Clavulinaceae
Encyclopedia
The Clavulinaceae are a family
of fungi in the order
Cantharellales
. The family is not well defined, but currently comprises species of clavarioid (club and coral) fungi
as well as some corticioid (crust- and patch-forming) fungi
. These species are nutritionally diverse, some being ectomycorrhizal, others wood-rotting saprotrophs, others lichen
ized, and yet others lichenicolous (growing on or parasitizing lichens).
Clavulinae in 1933 to accommodate species
of clavarioid fungi
in the genus Clavulina
that had "stichic" basidia (basidia with nuclear spindles arranged longitudinally). He considered this feature placed the species concerned closer to the chanterelles (Cantharellales
) than to other clavarioid fungi. In 1961, he raised the tribe to the rank of family, as the Clavulinaceae. In 1968, Estonian mycologist Erast Parmasto
added the corticioid genus Clavulicium
to the family, noting that it had very similar basidia to those found in Clavulina.
(formerly referred to Clavulicium) is closely related. The lichenized clavarioid genus Multiclavula
is also closely related and has been included within the family. Several species formerly referred to the corticioid genus Sistotrema
may be included, but have not been formally renamed. The genus Burgella
, described for a probable anamorph of this latter group is, however, within the family. As such, the Clavulinaceae currently contain 4 genera
and over 60 species.
. Species of Membranomyces and "Sistotrema" are presumed to be wood-rotting saprotrophs, typically forming corticioid basidiocarps on the undersides of dead, attached branches or fallen wood. Some of the latter group, however, (including the genus Burgella) often grow on and may parasitize lichens. Collectively, the Clavulinaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution
.
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 fungi in the order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Cantharellales
Cantharellales
The Cantharellales are an order of fungi in the class Agaricomycetes. The order includes not only the chanterelles , but also some of the tooth fungi , clavarioid fungi , and corticioid fungi...
. The family is not well defined, but currently comprises species of clavarioid (club and coral) fungi
Clavarioid fungi
The clavarioid fungi are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota typically having erect, simple or branched basidiocarps that are formed on the ground, on decaying vegetation, or on dead wood. They are colloquially called club fungi and coral fungi...
as well as some corticioid (crust- and patch-forming) fungi
Corticioid fungi
The corticioid fungi are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota typically having effused, smooth basidiocarps that are formed on the undersides of dead attached or fallen branches. They are sometimes colloquially called crust fungi or patch fungi...
. These species are nutritionally diverse, some being ectomycorrhizal, others wood-rotting saprotrophs, others lichen
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, and yet others lichenicolous (growing on or parasitizing lichens).
History
The Dutch mycologist Marinus Anton Donk first published the tribeTribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Clavulinae in 1933 to accommodate species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of clavarioid fungi
Clavarioid fungi
The clavarioid fungi are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota typically having erect, simple or branched basidiocarps that are formed on the ground, on decaying vegetation, or on dead wood. They are colloquially called club fungi and coral fungi...
in the genus Clavulina
Clavulina
Clavulina is a genus of fungi in the family Clavulinaceae. Species are characterized by having extensively branched fruit bodies. The genus contains approximately 45 species with a worldwide distribution, primarily in tropical regions.-Species:...
that had "stichic" basidia (basidia with nuclear spindles arranged longitudinally). He considered this feature placed the species concerned closer to the chanterelles (Cantharellales
Cantharellales
The Cantharellales are an order of fungi in the class Agaricomycetes. The order includes not only the chanterelles , but also some of the tooth fungi , clavarioid fungi , and corticioid fungi...
) than to other clavarioid fungi. In 1961, he raised the tribe to the rank of family, as the Clavulinaceae. In 1968, Estonian mycologist Erast Parmasto
Erast Parmasto
Erast Parmasto is a noted Estonian mycologist, bioscientist and botanist . He became a member of the Estonian Institute of Zoology and Botany in 1950 and served as its director from 1985-1990...
added the corticioid genus Clavulicium
Clavulicium
Clavulicium is a genus of fungi in the family Clavulinaceae. The widespread genus was circumscribed by the French mycologist Jacques Boidin in 1957. The spores and the basidia of species in the genus are similar to those in Clavulina....
to the family, noting that it had very similar basidia to those found in Clavulina.
Current status
Molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has confirmed the placement of Clavulina within the Cantharellales, but has not yet addressed the circumscription of the family Clavulinaceae. The corticioid genus MembranomycesMembranomyces
Membranomyces is a genus of fungi in the family Clavulinaceae. The genus, circumscribed in 1975, contains two species found in Europe and Canada....
(formerly referred to Clavulicium) is closely related. The lichenized 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...
is also closely related and has been included within the family. Several species formerly referred to the corticioid genus Sistotrema
Sistotrema
Sistotrema is a genus of fungi in the Hydnaceae family. The widespread genus contains 46 species. Phylogenetic analyses show that Sistotrema is a polyphyletic genus.-Species:*Sistotrema adnatum*Sistotrema alboluteum...
may be included, but have not been formally renamed. The genus Burgella
Burgella
Burgella is a genus of fungi in the family Clavulinaceae. The genus is monotypic, containing the single species Burgella flavoparmeliae, described in 2007....
, described for a probable anamorph of this latter group is, however, within the family. As such, the Clavulinaceae currently contain 4 genera
Genera
Genera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...
and over 60 species.
Habitat and distribution
Species within the family are unusually diverse in habitat and ecology. Species of Clavulina are ectomycorrhizal, forming mutually beneficial associations with the roots of living trees and other plants. Species of Multiclavula are lichens, their basidiocarps typically found scattered on sheets of their associated algaeAlgae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
. Species of Membranomyces and "Sistotrema" are presumed to be wood-rotting saprotrophs, typically forming corticioid basidiocarps on the undersides of dead, attached branches or fallen wood. Some of the latter group, however, (including the genus Burgella) often grow on and may parasitize lichens. Collectively, the Clavulinaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution
Cosmopolitan distribution
In biogeography, a taxon is said to have a cosmopolitan distribution if its range extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. For instance, the killer whale has a cosmopolitan distribution, extending over most of the world's oceans. Other examples include humans, the lichen...
.