Basidiolichen
Encyclopedia
Basidiolichens are lichen
ized members of the Basidiomycota
, a much smaller group of lichens than the far more common ascolichens in the Ascomycota
. In arctic, alpine, and temperate forests, the most common basidiolichens are in the agaric
genus
Lichenomphalia
(including former members of Omphalina
or Gerronema
) and the clavarioid genus Multiclavula
. Several lichenized genera occur in tropical regions, the most common being the foliose Dictyonema
. Previously basidiolichens had been classified in their own subclass, Basidiolichenes
. Molecular based phylogeny does not support classification of the genera together.
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
ized members of the Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota is one of two large phyla that, together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya within the Kingdom Fungi...
, a much smaller group of lichens than the far more common ascolichens in the Ascomycota
Ascomycota
The Ascomycota are a Division/Phylum of the kingdom Fungi, and subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the Sac fungi. They are the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species...
. In arctic, alpine, and temperate forests, the most common basidiolichens are in the agaric
Agaric
An agaric is a type of fungal fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe , with lamellae on the underside of the pileus. "Agaric" can also refer to a basidiomycete species characterized by an agaric-type fruiting body...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Lichenomphalia
Lichenomphalia
Lichenomphalia is both a basidiolichen and an agaric genus. Most of the species have inconspicuous lichenized thalli that consist of scattered, small, loose, nearly microscopic green balls or foliose small flakes containing single-celled green algae in the genus Coccomyxa, all interconnected by a...
(including former members of Omphalina
Omphalina
Omphalina is a genus of small agarics with white, nonamyloid, basidiospores and decurrent gills. Typically the cap has a deep central depression giving the umbrella-like to funnel-shaped cap the appearance of a belly button, or a belly with a navel...
or Gerronema
Gerronema
Gerronema is a genus of small- to medium-sized lignicolous agarics with white, nonamyloid, basidiospores and decurrent lamellae. The genus, first described by American mycologist Rolf Singer in 1951, contains 13 species.-Description:...
) and the clavarioid genus Multiclavula
Multiclavula
Multiclavula is a genus of fungi in the family Clavulinaceae. The widespread genus contains 13 species.-Species:*M. calocera*M. clara*M. constans*M. coronilla*M. corynoides*M. delicata*M. fossicola*M. hastula...
. Several lichenized genera occur in tropical regions, the most common being the foliose Dictyonema
Dictyonema
Dictyonema is a large and diverse genus of mainly tropical lichens in the family Hygrophoraceae.-The Dictyonema symbiosis:Most lichens are a symbiosis between an ascomycete fungi and a photosynthetic green algae...
. Previously basidiolichens had been classified in their own subclass, Basidiolichenes
Wettstein system
A system of plant taxonomy, the Wettstein system recognised the following main groups, according to* I. phylum Schizophyta*::: 1. classis Schizophyceae*::: 2. classis Schizomycetes* II. phylum Monadophyta* III. phylum Myxophyta...
. Molecular based phylogeny does not support classification of the genera together.
External links
- BioImages Several photos of Lichenomphalia umbellifera
- New Zealand Fungi Images of Lichenomphalia alpina and its synonyms
- The Field Museum Photos of several lichens, including Dictyonema