Active Gymnopilus species.

[tripsis]

Found a patch of an active Gymnopilus species a couple of days ago. Green bruising at the bases of the stipes was apparent and on some of the smallest pins.

From the limited descriptions I've found of G. dilepis, it appears to be an reasonable match, but with some discrepancies. For example, the bruising of G. dilepis is supposed to be a blue-black, while mine appears more green. G. dilepis also apparently only grows from pine or birch chips, while the wood type the ones I found were growing on was likely a native species of some sort, perhaps a Eucalyptus or Casuarina species. The gills are yellow tand the annulus is high up on the stipe though, so those feature do match.

Anyway, the photos:

Note the green bruising at the base of the stipe:

Thoughts?

[tripsis]

A few more photos, seeing as i'm limited to ten images per post...

[Sonny Jim]

Wow, great find!

I have no experience with Gymnopilus species at all

but

The bruising in the pic you pointed out looks inky blue to me.

Never can trust a photo...

[tripsis]

Yeah, it does look inky blue in the photo, but it was much closer to dark green in real life. Fresher bruising (the one pictured was like that when I found it) was much more obviously green.

[paradox]

what species is it? how do you know it's active?

[tripsis]

I suspect either G. purpuratus or G. dilepis, but it fits neither perfectly. I am assuming it is active due to its green bruising, usually a sign in Gymnopilus species that it contains psilocin and psilocybin.

[Mycot]

Congrats on this active gym find Tripsis. They do indeed appear to be the species G.dilepis.

I suspect that the species grows on a wider range of wood types as its even been found growing on coconut stumps and I think oak. I've also found gyms growing on casuarina.

The green discoloration is perhaps a minor discrepancy as blue plus orange background = green.

Below is the page from Bruce Furher's book on Australian G.dilepis.

Edited June 5, 2010 by Mycot

[tripsis]

Thanks Mycot. That description from Furher's book is one of the references I used.

The other was this site, which is where I got the information from regarding the colour of the bruising. As can be seen in the following pics, the bruising is more of a blue-black than green.

[Mycot]

That site has a nice series of pics including microscopic images of G.dilepis.

what species is it? how do you know it's active?

 

Check out the last pic in the first post. While active gyms wont always bruise blue, green or blue to blue-black coloration and/or bruising can be taken as a sign of activity. Even a smoky black coloration of the inner flesh at the base of the stipe due to bruising I take as a sign of activity.

[Magicdirt]

I stumbled accross a patch of Gyms a while ago, I couldn't get a positive ID on them but they did bruise purple almost green.

I made a tea out of them but I didn't get any effect except a relaxed feeling.

There is some conjecture as to whether Aussie gyms are even active at all.

Have they been bioassayed to affirm they are active ?

[tripsis]

They are moderately active.

[paradox]

nice

[t st tantra]

thanx 4 sharing tripsis!

t s t .

[tripsis]

More pics from today. The heavy rains we've been having recently have washed most of the fibrils on the pilei away, giving them a smooth appearance.

[tripsis]

Once again, notice the blue/green bruising. It's quite obvious on this one.

[tripsis]

A strange possible side effect from this species is altered taste for days after consuming them. Immediately after eating any food, an unpleasant aftertaste fills the mouth and last for quite some time. It is impossible to say that this Gymnopilus species is the cause, but there is a strong correlation indicating that it is.

[mutant]

heh, I once had that for a couple of days after I ate some Albatrellus species. Later it turnt out this particular Albatrellus has been moved to inedible status.

Were those Gymnos as bitter as G.junonius/spectabilies is supposed to be? are all active gymnos very bitter?

[tripsis]

No, not bitter, but not pleasant. Not all species of Gymnopilus are bitter.

[SunChaser]

Awesome find tripsis.

A decent patch of blue staining gyms, that's pretty cool.

[Mycot]

Yes this is an awesome find.

One of the characteristics of G.purpuratus is that the stems are solid, so this is a useful character to check for in a shroom suspected as being that species.

As can be seen in the last pic in the first post here the stems are hollow which is one of the characteristics of G.dilepis.

[mud]

print print print print print!!!!

[Mycot]

Additional beautiful pics of Aussie G.dilepis can be found at FreeSpores.com

Edited June 5, 2011 by Mycot

[tripsis]

Those pictures are from stonesun's grow at the Shroomery, from a print I sent him.

See here and here.

Uunusually enough, that patch was fruiting in summer, shortly after I got back from India, but when I went to check it a month of so ago after quite a bit of rain, there was nothing.