Morphological and morphometric features of the common rustgill mushroom (Gymnopilus penetrans, (Fr; Fr) Murray) in Ghana

A novel mushroom in the genus Gymnopilus was observed in the rainy season (June – November 2022) in the Adenta Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, on a pile of dry wood earmarked for firewood. The fruiting body produced prolific basidiospores akin to the order Agaricales of the gilled mushrooms. The fruiting body was small to medium in size and was solitary in small groups, appearing cream to brown in colour and later turning rusty with age. The stipe was solid tapering towards the attachment and was 4.5 - 7.0 cm long and cylindrical in diameter (0.6 – 1.2 cm). The pileus was 5.0 – 9.0 cm in diameter, convex to applanate, silky growth with a central depression. Its orange, brown colour without scales compared favourable with reported 4.0 – 8.0 diameter for G. penetrans. The gills were adnate, crowded to radiate, yellow to golden brown in colour. The basidiospores were golden brown to rusty brown colour, ellipsoidal in shape (6.0 - 9.0 μm x 3.0 – 5.0 μm) akin to what obtains in the taxonomic records for G. penetrans (7.0- 9.0 μm x 4.0 – 5.5 μm). The reported biologically active components found in this mushroom are discussed and the use of the compounds for pharmaceutical and medical therapy are highlighted.