Fused tooth (Phellodon confluens)

Description

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Fused tooth fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Fused tooth description

The fused tooth fungus belongs to the stipitate hydnoid fungi group. These fungi share some morphological characters, but are not naturally related ⁽⁸⁾. Stipitate hydnoid fungi are also known as 'tooth fungi', since the spores are released from tooth-like structures. The fruit bodies are terrestrial and have a short stalk or 'stipe', hence the name 'stipitate' ⁽¹⁾. The teeth are on the underside of the fruit body (the part of the fungus that we see) ⁽¹⁾. The flesh of all members of the genus Phellodon is tough and somewhat leathery; it becomes 'corky' when it dries ⁽¹⁾ and develops a distinct spicy smell ⁽⁴⁾. The spores are spiny and white ⁽⁴⁾. The caps may fuse together to form one mass with a number of stipes, and may grow around and even engulf blades of grass and twigs. If they are growing on a slope, the fruit bodies can overlap to form layers of semi-fused caps ⁽¹⁾. As specimens age the cap may change in terms of colour, shape and texture ⁽¹⁾, but confusion can arise as the downy surface of the cap can darken greatly when it rains ⁽⁴⁾.

WARNING: many species of fungus are poisonous or contain chemicals that can cause sickness. Never pick and eat any species of fungus that you cannot positively recognise or are unsure about. Some species are deadly poisonous and can cause death within a few hours if swallowed.

Size

Cap diameter: up to 6 cm ⁽⁸⁾

Fused tooth biology

Fungi are neither plants nor animals but belong to their own kingdom. They are unable to produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis, as plants do; instead, they acquire nutrients from living or dead plants, animals, or other fungi, as animals do. In many larger fungi (lichens excepted) the only visible parts are the fruit bodies, which arise from a largely unseen network of threads called 'hyphae'. These hyphae permeate the fungus's food source, which may be soil, leaf litter, rotten wood, dung, and so on, depending on the species. With the exception of the earpick fungus Auriscalpium vulgare, all stipitate hydnoid fungi are ectomycorrhizal species; they form close symbiotic relationships with trees, and derive some of their nutrients from the tree's roots. This aids them in obtaining nutrients on poor quality soil, and means that are always found in association with trees ⁽¹⁾.

Like Hydnellum, Phellodon species are often surprisingly free of invertebrate damage. It is thought that they may contain defensive chemicals that repel invertebrates and possibly even mammalian grazers ⁽¹⁾.

Fused tooth range

Phellodon confluens is widespread in Europe and North America. It is widespread but rare in the south of England and Scotland ⁽¹⁰⁾, and there is a single record from Wales ⁽⁹⁾. It is known from the New Forest ⁽¹¹⁾, but is one of the less common stipitate hydnoids at this important site ⁽¹⁾.

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Fused tooth habitat

This species occurs in broadleaved woodlands, but in Scotland it is also found in pine forests. It grows on sandy heathland, the sides of tracks, at the edges of marl-pits and on wood banks. It tends to be found in association with oak and sweet chestnut, and less frequently with silver birch, beech and pine ⁽¹⁾.

Fused tooth status

Provisionally classified as Vulnerable in Great Britain ⁽²⁾. Digging up fungi without permission could constitute theft under the Theft Act of 1968 ⁽³⁾.

Fused tooth threats

There is no definite evidence that this species has actually suffered a decline ⁽¹⁾, however it is rare and certainly needs attention ⁽¹⁾. All species of stipitate hydnoid fungi are vulnerable to the effects of atmospheric pollution ⁽¹⁾, soil eutrophication, soil disturbance (e.g. by timber management) and competition from vascular plants ⁽¹⁾.

Fused tooth conservation

There are relatively very few records of Phellodon confluens, and it has probably been greatly under-recorded ⁽¹⁾. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) has produced a Group Action Plan for 14 UK species of stipitate hydnoid fungi ⁽²⁾. A number of sites that support this species, including the New Forest, are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or reserves ⁽²⁾. Fused tooth fungus is afforded general protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but it is not one of the four species of non-lichenized fungi given special protection under Schedule 8. Much more research on these fungi is needed if they are to be conserved ⁽¹⁾; it is an unfortunate fact that fungi are truly 'the forgotten kingdom' when it comes to conservation action ⁽⁷⁾.

There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP.

Find out more

For more information on Phellodon confluens, see:

• Mushroom Expert:
  http://www.mushroomexpert.com/phellodon_confluens.html

Authentication

Information authenticated by Carl Borges of English Nature:
http://www.english-nature.org.uk/ and by Dr Peter Roberts of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew:
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/

Glossary

Ectomycorrhizal

An association between a fungus and plant roots, from which both species benefit. The fungal threads form a sheath around the root. The plant benefits as root uptake is increased as a result, and the fungus receives nutrients from the plant roots.

Eutrophication

Nutrient enrichment of aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems.

Photosynthesis

Metabolic process characteristic of plants in which carbon dioxide is broken down, using energy from sunlight absorbed by the green pigment chlorophyll. Organic compounds are made and oxygen is given off as a by-product.

Spores

Microscopic particles involved in both dispersal and reproduction. They comprise a single or group of unspecialised cells and do not contain an embryo, as do seeds.

Symbiotic relationship

Relationship in which two organisms form a close association, the term is now usually used only for associations that benefit both organisms (a mutualism).

References

1. National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary ( November 2002)
   http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn/nhm/index.html
2. Pegler, D. N., Roberts, P. J., & Spooner, B. M. (1997) British chanterelles and tooth fungi. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
3. UK BAP Group Action Plan (Nov 2002):
   http://www.ukbap.org.uk
4. English Nature (1998) The wild mushroom pickers code of conduct. English Nature.
5. Marren, P. (2000) Stipitate hydnoid fungi in Britain. English Nature Research Report No. 420. English Nature, Peterborough.
6. Marren, P. & Dickson, G. (2000) British Tooth Fungi and their Conservation. British Wildlife. 11, number 6 401-409.
7. Newton, A.C., Watling, R., Davy, L.M., Holden, E., & Ward, S.D. (2002) Progress towards implementing the BAP for stipitate hydnoid fungi in Scotland. Botanical Journal of Scotland54: 89 - 110.
8. Turner, J. (2002) Stipitate hydnoid fungi in Wales. Plantlife Report 208.
9. Ewald, N. (2001) Survey of the New Forest for stipitate hydnoid fungi. Hampshire Wildlife Trust Report.
10. Marren, P. (2001) Waxcaps and woodland mushrooms. Conservation of fungi in Britain and Northern Europe. Plant Talk On-line
    http://www.kak75.dial.pipex.com/Pages/26fungi.html