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 (Gilkey) K.Hansen & X.H.Wang[1]

Balsamia oregonensis is a species of ascomycete fungus in the family Helvellaceae. It is the type species of the genus Barssia, and is commonly found in Oregon, which it is named for.

Description

Balsamia oregonensis is reddish-yellow in color and between 1 and 2.5 cm (0.39 and 0.98 in) in diameter.[2][3][4] Its exterior appears lumpy and rounded in nature with less distinct warts then other truffles.^[citation needed] The exterior folds into itself at a singular point, and the entirety of the exterior is covered in coarse hyphae.^[citation needed] The interior of B. oregonensis is translucent white and appears marbled.^[citation needed] The interior has central channels which do not appear translucent and somewhat mimics the exterior in shape/form, not unlike the human brain, these channels penetrate the gleba in multiple places.^[citation needed]

Reproduction

Balsamia oregonensis releases its fungal spores seasonally in the spring and into early summertime.[5]

Consumption

By humans

Balsamia oregonensis is an edible species of truffle and is described as having a pleasant taste. While edible, B. oregonensis is not often found in large enough quantities to be considered a regular delicacy even where it is most prevalent.^[citation needed]

By animals

There is evidence that B. oregonensis is seasonally consumed by other animals, such as chipmunks, within its ecosystem.[6]

History

Balsamia oregonensis was first described by Helen Gilkey in 1925,[4] who named it in honor of Professor H. P. Barss who first collected B. oregonensis in Oregon.[7] This was then published in the Journal Mycologia, from the Mycological Society of America in December of 1925 Vol. 17 No. 6.

Ecological associations

Balsamia oregonensis is commonly found alongside Douglas Fir trees which are considered its primary host.[8] This association is useful in truffling and the best way to locate B. oregonensis in the wild.

Location

As its name suggests, Balsamia oregonensis is primarily found in Oregon, United States, although it is not exclusive to the area. Other areas within the United States where B. oregonensis can be found includes the Great plains region.[9]

B. oregonensis has reportedly also been found in the Polish Tatra Mountains.[10]

References

1. "Balsamia oregonensis (Gilkey) K.Hansen & X.H.Wang". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
2. "Barssia oregonensis". ascomycete.org.
3. Gilkey, Helen M. Tuberales of North America. Oregon State College, 1939
4. Gilkey H.M. 1925. Five new hypogaeous fungi. Mycologia, 17 (6): 250-254
5. Arora, David. Mushrooms Demystified. Berkeley, Ten Speed Press, 1986.
6. 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
7. "Barssia genus - truffle-like fungi".
8. "Barssia oregonensis Gilkey 1925". Archived from the original on 2024-04-21.
9. Hawker, Lilian E. (1968). "Hypogeous Ascomycetes from Idaho". Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society.
10. 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.