Chroogomphus is a genus of fungi commonly known as pine-spikes or spike-caps, based on the shape of the mushrooms and because they often grow in association with pines. The genus is distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including North America and Eurasia.
Taxonomy These fungi are members of the family Gomphidiaceae which are agaricoid members of the Boletales (suborder Suillineae). Related to the genus Gomphidius (in which they were once classified), Chroogomphus are distinguished from Gomphidius by their lack of a partial veil.
Chroogomphus rutilus, found in Europe, is the type species.
Accepted species of Chroogomphus include: Image Scientific name Year Distribution Chroogomphus albipes 2009Sierra Nevada Chroogomphus asiaticus 2001Eastern Siberia, Nepal Chroogomphus conacytiensis 2023Mexico Chroogomphus confusus 2009China (Yunnan) Chroogomphus filiformis 2009China (Yunnan) Chroogomphus flavovinaceus 2023Mexico Chroogomphus fulmineus 1988France Chroogomphus helveticus 1967Czech Republic, United States, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic Chroogomphus himalayanus 2021India Chroogomphus jamaicensis 1964United States, Dominican Republic, Jamaica Chroogomphus leptocystis 1964Canada Chroogomphus loculatus 1970United States Chroogomphus mediterraneus 2006Greece, United Kingdom, Spain Chroogomphus ochraceus 1964United States, Canada Chroogomphus orientirutilus 2009 China (Yunnan) Chroogomphus pakistanicus 2020Pakistan Chroogomphus papillatus 1983Southern Hemisphere Chroogomphus pruinosus 2020Pakistan Chroogomphus pseudotomentosus 2001China (Yunnan) Chroogomphus pseudovinicolor 1967United States Chroogomphus purpurascens 1990China, Russia, Germany Chroogomphus roseolus 2009China Chroogomphus rutilus 1964Finland, Greece, Russia, South Korea Chroogomphus sibiricus 1964Russia Chroogomphus subfulmineus 2018 Italy, Spain, Cyprus Chroogomphus superiorensis 1975 Chroogomphus tomentosus 1964Canada, United States Chroogomphus vinicolor 1964United States
Etymology The genus name is derived from the Greek (), meaning "skin" or "colour", and () meaning "plug" or "large wedge-shaped nail".
Description
The cap of C. rutilus is up to in diameter and red-brown in colour. The widely spaced gills are brownish-orange and decurrent with black to brownish-yellow spores. The stalk is brownish-yellow and tapers toward the base. The flesh is orange to salmon-coloured and turns violet when chewed.
Chroogomphus ochraceus of North America is very similar in habit and appearance to C. rutilus, and the latter name has often been misapplied to C. ochraceus.Wood M, Stevens F. (2004). Chroogomphus ochraceus. MykoWeb.
Chroogomphus vinicolor, another North American species, is likewise similar to C. rutilus, although C. vinicolor tends to be smaller. The cap color is variable in both species, with C. vinicolor being, as its scientific name suggests, more wine-colored while C. rutilus is usually more brown. The most distinctive differences between these three species are microscopic.Kuo M. (2005). Chroogomphus vinicolor. MushroomExpert.com.Kuo M. (2005). The genus Chroogomphus. MushroomExpert.com.
Distribution and habitat The genus is distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere including North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.
Ecology Members of this genus have been thought to be ectomycorrhizal with various species of pine, but there is now evidence that all members of the Gomphidiaceae are parasitic upon other boletes. Specifically, Chroogomphus species are thought to be parasitic on various conifer-associated Suillus species, with this parasitism often being highly species-specific.
In the Pacific Northwest of North America, C. tomentosus is found with Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir) and Tsuga heterophylla (western hemlock). C. helveticus of Europe is found in conifer forests containing spruce (Picea ssp.).
Uses Chroogomphus rutilus, C. oregonensis, C. tomentosus, and C. vinicolor are edible and may be interchangeable for culinary purposes, but are not regarded highly and possess neither a distinctive taste nor odor. One food writer states about C. rutilus and C. vinicolor:
David Arora states in his book Mushrooms Demystified that "some relatively unknown mushrooms (e.g., Chroogomphus) are quite good."
Chroogomphus rutilus has been the subject of investigation as the source of antibiotics, as well as other potentially useful secondary compounds.
References
Further reading Arora D. (1986) Mushrooms Demystified. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.
Nilsson S. & Persson O. (1977) Fungi of Northern Europe 1: Larger Fungi (Excluding Gill Fungi). Penguin Books.
External links