Lichenomphalia
Encyclopedia
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 loose network of hyphae. The agaric fruit bodies themselves are nonlichenized and resemble other types of omphalinoid
mushrooms. These agarics lack clamp connection
s and do not form hymenial
cystidia
. The basidiospore
s are hyaline
, smooth, thin-walled, and nonamyloid
. Most of the species were originally classified in the genera Omphalina
or Gerronema
. Historically the species were classified with those other genera in the family, the Tricholomataceae
together with the nonlichenized species. Lichenomphalia species can be grouped into brightly colored taxa, with vivid yellow and orange colors, versus the grey brown group, depending upon the microscopic pigmentation deposits. Molecular research comparing DNA sequences now place Lichenomphalia close to the redefined genus Arrhenia
, which together with several other genera not traditionally considered to be related, fall within the newly redefined Hygrophoraceae
.
combined with the old, shorter, generic name Omphalia
from whence the more familiar, longer, diminutive generic name Omphalina
was derived. Basically it means the lichen omphalias.
in 1810 described the thalli of L. hudsoniana as a lichen, Endocarpon viride, which is the type of another officially rejected name, Coriscium. The names 'Botrydina' and 'Coriscium' are often used to described the thalli of different Lichenomphalia even though they are rejected names listed in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature(Appendix V). Prior to officially rejecting these names, the names Botrydina and Phytoconis were both applied to described Lichenomphalia species. Hence literature on these lichenized agarics appears under a myriad of names, such as Omphalina, Gerronema, Phytoconis, Botrydina and Coriscium.
Basidiolichen
Basidiolichens are lichenized 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 and the clavarioid genus Multiclavula...
and an 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. 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
Coccomyxa
Coccomyxa is a genus of algae, in the family Coccomyxaceae.-Species List:* C. arvernensis* C. astericola* C. brevis* C. chodatii* C. confluens* C. corbierei* C. curvata* C. elongata* C. gloeobotrydiformis...
, all interconnected by a loose network of hyphae. The agaric fruit bodies themselves are nonlichenized and resemble other types of omphalinoid
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...
mushrooms. These agarics lack clamp connection
Clamp connection
A clamp connection is a structure formed by growing hyphal cells of certain fungi. It is created to ensure each septum, or segment of hypha separated by crossed walls, receives a set of differing nuclei, which are obtained through mating of hyphae of differing sexual types...
s and do not form hymenial
Hymenium
The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some cells develop into sterile cells called cystidia or...
cystidia
Cystidium
A cystidium is a relatively large cell found on the hymenium of a basidiomycete , often between clusters of basidia. Since cystidia have highly varied and distinct shapes that are often unique to a particular species or genus, they are a useful micromorphological characteristic in the...
. The basidiospore
Basidiospore
A basidiospore is a reproductive spore produced by Basidiomycete fungi. Basidiospores typically each contain one haploid nucleus that is the product of meiosis, and they are produced by specialized fungal cells called basidia. In grills under a cap of one common species in the phylum of...
s are hyaline
Hyaline
The term hyaline denotes a substance with a glass-like appearance.-Histopathology:In histopathological medical usage, a hyaline substance appears glassy and pink after being stained with haematoxylin and eosin — usually it is an acellular, proteinaceous material...
, smooth, thin-walled, and nonamyloid
Amyloid (mycology)
In mycology the term amyloid refers to a crude chemical test using iodine in either Melzer's reagent or Lugol's solution, to produce a black to blue-black positive reaction. It is called amyloid because starch gives a similar reaction, and that reaction for starch is also called an amyloid reaction...
. Most of the species were originally classified in the genera 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:...
. Historically the species were classified with those other genera in the family, the Tricholomataceae
Tricholomataceae
The Tricholomataceae are a large family of mushrooms within the Agaricales. A classic "wastebasket taxon", the Tricholomataceae is inclusive of any white-, yellow-, or pink-spored genera in the Agaricales not already classified as belonging to the Amanitaceae, Lepiotaceae, Hygrophoraceae,...
together with the nonlichenized species. Lichenomphalia species can be grouped into brightly colored taxa, with vivid yellow and orange colors, versus the grey brown group, depending upon the microscopic pigmentation deposits. Molecular research comparing DNA sequences now place Lichenomphalia close to the redefined genus Arrhenia
Arrhenia
Arrhenia is a genus of about 25 species in the Tricholomataceae family. Arrhenia also includes species formerly placed in the genera Leptoglossum and Phaeotellus and the lectotype species itself has an unusual growth form that would not normally be called agaricoid...
, which together with several other genera not traditionally considered to be related, fall within the newly redefined Hygrophoraceae
Hygrophoraceae
The Hygrophoraceae are a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. Originally conceived as containing white-spored, thick-gilled agarics , including Hygrophorus and Hygrocybe species , DNA evidence has extended the limits of the family, so that it now contains not only agarics but also...
.
Etymology
Lichenomphalia is derived from the word lichenLichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
combined with the old, shorter, generic name Omphalia
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...
from whence the more familiar, longer, diminutive generic name 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...
was derived. Basically it means the lichen omphalias.
Thallus names and nomenclature
Long before the connection was made between the nonlichenized agaric fruitbodies and the lichenized thalli, botanists and lichenologists named the asexual lichen thalli of Lichenomphalia species several times in a number of genera. Linnaeus in 1753 described the lichen thallus of L. umbellifera as an 'alga' named Byssus botryoides while simultaneously including the fruitbodies of L. umbellifera within his concept of Agaricus umbelliferus, the basionym for the name L. umbellifera. Byssus botryoides is the type species of the now officially rejected generic names Phytoconis and Botrydina. AchariusErik Acharius
Erik Acharius was a Swedish botanist who pioneered the taxonomy of lichens and is known as the "father of lichenology"....
in 1810 described the thalli of L. hudsoniana as a lichen, Endocarpon viride, which is the type of another officially rejected name, Coriscium. The names 'Botrydina' and 'Coriscium' are often used to described the thalli of different Lichenomphalia even though they are rejected names listed in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature(Appendix V). Prior to officially rejecting these names, the names Botrydina and Phytoconis were both applied to described Lichenomphalia species. Hence literature on these lichenized agarics appears under a myriad of names, such as Omphalina, Gerronema, Phytoconis, Botrydina and Coriscium.
External links
- http://www.pbase.com/cvcc/image/58989351&gcmd=add_comment Lichenomphalia umbellifera
- http://www.bioimages.org.uk/html/R155469.HTM Lichenomphalia umbellifera
- http://nzfungi.landcareresearch.co.nz/html/data_photo.asp?ID=33-WNN-95&name=Lichenomphalia~alpina&NAMEPKey=33386 Lichenomphalia alpina
- http://www.uklichens.co.uk/species/Lichenomphalia%20hudsoniana%203%20large.JPG Lichenomphalia hudsoniana thalli originally called Coriscium viride
- http://www.naturebase.net/images/stories/nature/science/fungus/fungus0707.pdf Lichenomphalia chromacea from Australia.
- http://www.kib.ac.cn/fungi/fqyu/publications/Lichenomphalia.pdf Lichenomphalia hudsoniana from China.
