Leotia is a genus of cup fungi of the division Ascomycota. Leotia species are globally distributed, and are believed to be ectomycorrhizal.[1] They are commonly known as jelly babies because of the gelatinous texture of their fruiting bodies.
| Leotia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leotia lubrica | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Leotiomycetes |
| Order: | Leotiales |
| Family: | Leotiaceae |
| Genus: | Leotia Pers. (1794) |
| Type species | |
| Leotia lubrica (Scop.) Pers. (1797)
| |
| Species | |
Biology edit
Leotia species are characterized by their capitate ascocarps. Within the class Leotiomycetes, Leotia species produce large fruiting bodies; their long-stalked apothecia bear a fertile layer of asci that covers the upper surface of a mushroom-like cap.
Leotia is closely related to Microglossum,[2] another genus characterized by capitate ascocarps. The species of Leotia have traditionally been defined largely by the fresh color of the ascocarps (tan in L. lubrica, olive-green in L. atrovirens, and green-headed with a yellow stalk in L. viscosa). However, a molecular phylogenetic study[3] revealed that color is a poor predictor of species affiliation, suggesting further study is needed to develop new, more predictive species concepts.
Gallery edit
References edit
- ^ Tedersoo L, Smith ME (2017). "Ectomycorrhizal fungal lineages: detection of four new groups and notes on consistent recognition of ectomycorrhizal taxa in high-throughput sequencing studies".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Wang Z, Binder M, Schoch CL, Johnston PR, Spatafora JW, Hibbett DS (November 2006). "Evolution of helotialean fungi (Leotiomycetes, Pezizomycotina): a nuclear rDNA phylogeny". Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 41 (2): 295–312. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.031. PMID 16837216.
- ^ Zhong, Z; Pfister, DH. (2004). "Phylogenetic relationships among species of Leotia (Leotiales) based on ITS and RPB2 sequences". Mycological Progress. 3 (3): 237–246. doi:10.1007/s11557-006-0094-8. S2CID 20086665.
External links edit