Panus fasciatus (common name includes hairy trumpet) is a species of fungus in the family Polyporaceae in the genus Panus of the Basidiomycota. [1]P. fasciatus has a fruiting body in the shape of a funnel with a velvety texture, hence the nickname "hairy trumpet." When it was identified by D. Pegler of Kew, [2] he created a subgroup of the Lentinus fungi, called Panus based on their hyphal systems. [3] For this reason, Panus fasciatus is sometimes referred to as Lentinus fasciatus. [1]Panus fasciatus has been described with numerous other names which were combined by Pegler in 1965. [4]
The fungus has a unique shape, with the cap in-rolled when the fungus is young, and then developing a funnel (or infundibuliform) shape over time.[5] It is also known for having pale brown hairs that cover the cap. [6] In dry conditions, the stalk peels like bark but returns to normal following rain.[5]P. fasciatus also has deeply decurrentgills, a velvety pileus, and dense hairs. [7] The fungus can have purple gills that turn brown as they mature. [5] The spores have a white print. [6]
BasidiosporesofP. fasciatus reside on the hymenium of the gills of the fruiting body.[8] When two germinating basidiospores of opposite mating types fuse via plasmogamy, the two nuclei remain unfused while a basidiocarp fruiting body is formed. [8] On the gills beneath the cap, numerous basidia are formed. [8]Karyogamy and meiosis occur and give rise to mature basidiospores.[8] These are then released via the Buller's drop method of spore dispersal. [8]
Panus fasciatus is commonly found in drier woodland environments, amongst the grass, and beneath eucalypts, acacias, and casuarinas. [5] It is usually exposed to sunlight most of the day.[5]
Panus fasciatus has been recorded in southern and eastern Australia, Africa, Cameroon,[10] Oceania, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia, however, much of its distribution is unknown.[7] It has been recorded in low numbers in the Jarrah forest region of western Australia.[11]
The species was originally described by Miles J. Berkeley in 1840 as Lentinus fasciatus.[12] It was later renamed by David Pegler of the Kew Royal Botanical Garden in 1965 in the Australian Journal of Botany. [1] Pegler treated Panus as a subgroup of Lentinus, however another mycologist, Corner, considered Panus and Lentinus as two separate genre based on their hyphal systems, so their relationship is controversial. [3] These subgroups were identified based on morphology, but held true for the most part upon more molecular research. [13] Pegler's identification of P. fasciatus was based on collections from Tasmania gathered by R.C. Dunn and R. W. Lawrence. [12]P. fasciatus was among the first fungal species to be identified in Australia. [12]
