Paralepistopsis amoenolens explained

Paralepistopsis amoenolens is an agaric fungus in the Tricholomataceae family.[1] It is commonly known as the paralysis funnel.[2]

Taxonomy

It was first described in 1975 by the French mycologist Georges Jean Louis Malençon from a specimen found in Morocco and classified as Clitocybe amoenolens.[3]

In 2012, following DNA analysis, Vizzini and Ercole assigned this species to the new genus Paralepistopsis, which forms a separate clade from other Clitocybes.[4] This change has been accepted by Index Fungorum and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and so the correct name is currently Paralepistopsis amoenolens.[5] [6]

Toxicity

It was discovered to be poisonous after several people had consumed specimens all found in the alpine Maurienne valley in the Savoie department over three years. They had mistaken it for the edible common funnel cap (Infundibulicybe sp.) or Paralepista flaccida (formerly Lepista inversa).[7]

The resulting syndrome of fungus-induced erythromelalgia lasted from 8 days to 5 months, although one person exhibited symptoms for three years.[8]

This species contains acromelic acids including Acromelic acid A which is a potent neurotoxin with a chemical formula of C13H14N2O7 and is associated with causing paralysis and seizures[9]

Similar species

Paralepistopsis acromelalga is a poisonous species known from Japan, commonly called the poison dwarf bamboo mushroom. It had been discovered to be poisonous in 1918.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Species Fungorum - Paralepistopsis amoenolens (Malençon) Vizzini, Mycotaxon 120: 257 (2012) . 2022-07-19 . www.speciesfungorum.org.
  2. Evans S, Kibby G. (2004). Pocket Nature: Fungi. Dorling Kindersley
  3. Web site: Species Fungorum - Clitocybe amoenolens Malençon, in Malençon & Bertault, Trav. Inst. Sci. Chérifien, Sér. Bot. Biol. Veg. 33: 141 (1975) . 2022-07-19 . www.speciesfungorum.org.
  4. See Vizzini A . Ercole E . 2012 . Paralepistopsis gen. nov. and Paralepista (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) . Mycotaxon . 120 . 253–267 . 10.5248/120.253 . free . 2318/124414. . The authors provide a phylogram which indicates the evidence that Paralepistopsis forms a separate clade.
  5. Web site: Paralepistopsis amoenolens (Malençon) Vizzini, 2012 . 2017-02-25 . Global Biodiversity Information Facility . GBIF.
  6. Web site: Paralepistopsis amoenolens page . 2017-02-25 . Species Fungorum . Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
  7. Saviuc PF, Danel VC, Moreau PA, Guez DR, Claustre AM, Carpentier PH, Mallaret MP, Ducluzeau R . 2001. Erythromelalgia and mushroom poisoning . J Toxicol Clin Toxicol . 39 . 4 . 403–07. 10.1081/CLT-100105162. 11527236. 32805160.
  8. Diaz . James H. . February 2005 . Syndromic diagnosis and management of confirmed mushroom poisonings . Critical Care Medicine . 33 . 2 . 427–36 . 10.1097/01.CCM.0000153531.69448.49 . 15699849 . 24492593.
  9. Web site: PubChem . Acromelic acid A . 2022-07-19 . pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov . en.
  10. Ichimura . J . 1918. A new poisonous mushroom . Bot Gaz (Tokyo) . 65 . 10911.

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