Termitomyces titanicus

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Termitomyces titanicus
A Termitomyces titanicus found in a village outside Upemba National Park.

A Termitomyces titanicus found in a village outside Upemba National Park .

Systematics
Class : Agaricomycetes
Subclass : Agaricomycetidae
Order : Mushroom-like (Agaricales)
Family : Rasling relatives (Lyophyllaceae)
Genre : Termitomyces
Type : Termitomyces titanicus
Scientific name
Termitomyces titanicus
Pegler & Piearce

The Termitomyces titanicus is an agaric mushroom of the genus Termitomyces (termite mushrooms) associated with termites , from the family of the rasling relatives . It is also known locally under the name Chingulungulu or Igihefu . In the east of Zambia, the mushroom is called Utale . With fruit bodies that reach an average of up to 100 cm, it is considered the largest agaric mushroom on the planet according to the Guinness Book of Records .

features

Macroscopic features

The hat has an average diameter of one meter. The stem reaches a length of 50 centimeters. The entire fruiting body weighs an average of 2.5 kilograms.

The surface is dark gray in the middle and runs into white up to the edge. But it can also be completely white or have a grayish brown color. The edge is slightly to heavily wavy and in older specimens it can be partially curved downwards. Some mushrooms have a furrowed surface. The slats are cream to white, but darker than the hat color.

The stem is dirty white. It is firm, ringless and does not form a tuber. The stem shape is cylindrical to slightly bulbous.

Microscopic features

The fruiting bodies arise on mycelia that reach into the mushroom chambers of the termite mounds with which this type of mushroom lives in a symbiotic system .

ecology

ingredients

Among other things, amide-bound fatty acids (FAA) have been isolated from the species Termitomyces titanicus .

distribution

The fungus, which occurs exclusively in Africa, is widespread in Zambia and Tanzania . It grows near termite mounds.

meaning

The Termitomyces Titanicus considered as a good edible mushroom. In Zambia it is sold in markets.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Françoise Malaisse: How to live and survive in Zambezian open forest. Les Presses Agronomiques De Gembloux, 1997, ISBN 2-87016-106-9 .
  2. ^ A b c d e Brian Morris: Wildlife and Landscapes in Malawi: Selected Essays on Natural History. Trafford Publishing, 1997, ISBN 1-4251-7183-4 .
  3. ↑ Georg Schön: Mushrooms - living beings between plants and animals. CH Beck, 2005, ISBN 3-406-50860-X .
  4. ↑ Termitomyces titanicus at Chemie.de
  5. ^ Index Fungorum

Web links

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