Leotia

taxobox
name = "Leotia"

---

image_caption = "Leotia lubrica"
image_width = 270px
regnum = Fungi
phylum=Ascomycota
subphylum=Pezizomycotina
classis = Leotiomycetes
ordo=Helotiales
familia=Leotiaceae
genus = Leotia
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Leotia atrovirens" "Leotia lubrica" (Scop.) Pers. "Leotia viscosa"

"Leotia" is a genus of cup fungi of the phylum Ascomycota. "Leotia" species are globally distributed, and are believed to be saprotrophic (Wang et al. 2006). They are commonly known as "jelly babies" because of the gelatinous texture of their fruiting bodies.

Biology

"Leotia" species are characterized by their capitate ascocarps. Within the class Leotiomycetes, "Leotia" species produce large fruiting bodies; their long-stalked apothecia bear a fertile layer of asci that covers the upper surface of a mushroom-like cap.

"Leotia" is closely related to "Microglossum" (Wang et al. 2006), another genus characterized by capitate ascocarps. The species of "Leotia" have traditionally been defined largely by the fresh color of the ascocarps (tan in "L. lubrica", olive-green in "L. atrovirens", and green-headed with a yellow stalk in "L. viscosa"). However, a molecular phylogenetic study (Zong & Pfister 2004) revealed that color is a poor predictor of species affiliation, suggesting further study is needed to develop new, more predictive species concepts.

References

*Z Wang, M Binder, CL Schoch, PR Johnston, JW Spatafora, DS Hibbett. 2006. Evolution of helotialean fungi (Leotiomycetes, Pezizomycotina): A nuclear rDNA phylogeny. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41: 295–312.
*Z Zhong, DH Pfister. 2004. Phylogenetic relationships among species of "Leotia" (Leotiales) based on ITS and RPB2 sequences. Mycological Progress 3: 237-246.

External links

* [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/leotia_lubrica.html Jelly babies at MushroomExpert.com]

Gallery