Climacodon septentrionalis
{{Short description|Species of fungus}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Climacodon septentrionalis 134149.jpg
| genus = Climacodon
| species = septentrionalis
| authority = (Fr.) P.Karst. (1881)
| synonyms_ref = Index Fungorum
| synonyms = *Hydnum septentrionale Fr. (1821)
- "Hericium septentrionale" (Fr.) Pat. (1900)
- Steccherinum septentrionale (Fr.) Banker (1906)
- Creolophus septentrionalis (Fr.) Banker (1912)
- "Pleurodon septentrionalis" (Fr.) Ricken (1928)
}}
Climacodon septentrionalis, commonly known as the northern tooth fungus or the white rot fungus, is a species of shelf fungus in the phylum Basidiomycota.{{Cite web |title=Climacodon septentrionalis |url=https://www.messiah.edu/Oakes/fungi_on_wood/teeth%20and%20spine/species%20pages/Climacodon%20septentrionalis.htm |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.messiah.edu}} It is white in color and can be found in large clusters on the trunks of trees.{{Cite web |title=Climacodon septentrionalis (MushroomExpert.Com) |url=http://www.mushroomexpert.com/climacodon_septentrionalis.html |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.mushroomexpert.com}} This species is a plant pathogen native to North America.
Taxonomy
Climacodon septentrionalis was originally described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1821 under the genus Hydnum.{{Cite web |title=Hydnum septentrionale Fr. |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/164688318 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.gbif.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Index Fungorum - Names Record |url=http://www.indexfungorum.org/names/NamesRecord.asp?RecordID=214200 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.indexfungorum.org}} It was later transferred to Climacodon in 1881 by Petter Karsten.{{Cite web |title=Loading... |url=https://www.mycobank.org/page/Name%20details%20page/name/Climacodon%20septentrionalis |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.mycobank.org}}
Description
Individual caps are semicircular or kidney-shaped and can reach up to {{convert|30|cm|frac=2}} across and {{convert|2.5-5|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} at the base. They typically occur in large groups that can reach {{convert|80|cm|abbr=on|frac=2}} in height. Young caps range from mostly white to a yellow-cream color, and slowly become a yellow-brown as they age. The caps tend to persist for multiple weeks, allowing algae to grow, giving them a slightly green appearance. The cap surface can be rough or even hairy, and can have concentric rings radiating out from the base. The underside of the cap has many white spines that reach 1 cm in length and also yellow with age.
{{gallery|mode=packed
|Climacodon septentrionale 4.jpg|Underside of cap
}}
Habitat and distribution
The species is a common cause of heart rot in hardwood trees in their native range, It can be found on the trunks of living and recently deceased trees, especially beech (Fagus) and maple (Acer) species.
It is native to northeastern North America (August–October),{{Cite book |last=Audubon |title=Mushrooms of North America |publisher=Knopf |year=2023 |isbn=978-0-593-31998-7 |pages=220}} ranging from southern Canada to Kentucky, and as far west as the Great Plains.{{Cite web |title=Climacodon septentrionalis (Fr.) P.Karst. |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/2541815 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=www.gbif.org |language=en}}
Nematode predation
Climacodon septentrionalis was the first observed species of fungus outside of Agaricus to secrete a toxin that it uses to immobilize and kill fungiphagous nematodes.{{Cite journal |last1=Tanney |first1=Joey B. |last2=Hutchison |first2=Leonard J. |date=2012-01-01 |title=The production of nematode-immobilizing secretory cells by Climacodon septentrionalis |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1340354012700050 |journal=Mycoscience |language=en |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=31–35 |doi=10.1007/s10267-011-0128-1 |s2cid=84826380 |issn=1340-3540|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Soares |first1=Filippe Elias de Freitas |last2=Sufiate |first2=Bruna Leite |last3=de Queiroz |first3=José Humberto |date=2018-02-01 |title=Nematophagous fungi: Far beyond the endoparasite, predator and ovicidal groups |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452316X17302223 |journal=Agriculture and Natural Resources |language=en |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=1–8 |doi=10.1016/j.anres.2018.05.010 |issn=2452-316X|doi-access=free }} The mycelium of this species grows secretory cells the protrude outwards and develop branches that produce the substance in small droplets. When a nematode comes in contact with a droplet, they become encased in it, and their motion is completely inhibited. Death after contact occurs within several hours, but the rate at which a nematode was decomposed varied greatly, ranging from a few weeks to several days.
Uses
= Novel compounds =
Climacodon septentrionalis produces some compounds with potential uses.{{Cite journal |last1=Wu |first1=Jing |last2=Tsujimori |first2=Megumi |last3=Hirai |first3=Hirofumi |last4=Kawagishi |first4=Hirokazu |date=2011 |title=Novel compounds from the mycelia and fruiting bodies of Climacodon septentrionalis |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21512224/ |journal=Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry |volume=75 |issue=4 |pages=783–785 |doi=10.1271/bbb.100849 |issn=1347-6947 |pmid=21512224|s2cid=27572379 |doi-access=free }} Esters are natural or synthetic, fragrant compounds that can be found in perfumes and flavorings, or used in paints, solvents, insecticides, and more.{{Cite web |title=ester {{!}} Description, Types, & Reactions {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/ester-chemical-compound |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} The mycelium of this species produces esters that could be used in perfumes. The compound furaneol is a commonly used in the cooking industry as a flavoring, with different forms having tastes ranging from a strawberry or pineapple to a caramel or honey flavor.{{Cite web |last=PubChem |title=Furaneol |url=https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/19309 |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |language=en}} The furaneol found in C. septentrionalis is extracted from its fruiting bodies, and has a strawberry-like flavor and taste.