''Annulohypoxylon'', sometimes called cramp balls,
is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
fungi
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...
in the family
Xylariaceae
The Xylariaceae are a family of mostly small ascomycetous fungi. It is one of the most commonly encountered groups of ascomycetes and is found throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world. They are typically found on wood, seeds, f ...
.
The 27 species in the genus have a collectively widespread distribution.
The genus ''Annulohypoxylon'' was created in 2005 and contains species formerly placed in the closely related genus ''
Hypoxylon'' (it is equivalent to ''Hypoxylon''
section ''Annulata''
sensu).
Fossils of ''Annulohypoxylon'' have been found in 12 million year old rocks from central England.
Use in the cultivation of ''Tremella fuciformis''
Species in the genus ''Annulohypoxylon'', especially ''
Annulohypoxylon archeri'', are commonly used in the cultivation of ''
Tremella fuciformis
''Tremella fuciformis'' is a species of fungus; it produces white, frond-like, gelatinous basidiocarps (fruiting bodies). It is widespread, especially in the tropics, where it can be found on the dead branches of broadleaf trees. This fungus is c ...
'', one of the foremost
medicinal and
culinary fungi of
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
and
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
.
''Tremella fuciformis'' is a
parasitic yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are estimated to constitut ...
that does not form an edible fruit body without parasitizing another fungus. The species ''Annulohypoxylon archeri'' is its preferred
host
A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it.
Host may also refer to:
Places
* Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County
People
*Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman
* Michel Host ...
, so cultivators usually pair cultures of ''Tremella fuciformis'' with this species, or others in the former genus ''Hypoxylon''
(now split into two genera – ''Hypoxylon'' and ''Annulohypoxylon'').
Species
*''
A. annulatum''
*''
A. apiahynu''
*''
A. archeri''
*''
A. atroroseum''
*''
A. austrobahiense''
*''
A. bahnphadengense''
*''
A. bovei''
*''
A. cohaerens''
*''
A. discophorum''
*''
A. elevatidiscum''
*''
A. gombakense''
*''
A. hemicarpum''
*''
A. hians''
*''
A. ilanense''
*''
A. leptascum''
*''
A. leucadendri''
*''
A. macrodiscum''
*''
A. maeteangense''
*''
A. michelianum''
*''
A. microcarpum''
*''
A. minutellum''
*''
A. moriforme''
*''
A. multiforme''
*''
A. nitens''
*''
A. nothofagi''
*''
A. orientale''
*''
A. pouceanum''
*''
A. pseudostipitatum''
*''
A. purpureonitens''
*''
A. purpureopigmentum''
*''
A. pyriforme''
*''
A. squamulosum''
*''
A. stygium''
*''
A. subeffusum''
*''
A. thouarsianum''
*''
A. truncatum''
*''
A. urceolatum''
Gallery
File:Carbon_Ball_Fungus.jpg, '' Annulohypoxylon thouarsianum''
File:Annulohypoxylon thouarsianum 34469.jpg, '' Annulohypoxylon thouarsianum''
File:Annulohypoxylon.cohaerens.-.lindsey.jpg, '' Annulohypoxylon cohaerens''
File:Annulohypoxylon.cohaerens2.-.lindsey.jpg, '' Annulohypoxylon cohaerens''
File:Annulohypoxylon.cohaerens3.-.lindsey.jpg, '' Annulohypoxylon cohaerens''
File:Annulohypoxylon.multiforme.-.lindsey.jpg, '' Annulohypoxylon multiforme''
File:Annulohypoxylon.multiforme2.-.lindsey.jpg, '' Annulohypoxylon multiforme''
File:Hypoxylon-multiforme.jpg, '' Annulohypoxylon multiforme''
File:Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms - t. 355.png, '' Annulohypoxylon multiforme'' by James Sowerby (1803)
References
External links
Ascomycota genera
Xylariales
Taxa described in 2005
{{Xylariales-stub