Emma Wilson
While it is commonly believed that no polypores are poisonous, this is a myth. Hapalopilus nidulans (H. rutilans), also known as the purple dye polypore, cinnamon bracket, or tender nesting polypore, is a toxic variety of polypore mushroom. This fungus, which is found on five continents, has a cinnamon colour and can grow up to 10 cm wide. Its neurotoxicity is caused by the compound polyporic acid, which is present in high concentrations in its fruit bodies. Poisoning from consuming H. nidulans can cause nausea, impaired movement, visual impairment, liver and kidney failure, and temporary violet-coloured urine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Species | Hapalopilus rutilans (H. nidulans) |
| Common Names | Purple dye polypore, cinnamon bracket, tender nesting polypore |
| Colour | Cinnamon, brownish-orange |
| Size | 2.5-12 cm wide |
| Cap | Fan-shaped to semicircular and convex |
| Texture | Soft and watery when fresh, tough and hard when dry |
| Pores | Small, angular, 2-4 per millimetre |
| Odor and Taste | Sweetish to indistinct |
| Toxicity | Neurotoxic if ingested due to the presence of polyporic acid |
| Symptoms of Poisoning | Nausea, impaired movement, visual impairment, liver and kidney failure, violet-coloured urine |
| Recovery | Full recovery possible within a week |
Explore related products
$65 $65
What You'll Learn
Hapalopilus nidulans (H. rutilans) is toxic
It is a common misconception that no polypores are toxic. However, Hapalopilus nidulans (H. rutilans) is a seriously poisonous polypore species. This fungus, also known as the purple dye polypore, cinnamon bracket, or tender nesting polypore, has a neurotoxic effect if ingested. The toxin, known as polyporic acid, was first identified in 1877 and can inhibit the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. This chemical is present in high concentrations, constituting 20-40% of the dry weight of the fruit bodies.
H. nidulans is a widely distributed species found on five continents. It grows on the fallen or standing dead wood of deciduous trees, including oak, beech, birch, and, on rare occasions, conifers. The fruit bodies take the form of kidney-shaped to semicircular, cinnamon-orange-brown brackets. They have a yellowish to brownish pore surface with small angular pores, measuring 2-4 per millimetre. The flesh is pale cinnamon in colour and is initially soft and spongy, but becomes tough and hard when dry. The odour and taste are described as sweetish to indistinct.
Consuming H. rutilans can lead to poisoning, with symptoms including nausea, impaired movement, visual impairment, and liver and kidney failure. These symptoms typically manifest after a delay of at least 12 hours. Notably, the urine of poisoning victims may temporarily turn violet. Recovery is possible, as evidenced by a German family who fully recovered about a week after consuming the fungus.
H. nidulans is often sought after as a natural dyeing agent, producing vivid and fast purples with the help of ammonia. However, it is essential to exercise caution and proper identification when foraging for mushrooms to avoid accidental poisoning.
Hamsters and Mushrooms: Safe Snack or Health Risk?
You may want to see also
H. nidulans causes nausea, impaired movement, visual impairment, and liver and kidney failure
While it is commonly believed that no polypores are poisonous, this is a myth. Hapalopilus nidulans (H. rutilans), also known as the purple dye polypore, cinnamon bracket, or the tender nesting polypore, is a seriously toxic polypore species. H. nidulans is an unassuming, cinnamon-coloured polypore that can grow up to 10 cm wide. Its flesh is soft and watery when fresh and becomes tough and hard when dry.
The fruit bodies of H. nidulans contain polyporic acid, a neurotoxin that is present in high concentrations. If ingested, the neurotoxin causes nausea, impaired movement, visual impairment, and liver and kidney failure. In one poisoning case, a German family who consumed H. nidulans experienced these symptoms, which began about 12 hours after consumption. They fully recovered a week later. Similar symptoms and recovery were reported in a 2013 poisoning case, where the fungus was mistaken for the edible Fistulina hepatica.
Nausea is a common symptom of acute liver failure, along with fatigue, loss of appetite, discomfort on the right side below the ribs, and diarrhea. As liver failure progresses, the skin may turn yellow, and confusion or coma may occur. Acute liver failure is a severe condition that requires immediate medical attention.
H. nidulans is also sought after as a natural dyeing agent, producing vivid and colour-fast purples with the help of ammonia. However, consuming this fungus can be dangerous, and it is essential to seek medical assistance if any symptoms of poisoning occur.
Mushrooms and C. diff: A Safe Snack?
You may want to see also
H. nidulans is used for natural dyes
It is a common misconception that there are no poisonous polypores. However, the fruit bodies of Hapalopilus nidulans (H. rutilans) are neurotoxic if ingested, with the toxin identified as polyporic acid. H. nidulans is also sought after as a natural dyeing agent, producing purples that are vivid and fast with the help of ammonia.
To use H. nidulans for dyeing, the fungus is typically boiled in water to extract the colour. This process can be done with fresh or dried specimens. The resulting dye bath can then be used to colour various textiles, with protein fibres like wool being the easiest option. H. nidulans produces shades of purple, red, and violet, especially when used in an alkali dye bath.
Natural dyes have been used for thousands of years to colour yarn, fleece, clothing, and household textiles. The use of natural dyes from sources like H. nidulans is advantageous over synthetic dyes as they are biodegradable and sustainable, causing less ecological harm. Natural dyes also blend well together and can produce unique and breathtaking colours.
Finding Mushroom Islands in Minecraft
You may want to see also
Explore related products
H. nidulans grows on fallen or standing dead wood
While it is commonly believed that no polypores are poisonous, this is a myth. Hapalopilus nidulans (H. rutilans) is a seriously toxic polypore species that grows on fallen or standing dead wood. It is a saprobic fungus, causing white rot in its host. H. nidulans is found on five continents and grows on the wood of deciduous trees, including oak, beech, birch, and, on rare occasions, conifers. It fruits singly, in groups, fused, or in overlapping clusters.
H. nidulans has a fan-shaped to semicircular cap that is initially soft and spongy but becomes hard and brittle when dry. The cap's surface is brownish-orange and covered with matted hairs, with shallow, concentric furrows. The flesh is pale cinnamon-coloured and up to 3 cm thick. The pore surface is yellowish to brownish with small angular pores, numbering about 2-4 per millimetre. In young fruit bodies, the pore surface bruises reddish-brown. The mushroom has a sweetish to indistinct taste and odour.
H. nidulans is neurotoxic if ingested, containing high concentrations of the compound polyporic acid. Poisoning cases have been reported, with symptoms including nausea, impaired movement, visual impairment, and liver and kidney failure, beginning about 12 hours after consumption. The urine of poisoning victims may also temporarily turn violet. Therefore, it is important to correctly identify mushrooms before consumption and not rely on common misconceptions about polypores being non-toxic.
To accurately identify H. nidulans or any other mushroom species, it is essential to observe the fungus in its native environment and examine its physical characteristics. Details such as the mushroom's growth substrate (wood, dung, or ground), nearby trees, and the appearance of both the top and underside of the fruiting body are crucial for confident identification.
Mushroom Coffee: Diuretic or Not?
You may want to see also
H. nidulans is also known as the purple dye polypore
It is a common misconception that no polypores are poisonous. However, there is at least one seriously toxic polypore, Hapalopilus nidulans (H. rutilans). H. nidulans is also known as the purple dye polypore, the cinnamon bracket, or the tender nesting polypore. The epithet "nidulans" means "nesting" in Latin.
H. nidulans is a small, drab polypore that is often overlooked. It is unassuming, with a rough or smooth cap, and is usually cinnamon-coloured. It can grow up to 10 cm wide, though it is typically smaller, and has a fan-shaped to semicircular cap. The flesh is a pale cinnamon colour and is soft and watery when fresh, becoming tough and hard when dry. This mushroom grows on decomposing wood in North America and Europe, typically on the wood of hardwoods, but sometimes on conifer wood. It is found on five continents and is not common in any part of its range.
H. nidulans is poisonous to humans. The toxin in the mushroom has been identified as polyporic acid, a terphenyl compound. This chemical inhibits the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. It is present in high concentrations in H. nidulans, at 20-40% of the dry weight of the fruit bodies. Poisoning cases have been reported, with symptoms including nausea, impaired movement, visual impairment, and liver and kidney failure. The onset of symptoms typically occurs about 12 hours after consuming the mushroom. In some cases, the urine of poisoning victims has temporarily turned violet.
Despite its toxicity, H. nidulans is sought after as a natural dyeing agent, producing vivid and fast purples. The purple colour can be extracted by applying an alkaline solution or ammonia to the mushroom, which turns the mushroom purple. This dye can then be used to colour wool.
Oyster Mushrooms: Tree Destroyers or Harmless Fungi?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Hapalopilus nidulans (H. rutilans) is a seriously toxic polypore species.
It is a cinnamon-coloured polypore that can grow up to 10 cm wide. It has a rough or smooth cap and small angular pores, 2-4 per millimetre.
The neurotoxic effects of consuming Hapalopilus nidulans are caused by the compound polyporic acid, which is present in high concentrations. Symptoms include nausea, impaired movement, visual impairment, and liver and kidney failure.
Symptoms typically begin about 12 hours after consumption, with recovery occurring within a week.
Yes, polyporic acid is found in other mushrooms, but in much lower amounts. It is important to properly identify mushrooms before consumption to avoid potential poisoning.
