Balsamia oregonensis
| Balsamia oregonensis | |
|---|---|
| Barssia oregonensis being held | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Pezizomycetes |
| Order: | Pezizales |
| Family: | Helvellaceae |
| Genus: | Balsamia |
| Species: | B. oregonensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Balsamia oregonensis | |
Balsamia oregonensis is a species of ascomycete fungus in the family Helvellaceae. It is commonly found in Oregon, which it is named for.
Taxonomy
Balsamia oregonensis was first described by Helen Gilkey in 1925,[2] who named it in honor of Professor H. P. Barss who first collected B. oregonensis in Oregon.[3] It was then published in the Journal Mycologia, from the Mycological Society of America in December 1925.[4]
Description
Balsamia oregonensis is reddish-yellow in color and between 1 and 2.5 centimetres (1⁄2 and 1 in) across.[5][6][2] Its exterior is roundish to somewhat flat and usually slightly lobed.[7] It has fewer distinct warts than most other truffles.[7] The entirety of the exterior is covered in coarse hyphae. The interior of B. oregonensis consists of whitish-gray canals.[7]
Balsamia oregonensis releases its fungal spores seasonally in the spring and into early summertime.[7]
Distribution and habitat
As its name suggests, B. oregonensis is primarily found in Oregon, United States, although it is not exclusive to the area. Other areas within the United States where the species can be found includes the Great Plains region.[8]
B. oregonensis has reportedly also been found in the Polish Tatra Mountains.[9]
Ecology
Balsamia oregonensis is commonly found alongside Douglas-fir trees which are considered its primary host.[10] This association is useful in truffling and the best way to locate B. oregonensis in the wild.
There is evidence that B. oregonensis is seasonally consumed by wild animals, such as chipmunks, within its ecosystem.[11]
Uses
Balsamia oregonensis is a presumably edible[7] species of truffle and is described as having a pleasant taste. It is not often found in large enough quantities to be considered a regular delicacy even where it is most prevalent.
References
- ^ "Balsamia oregonensis (Gilkey) K.Hansen & X.H.Wang". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ a b Gilkey H.M. 1925. Five new hypogaeous fungi. Mycologia, 17 (6): 250-254
- ^ "Barssia genus - truffle-like fungi".
- ^ Vol. 17 No. 6.
- ^ "Barssia oregonensis". ascomycete.org.
- ^ Gilkey, Helen M. Tuberales of North America. Oregon State College, 1939
- ^ a b c d e Arora, David (1986) [1979]. Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (2nd ed.). Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. pp. 853–54. ISBN 978-0-89815-170-1.
- ^ Hawker, Lilian E. (1968). "Hypogeous Ascomycetes from Idaho". Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society.
- ^ Ławrynowicz, Maria; Skirgiełło, Alina (2014). "Barssia oregonensis found in the Tatra Mountains (Poland)". Acta Mycologica. 20 (2): 277–280. doi:10.5586/am.1984.023.
- ^ "Barssia oregonensis Gilkey 1925". Archived from the original on 2024-04-21.
- ^ Sean M. Sultaire, Gian Maria Niccolò Benucci, Reid Longley, Andrew J. Kroll, Jake Verschuyl, Gregory Bonito, Gary J. Roloff, Using high-throughput sequencing to investigate summer truffle consumption by chipmunks in relation to retention forestry, Forest Ecology and Management, Volume 549, 2023, 121460, ISSN 0378-1127