Mnemonic Myxomycetes (slime molds) Monday

Slime molds are not Fungi, they are Myxomycetes, but since they are cool and I found a few on a foray I thought I would play mnemonics with the scientific name. 

Lycogala epidendrum

Common Name: Wolf's Milk

The word Lycogala epidendrum consists of two parts: "Lycogala" and "epidendrum." Let's break down the word roots:

"Lycogala": The word root "lyco-" is derived from the Greek word "lykos," meaning "wolf." In scientific terminology, "lyco-" is often used to denote "wolf" or "wolf-like." However, it's important to note that the term "Lycogala" is not directly related to wolves but is rather the genus name of a slime mold.

"Epidendrum": The word root "epi-" is derived from the Greek word "epi," meaning "on" or "upon." The root "dendr-" is derived from the Greek word "dendron," meaning "tree." Therefore, "epidendrum" can be interpreted as "upon a tree" or "on a tree."

In summary, "Lycogala epidendrum" refers to a type of slime mold that typically grows on or near trees.

 

 Okay, here is my funny sentence: like a gala epi den (and) drum. However knowing the word lykos means wolf and thinkin of a wolf attending a gala, the genus was simple to remember. Knowing that epi means on or upon and the word root for tree is dendron makes the species epithet easy to learn as well. Now I can imagine that a wolf likes to drink milk with a taint of pink in it seals the deal for the common name: Wolf's Milk Slime Mold.

Fuligo septica

Common Name: Dog's Vomit Slime Mold

If you have ever owned a dog and he/she eats grass the vomit is often yellow so I totally get the common name.

Fuligo septica is the scientific name for a type of slime mold commonly known as "dog vomit slime mold" or "scrambled egg slime." Let's break down the word roots:

"Fuligo": The word root "fuligo" comes from the Latin word for "soot" or "smoke." It refers to the dark or soot-like appearance of the mature fruiting body of the slime mold.

"Septica": The word root "septica" is derived from the Latin word "septicus," meaning "putrid" or "infected." This term reflects the odor emitted by the slime mold when it releases spores.

In summary, "Fuligo septica" describes a species of slime mold characterized by its dark, soot-like appearance and the putrid odor it produces. It is often found growing on decaying organic matter, such as wood chips, mulch, or leaf litter.

My mnemonic is Fool ego (is) septic(a), okay so it's a stretch but it works for me. 

Terrestrial Gastropods: The Connoisseurs of Fungal Delights!

 Video by Jennifer Hall and Daughter Elle

Snail munching on a Mushroom

A whimsical look at snail and slug mycophagy and their beauty.

Welcome, fellow nature enthusiasts, to a quirky and fascinating world of slimy epicures! Today, we delve into the peculiar realm of snail and slug mycophagy (consumer of fungi). These gastropods elevate their dining experiences to extraordinary levels. Join me as we explore the delectable world of fungi through the antenna of our slimy friends. These culinary sleuths are masters at locating the finest fungi feasts. Armed with their weed-whacker-scraper tongue, the radula, their voracious appetites and  keen sense of smell, our gastropod friends embark on a gastronomic adventure.

As mycophagists, they indulge in a myriad of mushroom species with unrivaled gusto. They relish the earthy flavors of porcini, dance with delight at the hint of truffle aroma, and savor the delicate nuances of shiitake. These gastropods take the term "slow food movement" to a whole new level, appreciating every nibble as if it were a symphony of flavors exploding on their slimy palates.

Snails and slugs are unsung heroes in the world of fungal spore dispersal? It’s zoochory (seed and spore dispersal by animals) gone wild. They may be slow moving but they get the job done.

When snails and slugs crawl around, they inadvertently pick up fungal spores on their slimy bodies, helping spread spores. Better yet, the spores can even survive the digestive juices of snail/slug digestion. Fungal spores are dispersed via their feces. The fungi benefit from the snails and slugs pooping out their spores to new environments, increasing their chances of survival and reproduction. And in return, the snails and slugs get a meal, munching on tasty fungi along the way. It's a win-win situation! Or as we naturalists call, a mutualistic relationship.

Please enjoy the photographs below of terrestrial gastropods enjoying mushrooms by nature photographer Rand Workman.

 

Mnemonic Myco Monday

What is the root meaning of Oudemansiella megalospora (Formally named Xerula megalospora) See Michael Kuo's photo below. 

Let's break down the scientific name Oudemansiella megalospora to understand its root meanings:

Oudemansiella:

"Oudemans" is derived from the surname of Dutch mycologist Cornelius Anton Jan Abraham Oudemans, who studied fungi in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The genus Oudemansiella was named in his honor.

Megalospora:

"Megalos" is a Greek word meaning "large" or "great."

"Spora" is a Greek word meaning "spore," which refers to a reproductive structure of fungi.

Therefore, "Megalospora" suggests the presence of large spores.

In summary, the scientific name Oudemansiella megalospora pays tribute to Cornelius Oudemans and indicates the presence of this genus, along with the characteristic of having large spores.

Mnemonic: This helps me because I’m assuming Cornelius Oudemans grew old, so  Old man see Ella (with) megalo spora. After you learn the sentence drop the l in old and with.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerula_megalospora

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/hymenopellis_megalospora.html (Note old name)

 

Mnemonic Myco Monday

 

So you want to learn mushrooms, either to identify edible ones or to contribute to mycology, the study of mushrooms? Fantastic! Mycology with only 5 % of the fungal species identified is in need of help from citizen scientists. Great. You buy your first guide and go on your first foray. You already know Amanita muscaria, the species (binomial nomenclature based on the genus and specific epithet) name of the fly agaric so you are ready for more. The books and the people around you are using scientific or species names based on Latin and Greek roots. Okay, now you are confused. The names are longer and harder to pronounce. Even worse, some species names that you previously learned have changed thanks to DNA research.

As a former biology teacher I understood that just memorizing terms and species names were not the best way to learn the word and concept. Picture this: you're sitting in a biology class, staring at a list of mind-boggling scientific names and terms that sound like they were created by a cat walking across a keyboard. Fear not, for mnemonics are here to save the day! Mnemonics help us tap into our creative side and inject humor into the otherwise serious world of scientific terms. They transform abstract concepts into hilarious mental pictures that stick in our minds like gum on a shoe. Plus, they make learning fun and enjoyable, which is always a bonus!

Mnemonic Myco Monday will help me and others learn the scientific names of mushrooms. This post will be only for learning and pronouncing the names, and not the specific details related to the mushroom. I will assume you have a guidebook or website such as iNaturalist to look up the details of that particular mushroom. If not, you can scroll down to helpful links for more details. Each week I will randomly pick a mushroom or two. I will break down the Latin or Greek roots of the species name. Sometimes just knowing the meaning can help in learning the species. The next step will be to come up with a creative way to learn the binomial name. You may decide to learn just the genus, which works as well since in the field you may only get to the genus name.

The best part is you might think of a better mnemonic, so go for it. 

This week I will start with, The Lobster Mushroom, Hypomyces lactifluorum (a parasitic Ascomycete)

 Photo of Lobster Mushroom by Jen Hall

Let's break down the scientific name Hypomyces lactifluorum to understand its root meanings:

Hypomyces:

"Hypo" is a Greek prefix meaning "below" or "under."

"Mycos" is a Greek word meaning "fungus" or "mushroom."

Lactifluorum:

"Lacti" is derived from the Latin word "lactis," meaning "milk."

"Fluorum" is derived from the Latin word "fluere," meaning "to flow" or "to produce."

You might be clever enough to create a mnemonic from the root meanings or be silly like me and create a funny scene. My mnemonic is Hypo mices lick (or lack if you prefer lack) the(ti) floor rum. Picture this silly scene of mice or you can use myco as in mushroom.  Obviously someone who feasts on lobsters will accompany it with rum.

Now look at the photo and say Hypomyces lactifluorum 3 times.

Learn more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomyces_lactifluorum  https://www.mushroomexpert.com/hypomyces_lactifluorum.html