Crittendenia

Crittendenia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricostilbomycetes
Order: Agaricostilbales
Family: Crittendeniaceae
Millanes, Diederich & Wedin (2022)
Genus: Crittendenia
Diederich, Millanes, M.Westb., Etayo, J.C.Zamora & Wedin (2021)
Type species
Crittendenia coppinsii
(P.Roberts) Diederich, M.Westb., Millanes & Wedin (2021)

Crittendenia is a genus of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungi in the monogeneric family Crittendeniaceae. The genus was circumscribed in 2021 to contain two species, C. lichenicola, and the type, C. coppinsii; these species were previously classified in the genus Chionosphaera. An additional 16 species were added to the genus the following year.[1] The genus name honours British lichenologist Peter Crittenden.[2]

Characteristics of Crittendenia include the tiny synnemata-like basidiomata, clamp connections, and aseptate tubular basidia from which 4–7 spores discharge passively, often in groups.[2] The genus was originally considered to be of uncertain classification in the Agaricostilbomycetes;[3] the family Crittendeniaceae was proposed in 2022 to contain the genus following molecular phylogenetic investigation.[1]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Diederich et al. 2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Millanes et al. 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wijayawardene et al. 2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).