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List of fungi of South Africa

This is a list of the lists of fungal taxa as recorded from South Africa. Names given are as provided by the source, but authorities and dates should be aligned with current practice where feasible. Currently accepted names have been appended where the listed name is out of date.

A fungus (plural: fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from the other eukaryotic kingdoms, those being Plantae, Animalia, Protozoa, and Chromista.

A characteristic that places fungi in a different kingdom from plants, bacteria, and some protists is chitin in their cell walls. Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs; they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi do not photosynthesize. Growth is their means of mobility, except for spores (a few of which are flagellated), which may travel through the air or water. Fungi are the principal decomposers in ecological systems. These and other differences place fungi in a single group of related organisms, named the Eumycota (true fungi or Eumycetes), which share a common ancestor (from a monophyletic group), an interpretation that is also strongly supported by molecular phylogenetics. This fungal group is distinct from the structurally similar myxomycetes (slime molds) and oomycetes (water molds). The discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology (from the Greek μύκης ', mushroom). In the past, mycology was regarded as a branch of botany, although it is now known fungi are genetically more closely related to animals than to plants.

Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their cryptic lifestyles in soil or on dead matter. Fungi include symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi and also parasites. They may become noticeable when fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange in the environment. They have long been used as a direct source of human food, in the form of mushrooms and truffles; as a leavening agent for bread; and in the fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests. Many species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species contain psychotropic compounds and are consumed recreationally or in traditional spiritual ceremonies. Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g., rice blast disease) or food spoilage can have a large impact on human food supplies and local economies.

The fungus kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of taxa with varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies ranging from unicellular aquatic chytrids to large mushrooms. However, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at 2.2 million to 3.8 million species. Of these, only about 148,000 have been described, with over 8,000 species known to be detrimental to plants and at least 300 that can be pathogenic to humans. Ever since the pioneering 18th and 19th century taxonomical works of Carl Linnaeus, Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, and Elias Magnus Fries, fungi have been classified according to their morphology (e.g., characteristics such as spore color or microscopic features) or physiology. Advances in molecular genetics have opened the way for DNA analysis to be incorporated into taxonomy, which has sometimes challenged the historical groupings based on morphology and other traits. Phylogenetic studies published in the first decade of the 21st century have helped reshape the classification within Kingdom Fungi, which is divided into one subkingdom, seven phyla, and ten subphyla.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

Genus: Kalchbrennera Berk. 1876, accepted as Lysurus Fr., (1823)

Genus: Kloeckerospora*

Genus: Kretzschmaria Fr. 1849

Genus: Kuehneola Magnus 1898

Genus: Kupsura Lloyd 1924, accepted as Lysurus Fr., (1823)

L

M

N

Genus: Naemacyclus Fuckel 1874

Genus: Naevia Fr. 1824, accepted as Arthonia Ach., (1806)

Genus: Naucoria (Fr.) P.Kumm. (1871), accepted as Alnicola Kühner (1926)

Genus: Nectria (Fr.) Fr. 1849

Family:Nectrioidaceae Sacc. 1884

Genus: Nematospora Peglion 1897

Genus: Nematostigma Syd. & P. Syd. 1913

Genus: Neobarclaya Kuntze 1898

Genus: Neocosmospora E.F. Sm. 1899 accepted as Fusarium Link, (1809)

Genus: Neopeckia Sacc. 1883

Genus: Nephroma Ach. 1809(Lichens)

Genus: Nephromium Nyl. 1860, accepted as Nephroma Ach., (1809)

Genus: Nesolechia A. Massal. 1856 accepted as Phacopsis Tul., (1852)

Family: Nidulariaceae Dumort. 1822

Genus: Nidularia Fr. 1817

Genus: Nigrospora Zimm. 1902

Genus: Niopsora A. Massal. 1861, accepted as Caloplaca Th. Fr., (1860)

Genus: Niorma A. Massal. 1861

Genus: Nolanea (Fr.) P. Kumm. 1871

Genus: Normandina Nyl. 1855

Genus: Nummularia Tul. & C. Tul. 1863 accepted as Biscogniauxia Kuntze, (1891)

O

Oc

Genus: Ocellularia G. Mey. 1825 (Lichens)

Genus: Ochrolechia A.Massal. (1852) (Lichens)

Genus: Octaviania Vittad. 1831

Od

Genus: Odontia Pers. 1794

Oi

Genus: Oidiopsis Scalia 1902 accepted as Leveillula G. Arnaud, (1921)

Genus: Oidium Link 1824

Ol

Genus: Olpidiopsis Cornu 1872

Genus: Oligostroma Syd. & P. Syd. 1914 accepted as Ramularia Unger, (1833)

Om

Genus: Ombrophila Fr. 1849

Genus: Omphalia (Fr.) Gray 1821, accepted as Omphalina Quél., (1886)

Genus: Omphalaria Durieu & Mont. 1847 (?) accepted as Thyrea A. Massal., (1856)

Genus: Omphalodium Meyen & Flot. 1843 (?) (Lichens)

On

Genus: Oncospora Kalchbr. 1880

Oo

Genus: Oospora Wallr. 1833, accepted as Oidium Link, (1824)

Genus: Oothecium Speg. 1918, accepted as Asterostomella Speg., (1886)

Op

Genus: Opegrapha (Lichens)

Genus: Ophiobolus Riess 1854

Genus: Ophiodothella (Henn.) Höhn. 1910

Or

Genus: Orbilia Fr. 1836

Family: Orbiliaceae Nannf. 1932

Ot

Genus: Otthia Nitschke ex Fuckel 1870

Ov

Genus: Ovularia Sacc. 1880, accepted as Ramularia Unger, (1833)

Genus: OvulariopsisPat. & Har. 1900

P

R

S

T

U

V

Va

Genus: Valsa

Family: Valsaceae Tul. & C. Tul. 1861

Genus: Valsaria Ces. & De Not. 1863

Family: Valseae

Genus: Varicellaria Nyl. 1858

Genus: Variolaria

Ve

Genus: Venturia

Genus: Vermicularia Tode 1790 accepted as Colletotrichum Corda, (1831)

Genus: Verrucaria Schrad. 1794? (Lichens)

Family: Verrucariaceae Eschw. 1824

Genus: Verticillium Nees 1816

Genus: Vestergrenia Rehm 1901

Vo

Genus: Volutella Fr. 1832

Genus: Volvaria

Genus: Volvariella Speg. 1898

Genus: Volvopluteus Vizzini, Contu & Justo 2011

W

Genus: Woodiella Sacc. & P. Syd. 1899,

Family: Woroninaceae H.E. Petersen 1909

Genus: Woroninella Racib. 1898 accepted as Synchytrium de Bary & Woronin, (1863)

X

Xa

Genus: Xanthoria (Fr.) Th. Fr. 1860,(Lichens)

Xe

Genus: Xerotus Fr. 1828

Xy

Genus: Xylaria Hill ex Schrank 1786

Family: Xylariaceae Tul. & C. Tul. 1863

Genus: Xylosorium Zundel 1939, accepted as Pericladium Pass., (1875)

Z

Genus: Zukalia Sacc. 1891, accepted as Chaetothyrium Speg., (1888)

Genus: Zythia Fr. 1825, accepted as Sarea Fr., (1825)

Family: Zythiaceae Clem. 1909

See also

References

Sources

Further reading

External links