Gomphus is a genus of cantharelloid fungi in the family Gomphaceae.[1] Once presumed to be related to chanterelles, molecular study has shown them to be allied with stinkhorns and fairy clubs. The type species of the genus is the pig's ear (G. clavatus).

Gomphus
Gomphus clavatus
Albin Schmalfuß, 1897
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Gomphales
Family: Gomphaceae
Genus: Gomphus
Pers. (1794)
Type species
Gomphus clavatus
(Pers.) Gray (1821)
Species

See text

Christiaan Hendrik Persoon named the genus in 1797, but did not assign any species to it at the time.[2] The generic name is derived from the Greek 'γομφος' gomphos meaning 'plug' or 'large wedge-shaped nail'.[3]

Species

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As of September 2023, Index Fungorum accepts 12 species of Gomphus:[4]

Image Name Taxon Author Year Distribution
Gomphus brasiliensis Corner 1970 South America
Gomphus brunneus (Heinem.) Corner 1966 Mexico
Gomphus cavipes Corner 1970 South America
  Gomphus clavatus (Pers.) Gray 1821 Europe, North America
Gomphus crassipes (Kuntze) Maire 1937 Spain and North Africa
  Gomphus ludovicianus R.H. Petersen, Justice & D.P. Lewis 2014 southeastern United States
Gomphus megasporus Corner 1970 Pakistan
Gomphus ochraceus (Pat.) Singer 1945
Gomphus orientalis R.H. Petersen & M. Zang 1996 China
Gomphus szechwanensis R.H. Petersen 1972 Tibet
Gomphus thiersii R.H. Petersen 1971 USA
Gomphus yunnanensis R.H. Petersen & M. Zang 1996 China

There are several undescribed species in the forests of Myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii) in Tasmania.[5] Bruce Fuhrer noticed in 1992 that the large and ornamented spores of these species resembled those of the genera Ramaria and Beenakia.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Giachini, Admir J.; Camelini, Carla M.; Rossi, Márcio J.; Soares, Cláudio R.F.S.; Trappe, James M. (2012). "Systematics of the Gomphales: the genus Gomphus sensu stricto". Mycotaxon. 120: 385–400. doi:10.5248/120.385.
  2. ^ Giachini AJ, Castellano MA (2011). "A new taxonomic classification for species in Gomphus sensu lato". Mycotaxon. 115: 183–201. doi:10.5248/115.183.
  3. ^ Liddell HJ, Scott R (1980). Greek-English Lexicon, Abridged Edition. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. ISBN 978-0-19-910207-5.
  4. ^ Kirk PM. "Species Fungorum (version 26th August 2015). In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life". Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  5. ^ Fuhrer B (2005) A Field Guide to Australian Fungi. Bloomings Books. ISBN 1-876473-51-7
  6. ^ Fuhrer B, Robinson R (1992). Rainforest Fungi of Tasmania and Southeast Australia. CSIRO Press. ISBN 978-0-643-05311-3.