Neha Patil (Editor)

Sphagnurus

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Kingdom
  
Fungi

Class
  
Agaricomycetes

Family
  
Lyophyllaceae

Division
  
Basidiomycota

Order
  
Agaricales

Rank
  
Genus

Similar
  
Sphagnurus paluster, Ossicaulis, Lyophyllaceae, Tephrocybe, Asterophora

Sphagnurus is a parasitic mushroom genus in the family Lyophyllaceae that creates conspicuous dead patches on peat moss (Sphagnum) in bogs. The genus contains one species known to inhabit Eurasia and North America. Phylogenetically the genus is closest to, but is isolated from species now classified in the genus Sagaranella Prior to molecular analyses, the most recent classification put it in the genus Tephrocybe, but that genus is allied to Termitomyces.

Sphagnurus paluster, the single species in the genus is pale grey and has a mycenoid stature (i.e. has a conical pileus, a narrow elongated stipe and lacks an annulus or volva). Its basidiospores are nonamyloid and smooth. It lacks cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia. Clamp connections are present.

Etymology

The name Sphagnurus is derived from the name of its host Sphagnum and (the Latin word -urus (meaning “tail").

References

Sphagnurus Wikipedia