''Humphreya'' 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 four species of

polypore Polypores are a group of fungi that form large fruiting bodies with pores or tubes on the underside (see Delimitation for exceptions). They are a morphological group of basidiomycetes-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi, and not all polypor ...

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

Ganodermataceae The Ganodermataceae are a family (biology), family of fungi in the order Polyporales. , Index Fungorum accepts 8 genus, genera and 300 species in the family. The family was circumscription (taxonomy), circumscribed by Dutch mycologist Marinus An ...

. The genus was

circumscribed In geometry, the circumscribed circle or circumcircle of a polygon is a circle that passes through all the vertices of the polygon. The center of this circle is called the circumcenter and its radius is called the circumradius. Not every polyg ...

by Belgian mycologist René Léopold Steyaert in 1972. He proposed ''Humphreya'' as a genus segregate from ''

Ganoderma ''Ganoderma'' is a genus of polypore fungi in the family Ganodermataceae that includes about 80 species, many from tropical regions. They have a high genetic diversity and are used in traditional Asian medicines. ''Ganoderma'' can be differenti ...

'',

typified Typification is a process of creating standard (''typical'') social construction based on standard assumptions. Discrimination based on typification is called typism. See also *Ideal type *Normal type *Typology Typology is the study of types or ...

by ''Ganoderma lloydi'' Pat. & Har., and included ''Ganoderma coffeatum'' and the newly described '' Humphreya endertii''. '' H. eminii'' was transferred to the genus (from ''Ganoderma'') by

Leif Ryvarden Leif Randulff Ryvarden (born 9 August 1935) is a Norwegian mycologist. Early life and education Leif Ryvarden was born in Bergen as a son of Einar Norberg Johansen (1900–1959) and Hjørdis Randulff (1912–1975). He finished his secondary edu ...

in 1980. ''Humphreya'' differs from ''Ganoderma'' by the velvety

cap A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...

and stipe surfaces of its

fruit bodies The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cyc ...

. Microscopically, the

spores In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...

of ''Humphreya'' feature a crested endosporium (the innermost layer of the spore wall). The generic name ''Humphreya'' honours Clarence John Humphrey (1882–1970), a scientist and mycologist specializing in

wood-decay fungi A wood-decay or xylophagous fungus is any species of fungus that digests moist wood, causing it to rot. Some species of wood-decay fungi attack dead wood, such as brown rot, and some, such as ''Armillaria'' (honey fungus), are parasitic and col ...

Species

*'' Humphreya coffeata'' (Berk.) Steyaert (1972) *'' Humphreya eminii'' (Henn.) Ryvarden (1980) *'' Humphreya endertii'' Steyaert (1972) *'' Humphreya lloydii'' (Pat. & Har.) Steyaert (1972)

References

External links

* Ganodermataceae Polyporales genera {{Polyporales-stub