Blasiphalia

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 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 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.

Etymology

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.

References

  1. Larsson, K.-H. et al. (2006) [2007]. "Hymenochaetales: a molecular phylogeny for the hymenochaetoid clade". Mycologia 98 (6): 926–936. doi:10.3852/mycologia.98.6.926. PMID 17486969.
  2. Dentinger, B.T.M. & McLaughlin, D.J.' (2006). "Reconstructing the Clavariaceae using nuclear large subunit rDNA sequences and a new genus segregated from Clavaria". Mycologia 98 (5): 746–762. doi:10.3852/mycologia.98.5.746. PMID 17256578.
  3. Redhead, S.A. (1981). "Parasitism of bryophytes by agarics". Canad. Jour. Bot. 59 (1): 63–67. doi:10.1139/b81-011.
  4. Kost, G. (1988). "Interactions between Basidiomycetes and Bryophyta". Endocytobiosis Cell Res 5: 287–308.
  5. Redhead, S.A. (1980). "Gerronema pseudogrisella". Fungi Canadenses 170.