} ''Elmerina'' 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 ...

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

order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

Auriculariales.

Basidiocarp In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome, or basidioma () is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the spore-producing hymenium is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the hymenomycetes; rusts and smuts do not ...

s (fruit bodies) are formed on dead wood and are either bracket-like with a poroid

hymenium The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some ...

or densely

clavarioid The clavarioid fungi are a group of fungi in the ''Basidiomycota'' typically having erect, simple or branched basidiocarps (fruit bodies) that are formed on the ground, on decaying vegetation, or on dead wood. They are colloquially called club fun ...

. Species are known from East Asia and Australia.

Taxonomy

History

''Elmerina '' was described by Italian

mycologist Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungus, fungi, including their genetics, genetic and biochemistry, biochemical properties, their Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy and ethnomycology, their use to humans, including as a so ...

Giacomo Bresadola Giacomo Bresadola ( Mezzana, Trento; often given as Giacopo) 14 February 1847 – Trento 9 June 1929) was an eminent Italian mycologist. Fungi he named include the deadly '' Lepiota helveola'' and ''Inocybe patouillardii'', though the latter ...

to accommodate a distinctive polypore originally collected in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

during the ''Challenger'' expedition. Bresadola named the genus in honour of

Adolph Daniel Edward Elmer Adolph Daniel Edward Elmer (June 14, 1870 – 1942) was an American botanist and plant collector.. He was mostly active in the Philippines, his collections being described as new species by both himself and other botanists. The Japanese sent him ...

, an American botanist and plant collector. English mycologist

Derek Reid Derek Agutter Reid (2 September 1927 – 18 January 2006) was an England, English mycology, mycologist. Background and education Reid was born in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, the son of a picture-framer. He was educated at Cedars School and ...

later discovered that the basidia of the polypore were septate, thus placing the genus among the heterobasidiomycetes, and referred all species of poroid Auriculariales to ''Elmerina''.

Current status

Molecular A molecule is a group of two or more atoms held together by attractive forces known as chemical bonds; depending on context, the term may or may not include ions which satisfy this criterion. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, and bioche ...

research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has shown that ''Elmerina'' is a distinct genus, but only includes a minority of poroid Auriculariales, others being placed in the closely related genera ''

Aporpium ''Aporpium'' is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are formed on dead wood and have a poroid hymenium. Species were often formerly referred to the genera ''Elmerina'' or ''Protomerulius'', but molecular ...

'' and ''

Protodaedalea ''Protodaedalea'' is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. Species produce bracket-like basidiocarps In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome, or basidioma () is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the s ...

'' and the more distantly related genus ''

Protomerulius ''Protomerulius'' is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are formed on dead wood and have an effused, smooth, spiny, or poroid hymenium. The genus is cosmopolitan. Taxonomy The genus was originally descr ...

''. The densely spiny or clavarioid ''Elmerina sclerodontia'' is also included in the genus.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10481921 Auriculariales Basidiomycota genera