Claustula is a fungal genus in the family Claustulaceae. It is monotypic, containing the single truffle-like species Claustula fischeri, described in 1926 and found in New Zealand and Tasmania. In May 2016, it was one of two native New Zealand fungi added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as endangered.

Claustula
Scientific classification
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Claustula

Type species
Claustula fischeri
K.M.Curtis (1926)[2]
C. fischeri 'egg' observed under Kunzea robusta (kānuka) south of Dunedin, New Zealand

Taxonomy and etymology

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Claustula is a fungal genus in the family Claustulaceae.[3] It is monotypic, containing the single truffle-like species Claustula fischeri K.M.Curtis, which was described in 1926 by New Zealand botanist and mycologist Kathleen Curtis.[2] The first specimens were found and collected by Curtis in 1923 near Nelson, and the holotype is housed at the USDA United States National Fungus Collections (BPI).[4][5][6]

The species epithet fischeri honours Swiss mycologist Eduard Fischer, whose studies included genera and species in the order Phallales, which is the order to which Claustula belongs.[7]

Distribution and habitat

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Claustula fischeri is native to New Zealand and Tasmania.[2][8] It is found on the ground in wet native forest (Eucalyptus, Nothofagus, Leptopsermum or Kunzea) and often appears in autumn.[4][9][10]

Conservation status

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In May 2016, it was one of two native New Zealand fungi added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as endangered.[1][11] In New Zealand, it is considered to be Threatened - Nationally Critical under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b Buchanan, P.; May, T. (2015). "Claustula fischeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T75720773A75720776. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T75720773A75720776.en. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Curtis KM. (1926). "The morphology of Claustula fischeri gen. et sp.nov. A new genus of phalloid affinity". Annals of Botany. 40 (2): 471–7. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a090029.
  3. ^ Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi (10th ed.). Wallingford, UK: CAB International. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-85199-826-8.
  4. ^ a b "Claustula fischeri". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  5. ^ "Holotype of Claustula fischeri (BPI)". www.mycoportal.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  6. ^ GBIF. "Holotype of Claustula fischeri". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  7. ^ Blumer, S. (1939-01-01). "Prof. Dr. Eduard Fischer und sein wissenschaftliches Werk". Mitteilungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Bern. Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Bern (in German): 90–101.
  8. ^ Mills AK, May TW, Fuhrer BA, Ratkowsky DA, Ratkowsky AV (1997). "Clastula: The forgotten phalloid". Mycologist. 11 (1): 31–5. doi:10.1016/S0269-915X(97)80067-5.
  9. ^ Fungimap (2018-05-19). "Claustula fischeri – Bunyip Egg". Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  10. ^ The Global Fungal Red List Initiative. "Claustula fischeri". redlist.info. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  11. ^ Chinn, Anna (7 May 2016). "Two native mushrooms now endangered". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  12. ^ "Assessment of Claustula fischeri". New Zealand Threat Classification System. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
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