Leotia

Leotia is a genus of cup fungi of the phylum Ascomycota. Leotia species are globally distributed, and are believed to be saprobic.[1] They are commonly known as jelly babies because of the gelatinous texture of their fruiting bodies.

Leotia
Leotia lubrica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Phylum:
Ascomycota
Subphylum:
Pezizomycotina
Class:
Leotiomycetes
Order:
Helotiales
Family:
Leotiaceae
Genus:
Leotia

Pers. (1794)
Type species
Leotia lubrica
(Scop.) Pers. (1797)
Species

Leotia atrovirens
Leotia lubrica
Leotia viscosa

Biology

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,[1] 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[2] revealed that color is a poor predictor of species affiliation, suggesting further study is needed to develop new, more predictive species concepts.

References
  1. 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.
  2. Zhong, Z; Pfister, DH. (2004). "Phylogenetic relationships among species of Leotia (Leotiales) based on ITS and RPB2 sequences". Mycological Progress. 3: 237–246. doi:10.1007/s11557-006-0094-8.


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