Genus of fungi
Clavaria is a genus of fungi in the family Clavariaceae. Species of "Clavaria" produce basidiocarps (fruit bodies) that are either cylindrical to club-shaped or branched and coral-like. They are often grouped with similar-looking species from other genera, when they are collectively known as the clavarioid fungi. All "Clavaria" species are terrestrial and most (if not all) are believed to be saprotrophic (decomposing dead plant material). In Europe, they are typical of old, mossy, unimproved grassland. In North America and elsewhere, they are more commonly found in woodlands.
History.
"Clavaria" (the name is derived from the Latin "clava", a club) was first introduced as a genus name by Vaillant (1727), later accepted by Micheli (1729), and was one of the original genera used by Linnaeus in his "Species Plantarum" of 1753. It contained all species of fungi with erect, club-shaped or branched (coral-like) fruit bodies, including many that are now referred to the Ascomycota. Subsequent authors described over 1200 species in the genus. The name "Clavaria" was also used for a group of red algae in the Gelidiaceae family of the Rhodophyta by Stackhouse in 1816. Because "Clavaria" Stackh. was also validly published, Donk in 1949 proposed that "Clavaria" Stackh. be rejected as a homonym of "Clavaria" Fries and that the latter name be retained as a "nomen conservandum" (conserved name). This proposal was moved by Doty (1948), recommended for adoption by Rogers (1949), and approved by the Special Committee for Fungi.
With increasing use of the microscope in the late nineteenth century, most of the ascomycetous members of the genus were recognized as distinct and moved to other genera. "Clavaria" was, however, still widely used for the majority of the basidiomycetous species until Corner published his world monograph of the clavarioid fungi in 1950, introducing the modern concept of the genus. Corner restricted "Clavaria" to those species with fruit bodies having inflated, unclamped, context hyphae (a character that makes "Clavaria" fruit bodies distinctly brittle). Species with clamped hyphae were placed in the segregate genera "Clavulinopsis" and "Ramariopsis". This concept was modified in 1978 by Petersen, who considered "Clavulinopsis" an artificial genus, moving the majority of species to "Ramariopsis" but a minority back into "Clavaria".
Phylogeny.
Recent phylogenetic research based on DNA sequencing suggests that all three genera are closely related, but does not unambiguously support either Corner's or Petersen's precise characterization of "Clavaria". Too few species have yet been sequenced, however, for "Clavaria" to be redefined.
Description.
Fruit bodies are simple (cylindrical to club-shaped) or more rarely branched, sometimes with a distinct stipe (stem). Several of the species with simple fruit bodies form them in dense clusters. The fruit bodies themselves are smooth to grooved and typically brittle. Depending on species, they vary in colour from white or cream to yellow, pink, violet, brown, or black.
The hyphal system of "Clavaria" species is always monomitic. The context hyphae are inflated, thin-walled, and lack clamp connections (though Petersen's amended concept of the genus includes some species with clamps). The basidia are two- to four-spored, in some species with an open, loop-like clamp connection at the base. Spores are smooth or spiny. Spore prints are white.
Habitat and distribution.
Most "Clavaria" species are thought to be saprotrophic, decomposing leaf litter and other organic materials on the woodland floor. In Europe, species are more frequently found in old, unimproved grasslands (i.e., not used agriculturally) where they are presumed to be decomposers of dead grass and moss. At least one species ("Clavaria argillacea") is, however, typical of heathland and is a possible mycorrhizal associate of heather.
Species of "Clavaria" occur in suitable habitats throughout the temperate regions and the tropics. Some 15 species are known from Europe; according to one 2008 estimate, 28 species are recognized worldwide. Petersen described 18 new species from New Zealand in a 1988 monograph. As of August 2015[ [update]], Index Fungorum lists 175 valid species in "Clavaria".
References.
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