| Protomerulius | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Auriculariales |
| Genus: | Protomerulius A.Møller (1895) |
| Type species | |
| Protomerulius brasiliensis A.Møller (1895) | |
| Species | |
Protomerulius africanus Contents | |
| Synonyms | |
Protomerulius is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are formed on dead wood and have an effused, smooth, spiny, or poroid hymenium. The genus is cosmopolitan.
The genus was originally described from Brazil to accommodate a fungus that resembled a polypore but microscopically had septate basidia. The genus name was subsequently extended to include other fungi with a similar combination of features. [1]
Molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has shown, however, that the type species of Protomerulius, P. brasiliensis (a synonym of P. substuppeus) is not closely related to most other poroid species with septate basidia, some of which are now placed in the genera Aporpium , Elmerina , and Protodaedalea . Instead, it is closely related to several effused species with a smooth or spiny hymenium, including the type species of the genus Heterochaetella. [2]
Polypores are a group of fungi that form large fruiting bodies with pores or tubes on the underside. They are a morphological group of basidiomycetes-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi, and not all polypores are closely related to each other. Polypores are also called bracket fungi or shelf fungi, and they characteristically produce woody, shelf- or bracket-shaped or occasionally circular fruiting bodies that are called conks.
In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome, or basidioma (pl. basidiomata) is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the spore-producing hymenium is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the hymenomycetes; rusts and smuts do not produce such structures. As with other sporocarps, epigeous (above-ground) basidiocarps that are visible to the naked eye are commonly referred to as mushrooms, while hypogeous (underground) basidiocarps are usually called false truffles.
The Hydnaceae are a family of fungi in the order Cantharellales. Originally the family encompassed all species of fungi that produced basidiocarps having a hymenium consisting of slender, downward-hanging tapering extensions referred to as "spines" or "teeth", whether they were related or not. This artificial but often useful grouping is now more generally called the hydnoid or tooth fungi. In the strict, modern sense, the Hydnaceae are limited to the genus Hydnum and related genera, with basidiocarps having a toothed or poroid hymenium. Species in the family are ectomycorrhizal, forming a mutually beneficial relationship with the roots of trees and other plants. Hydnum repandum is an edible species, commercially collected in some countries and often marketed under the French name pied de mouton.
The Auriculariales are an order of fungi in the class Agaricomycetes. Species within the order were formerly referred to the "heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fungi", since many have gelatinous basidiocarps that produce spores on septate basidia. Around 200 species are known worldwide, placed in six or more families, though the status of these families is currently uncertain. All species in the Auriculariales are believed to be saprotrophic, most growing on dead wood. Fruit bodies of several Auricularia species are cultivated for food on a commercial scale, especially in China.
The Auriculariaceae are a family of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species within the family were formerly referred to the "heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fungi", since many have gelatinous basidiocarps that produce spores on septate basidia. Around 100 species are known worldwide. All are believed to be saprotrophic, most growing on dead wood. Fruit bodies of several Auricularia species are cultivated for food on a commercial scale, especially in China.
The Hyaloriaceae are a family of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species within the family have gelatinous basidiocarps that produce spores on septate basidia and, as such, were formerly referred to the "heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fungi". All appear to be saprotrophic, growing on dead wood or plant remains. Less than 30 species are currently included within the Hyaloriaceae, but the family has not been extensively researched.
Exidia is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. The species are saprotrophic, occurring in attached or recently fallen dead wood, and produce gelatinous basidiocarps. The fruit bodies are diverse, pustular, lobed, button-shaped or cup-shaped. Several species, including the type species Exidia glandulosa, have sterile pegs or pimples on their spore-bearing surface. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and around 20 species are currently recognized worldwide. Initial molecular research indicates the genus is artificial.
Dentocorticium is a genus of six species of poroid fungi in the family Polyporaceae. The genus was revised in 2018, with several new species added and some older species transferred to other genera, based on phylogenetic analyses.
Sebacina is a genus of fungi in the family Sebacinaceae. Its species are mycorrhizal, forming a range of associations with trees and other plants. Basidiocarps are produced on soil and litter, sometimes partly encrusting stems of living plants. The fruit bodies are cartilaginous to rubbery-gelatinous and variously effused (corticioid) to coral-shaped (clavarioid). The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.
The hydnoid fungi are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota with basidiocarps producing spores on pendant, tooth-like or spine-like projections. They are colloquially called tooth fungi. Originally such fungi were referred to the genus Hydnum, but it is now known that not all hydnoid species are closely related.
Trechispora is a genus of fungi in the family Hydnodontaceae. Basidiocarps are variously corticioid or clavarioid with spore-bearing surfaces that are variously smooth to hydnoid or poroid. The genus occurs worldwide, though individual species may be localized. Around 50 species have been described to date.
Ceratobasidium is a genus of fungi in the order Cantharellales. Basidiocarps are effused and the genus is sometimes grouped among the corticioid fungi, though species also retain features of the heterobasidiomycetes. Anamorphic forms were formerly referred to the genus Ceratorhiza, but this is now considered a synonym of Rhizoctonia. Ceratobasidium species, excluding the type, are also now considered synonymous with Rhizoctonia and some species have been transferred to the latter genus. Species are saprotrophic, but several are also facultative plant pathogens, causing a number of commercially important crop diseases. Some are also endomycorrhizal associates of orchids.
The Tulasnellaceae are a family of fungi in the order Cantharellales. The family comprises mainly effused (patch-forming) fungi formerly referred to the "jelly fungi" or heterobasidiomycetes. Species are wood- or litter-rotting saprotrophs, but many are also endomycorrhizal associates of orchids and some have also been thought to form ectomycorrhizal associations with trees and other plants.
Amylocorticiales is an order of fungi in the class Agaricomycetes. The order was circumscribed in 2010 to contain mostly resupinate (crust-like) forms that have been referred to genera Anomoporia, Amyloathelia, Amylocorticiellum, Amylocorticium, Amyloxenasma, Anomoloma, Athelopsis, Ceraceomyces, Hypochniciellum, Leptosporomyces and Serpulomyces and the anomalous species, Athelia rolfsii, now classified in its own genus, Agroathelia.
Aporpium is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are formed on dead wood and have a poroid hymenium. Species were often formerly referred to the genera Elmerina or Protomerulius, but molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has shown that Aporpium is a distinct, mainly north temperate genus.
Loweomyces fractipes is a species of poroid fungus in the family Steccherinaceae, and the type species of the genus Loweomyces. It is a widely distributed species, found in North America, Europe, Central America, South America, and Korea.
Elmerina is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are formed on dead wood and are either bracket-like with a poroid hymenium or densely clavarioid. Species are known from East Asia and Australia.
Myxarium is a genus of fungi in the family Hyaloriaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous and effused or pustular. The genus is cosmopolitan. All species grow on dead wood or dead herbaceous stems.
Heteroacanthella is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are corticioid with smooth surfaces and occur on dead, attached wood or on lichens. They are microscopically distinctive in having acanthoid (spiny) basidia with just one or two large sterigmata producing large, globose to ellipsoid basidiospores. The genus occurs worldwide, though individual species may be localized. Three species have been described to date.
Patouillardina is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. The type and only species, P. cinerea, forms waxy, effused, corticioid basidiocarps with basidia that are diagonally septate. The species is presumed to be saprotrophic, growing on dead wood. It was originally described from Brazil, but appears to be pantropical, having also been recorded from Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Tahiti.