Lycoperdaceae is a family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 of approximately 150 fungi

Fungus

A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...

 now known to lie in the Agaricales

Agaricales

The fungal order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms , or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of mushrooms. The order has 33 extant families, 413 genera, and over 13000 described species, along with five extinct genera known only from the fossil record...

. Historically they were placed in their own order Lycoperdales

Lycoperdales

The Lycoperdales are a now outdated order of fungi. The order included some well-known types such as the giant puffball, the earthstars, and other tuberous fungi...

. Members of the Lycoperdaceae family are known as the true puffball

Puffball

A puffball is a member of any of several groups of fungus in the division Basidiomycota. The puffballs were previously treated as a taxonomic group called the Gasteromycetes or Gasteromycetidae, but they are now known to be a polyphyletic assemblage. The distinguishing feature of all puffballs is...

s. Unlike other types of fungi that hold spores in gills or teeth, puffballs contain the spore

Spore

In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...

s inside a layer of tougher outer skin. When a puffball reaches maturity, the tough skin will split open, allowing the billions of spores to be released.

Phylogeny

Based on phylogenetic analysis using rDNA

RDNA

rDNA may stand for:*ribosomal DNA*recombinant DNARDNA is also an acronym for*Reformed Druids of North America...

, Lycoperdaceae has been shown to be a family within the order Agaricales. Within the Agaricales, further phylogenetic analysis has revealed this group to be a subgroup within the Agaricaceae

Agaricaceae

The Agaricaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi and includes the genus Agaricus, as well as basidiomycetes previously classified in the families Tulostomataceae, Lepiotaceae, and Lycoperdaceae. The genus contains 85 genera and 1340 species.-Genera:...

, hence the status of Lycoperdaceae as a family is generally considered deprecated, and its nomenclatural status as a group is currently undefined.

Four major clade

Clade

A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...

s can be distinguished within the Lycoperdaceae: Lycoperdon, Bovista, Calvatia, and Disciseda. The latter three clades correspond roughly to the current circumscription of the equally named genera Bovista

Bovista

Bovista is a genus of fungi in the family Agaricaceae, commonly known as the true puffballs. It was formerly classified within the now-obsolete order Lycoperdales, which, following a restructuring of fungal taxonomy brought about by molecular phylogeny, has been split; the species of Bovista are...

, Calvatia

Calvatia

Calvatia is a genus of puffball mushrooms which includes the spectacular giant puffball C. gigantea. It was formerly classified within the now-obsolete order Lycoperdales, which, following a restructuring of fungal taxonomy brought about by molecular phylogeny, has been split; the puffballs,...

, and Disciseda

Disciseda

Disciseda is a genus of fungi in the family Agaricaceae. It is a widely distributed genus, which, according to a 2008 estimate, contains 15 species.-Species:*Disciseda andina*Disciseda candida*Disciseda collabescens*Disciseda errurraga...

.

External links

• Puffballs and their allies in Michigan by Alexander H. Smith, 1951. (Full text of monograph.)