| Blasiphalia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Subkingdom: | Dikarya |
| Phylum: | Basidiomycota |
| Subphylum: | Agaricomycotina |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Hymenochaetales |
| Family: | Repetobasidiaceae |
| Genus: | Blasiphalia |
Blasiphalia is a monotypic genus with a honey colored omphalinoid agaric[2] in the Hymenochaetales that grows with the liverwort genus Blasia[1] Phylogenetically related agarics are in the genera Rickenella, Gyroflexus, Loreleia, Cantharellopsis and Contumyces, as well as the stipitate-stereoid genera Muscinupta and Cotylidia and clavaroid genus, Alloclavaria[2]. Blasiphalia is most similar to Rickenella and Contumyces, and was only just recognized as a distinct genus in 2007 based upon molecular analysis. The fungus is unique in parasitizing Blasia[3] by forming clasping appresoria on its host's rhizoids[3][4]. Its basidiospores also germinate on the host's gemmae and [5] clasp them and therefore can be disseminated together with the gemmae.
Blasiphalia is a nonsense, nontraditionally formulated name vaguely referring to the liverwort genus Blasia and a fragment of the word 'omphalia' in reference to previous classifications that would place it in Omphalina.