''Mitrula'' is a genus of fungi in the family Sclerotiniaceae first described by

Elias Magnus Fries Elias Magnus Fries (15 August 1794 – 8 February 1878) was a Swedish mycologist and botanist. Career Fries was born at Femsjö (Hylte Municipality), Småland, the son of the pastor there. He attended school in Växjö. He acquired ...

, in his

Systema Mycologicum Systema Mycologicum is a systematic classification of fungi drawn up in 1821 by the Swedish mycologist and botanist Elias Fries Elias Magnus Fries (15 August 1794 – 8 February 1878) was a Swedish mycologist and botanist. Career F ...

(1821). The common name for the matchstick-like fungus is either swamp beacon (US) or bog beacon (GB) refers to the white stipe with yellow fruiting cap. The genus is notable for growing on decaying vegetation in shallow water. The

saprobiontic Saprobionts are organisms that digest their food externally and then absorb the products. This process is called saprotrophic nutrition. Fungi are examples of saprobiontic organisms, which are a type of decomposer. Saprobiontic organisms feed off ...

fungi depend on wet or boggy habitats, with plenty of rotting vegetation. They live and feed on rotting leaves and stems, breaking them down into smaller compounds on which various plants and animals feed. The aquatic discomycete ''Mitrula'' can be found in Europe, Asia, and North America. They still hold an uncertain position within the Helotiales. The species include ''

Mitrula alba ''Mitrula'' is a genus of fungi in the family Sclerotiniaceae first described by Elias Magnus Fries, in his Systema Mycologicum (1821). The common name for the matchstick-like fungus is either swamp beacon (US) or bog beacon (GB) refers to th ...

'', '' Mitrula elegans'', '' Mitrula lunulatospora'', '' Mitrula microspora'', '' Mitrula paludosa'' and '' Mitrula serpentina''. Some of them are difficult to distinguish, for instance the match-stick fungus ''Mitrula elegans'' is often mistaken as ''Mitrula paludosa''. File:Mitrula paludosa — Flora Batava — Volume v18.jpg, Mitrula paludosa, illustration by Jan Kops, Flora Batava, 1816) File:Mitrula paludosa (33993388380).jpg, '' Mitrula paludosa'' File:Mitrula lunulatospora Redhead 155190.jpg, Redhead; ''Mitrula lunulatospora'' File:Mitrula paludosa on pine cone, by Upper Neuadd Reserve, June 1972 (30986046886).jpg, Mitrula paludosa on pine cone, River Taff, Wales File:Mitrula elegans Berk 246783.jpg, ''Mitrula elegans''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q6882948 Ascomycota Sclerotiniaceae Helotiales genera