''Thelephora'' 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
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
Thelephoraceae
The Thelephoraceae are a family of fungi in the order Thelephorales. This grouping of mushrooms is commonly known as the "leathery earthfans".
Genera
The family includes the following eight genera:
* '' Amaurodon''
* '' Hypochnus''
* '' Lenzit ...
. The genus has a widespread distribution and contains about 50 species.
Fruit bodies of species are leathery, usually brownish at maturity, and range in shape from coral-like tufts to having distinct
caps
Caps are flat headgear.
Caps or CAPS may also refer to:
Science and technology Computing
* CESG Assisted Products Service, provided by the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters
* Composite Application Platform Suite, by Java Caps, a Java ...
. Almost all species in the genus are thought to be inedible,
but ''
Thelephora ganbajun
''Thelephora ganbajun'', or "ganba fungus," 干巴菌 / 乾巴菌, is a species of coral fungus in the family Thelephoraceae. It was species description, described as new to science in 1987 by Chinese mycologist Mu Zang. It is found in Yunnan, w ...
'' is a gourmet fungus in
Yunnan
Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...
province of southwest China.
The generic name is derived from the
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
''thele'' (θηλή) meaning ''nipple'' and ''phorus'' meaning ''bearing''.
Thelephora
at myEtymology.com Species in the genus are commonly known as "fiber fans" and "fiber vases".
Species
*'' T. albidobrunnea'' Schwein. 1832
*'' T. alta'' Corner 1968
References
External links
*
Thelephorales genera
{{Agaricomycetes-stub