Kingdom Fungi Order Gomphales Higher classification Gomphaceae | Division Basidiomycota Family Gomphaceae Rank Genus | |
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Similar Gomphus clavatus, Turbinellus floccosus, Gomphaceae, Ramaria, Gomphales | ||
Gomphus is a genus of cantharelloid fungi in the family Gomphaceae. Once presumed to be related to chanterelles, molecular study has shown them to be allied with stinkhorns and fairy clubs. The type species of the genus is the pig's ear (G. clavatus).
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon named the genus in 1797, but did not assign any species to it at the time. The generic name is derived from the Greek 'γομφος' gomphos meaning 'plug' or 'large wedge-shaped nail'.
Species
As of September 2015, Index Fungorum accepts 18 species of Gomphus:
There are several undescribed species in the forests of Myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii) in Tasmania. Bruce Fuhrer noticed in 1992 that the large and ornamented spores of these species resembled those of the genera Ramaria and Beenakia.
