Multifurca

Multifurca
Unidentified Multifurca species from
New South Wales, Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Russulales
Family: Russulaceae
Genus: Multifurca
Buyck & V. Hofst. (2008)
Type species
Multifurca ochricompacta
(Bills & O.K.Mill.) Buyck & V. Hofst. (2008)
Species

12, see article

Lactifluus

Phylogenetic relationships of Lactarius, Lactifluus, Multifurca, and Russula.[1]

Multifurca is a rare genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the family Russulaceae. It was described in 2008, after molecular phylogenetic study had shown that it forms a monophyletic lineage within the family, sister to Lactarius.[1] The genus contains six species known from the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, India, China, Thailand, Australia, and New Caledonia, but so far has not been reported from Europe, Africa, or South America.[1][2][3][4] Four of those species were formerly classified as Russula section Ochricompactae, and Multifurca furcata was originally described as a Lactarius species.[1]

Multifurca is morphologically intermediate between Lactarius and Russula: Fruitbodies have adnate to subdecurrent gills and are zonate; latex (as in Lactarius and Lactifluus) is present only in M. furcata; spore print is orange; spores themselves are very small with only faint ornamentation.[1]

The widespread but only punctual records of Multifurca suggest an ancient, relictual distribution.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Buyck2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lebel2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Montoya2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wang2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).