. They contain one or two oil drops. Basidia (spore-bearing cells) are 70-100 9-12 microns and have sterigmas 2-4 microns thick, 7-12 microns long.
Edibility
Inedible. No data on toxicity.
Similar species
Thelephora anthocephala is somewhat similar in appearance, but differs in twigs that taper upward and have flattened tips (instead of spoon-like), and the absence of a fetid odor. The North American species Thelephora vialis has smaller spores and more variable color. Dark ramaria species are characterized by a lean texture of the flesh and sharp branch ends.
Other information about the mushroom
This species is found in Asia (including China, Iran, Japan, Siberia, Turkey and Vietnam), Europe, North and South America, including Brazil and Colombia. It has also been registered in Australia and Fiji.
The fruiting bodies are devoured by the springtail, the species Ceratophysella denisana.
The mushroom contains a pigment – lephoric acid. The fruiting bodies of telephora palate can be used for staining. Depending on the stain used, the colors can range from black-brown to dark grayish green to greenish brown. Without stain, a light brown color is obtained.
Photo: Alexander, Vladimir.
