''Gymnopus'' 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 ...

fungus 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 th ...

in the family

Omphalotaceae The Marasmiaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi which have white spores. They mostly have tough stems and the capability of shrivelling up during a dry period and later recovering. The widely consumed edible fungus ''Lentinula edodes'', the ...

. The genus has a widespread,

cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. Such a taxon, usually a species, is said to exhibit cosmopolitanism or cosmopolitism. The ext ...

and contains about 300 species.

History and classification

The

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

for the Gymnopus, ''

Gymnopus fusipes ''Gymnopus fusipes'' (formerly often called ''Collybia fusipes'') is a parasitic species of gilled mushroom which is quite common in Europe and often grows in large clumps. It is variable but easy to recognize because the stipe soon becomes di ...

,'' dates back to 1806 Pers.)_ Pers.)_Henri_François_Anne_de_Roussel">Roussel.html" ;"title="Henri_François_Anne_de_Roussel.html" ;"title="Pers..html" ;"title="Pers.">Pers.) Henri François Anne de Roussel">Roussel">Henri_François_Anne_de_Roussel.html" ;"title="Pers..html" ;"title="Pers.">Pers.) Henri François Anne de Roussel">Roussel Many of the species now classified in the Gymnopus genera were once assigned to Collybia. In 1997 it was suggested that the Collybia genus be split into three genera, one of them being Gymnopus.

Description

In general, Gymnopus Sporocarp (fungi), fruiting bodies are found in leaf and woody litter. Typically the fruiting bodies are relatively small and range from browns to white in color. Their Spore print, spore deposit is white. Most species of gymnopus act as decomposers (

saprotrophic Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi (f ...

). With one known exception ( G. subnudus), the mating patterns of gymnopus all seem to be bifactorial, meaning that there is more than one

locus Locus (plural loci) is Latin for "place". It may refer to: Entertainment * Locus (comics), a Marvel Comics mutant villainess, a member of the Mutant Liberation Front * ''Locus'' (magazine), science fiction and fantasy magazine ** ''Locus Award' ...

responsible for regulating mating compatibility.

Representative species

*''

Gymnopus dryophilus ''Gymnopus dryophilus'' is a mushroom commonly found in temperate woodlands of Europe and North America. It is generally saprophytic, but occasionally also attacks living wood. It belongs to section ''Levipedes'' of the genus, being characterize ...

'' *''

Gymnopus peronatus ''Gymnopus peronatus'' (formerly called ''Collybia peronata'' or ''Marasmius urens'') is a species of gilled mushroom which is common in European woods. The English name wood woolly-foot has been given to this species. Naming This species wa ...

'' *''

Gymnopus semihirtipes ''Gymnopus'' is a genus of fungus in the family Omphalotaceae. The genus has a widespread, cosmopolitan distribution and contains about 300 species. History and classification The type species for the Gymnopus, '' Gymnopus fusipes,'' dates ba ...

'' *''

Gymnopus quercophilus ''Gymnopus'' is a genus of fungus in the family Omphalotaceae. The genus has a widespread, cosmopolitan distribution and contains about 300 species. History and classification The type species for the Gymnopus, '' Gymnopus fusipes,'' dates ba ...

History and classification

Description

Representative species

See also

References

Further reading