''Leotia'' 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 cup

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 ...

of the division

Ascomycota Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The def ...

. ''Leotia'' species are globally distributed, and are believed to be

ectomycorrhizal An ectomycorrhiza (from Greek ἐκτός ', "outside", μύκης ', "fungus", and ῥίζα ', "root"; pl. ectomycorrhizas or ectomycorrhizae, abbreviated EcM) is a form of symbiotic relationship that occurs between a fungal symbiont, or mycobi ...

. They are commonly known as ''jelly babies'' because of the gelatinous texture of their fruiting bodies.

Biology

''Leotia'' species are characterized by their capitate

ascocarp An ascocarp, or ascoma (), is the fruiting body ( sporocarp) of an ascomycete phylum fungus. It consists of very tightly interwoven hyphae and millions of embedded asci, each of which typically contains four to eight ascospores. Ascocarps are m ...

s. Within the class

Leotiomycetes The Leotiomycetes are a class of ascomycete fungi. Many of them cause serious plant diseases. Systematics The class Leotiomycetes contains numerous species with an anamorph placed within the ''fungi imperfecti'' (deuteromycota), that have only ...

, ''Leotia'' species produce large fruiting bodies; their long-stalked

apothecia An ascocarp, or ascoma (), is the fruiting body ( sporocarp) of an ascomycete phylum fungus. It consists of very tightly interwoven hyphae and millions of embedded asci, each of which typically contains four to eight ascospores. Ascocarps are mo ...

bear a fertile layer of asci that covers the upper surface of a mushroom-like cap. ''Leotia'' is closely related to ''

Microglossum ''Microglossum'' is a genus of fungi in the family Leotiaceae. Ascocarps (fruit bodies) occur in soil and resemble earth tongues, but are microscopically distinct. '' Microglossum atropurpureum'', a species typical of waxcap grassland in Europ ...

'', 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 In biology, phylogenetics (; from Greek φυλή/ φῦλον [] "tribe, clan, race", and wikt:γενετικός, γενετικός [] "origin, source, birth") is the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among or within groups o ...

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

Gallery

Image:Leotia viscosa 20040822.jpg, ''

Leotia viscosa ''Leotia viscosa'' (common name, chicken lips) is a species of mushroom in the Leotiaceae family. Its stem color can be yellow, orange to white, and the cap A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close t ...

References

External links

Index Fungorum
Helotiales Leotiomycetes genera {{Leotiomycetes-stub