Sarcodon is a
genus of
fungi in the
familyBankeraceae, which is part of the
orderThelephorales, known for its almost universal ectomycorrhizal ecology.[1] The genus owes its name to the presence of teeth-like spines on the
hymenophore, from ancient Greek; sarco = flesh and odon = tooth. For this reason they are commonly called "tooth fungi", or "
Hydnoid fungi".
Description
Sarcodon species have yellow to brown tinted basidiospores,[2] with lengths in the range of 7.4-9 μm.[3] The basidiomata are often soft and fleshy.[2]
Species
As of September 2015[update],
Index Fungorum listed 49 valid species of Sarcodon.[4] However, in 2019 Larsson et al. transferred 12 species into the genus Hydnellum.[3]
Several species within the Sarcodon genus, including S. imbricatus (see figure), are edible. The fungus can be bitter, but that is less apparent in younger specimens. In China, it is a popular edible mushroom and it is used to reduce cholesterol, relax the muscles, and improve blood circulation.[7]Isolates from the genus, called scabronines, may increase
nerve growth factor synthesis in vitro.[8]
^Tedersoo, L.; May, TW.; Smith, ME. (2010). "Ectomycorrhizal lifestyle in fungi: global diversity, distribution, and evolution of phylogenetic lineages". Mycorrhiza. 20 (4): 217–263.
doi:
10.1007/s00572-009-0274-x.
PMID20191371.
S2CID3351967.
^
abGeesteranus, Maas RA (1975). Die Terrestrischen Stachelpilze Europas (The Terrestrial Hydnums of Europe). Vol. 1. North-Holland Publishing. pp. 1–127.
^
abcdGrupe, Arthur C.; Baker, Anthony D.; Uehling, Jessie K.; Smith, Matthew E.; Baroni, Timothy J.; Lodge, D. Jean; Henkel, Terry W. (2015). "Sarcodon in the Neotropics I: new species from Guyana, Puerto Rico and Belize". Mycologia. 107 (3): 591–606.
doi:
10.3852/14-185.
PMID25661714.
S2CID25900469.