Tyrannosorus pinicola
Species of fungus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tyrannosorus is a genus of fungi in the class Dothideomycetes. The relationship of this taxon to other taxa within the class is unknown (incertae sedis).[1] A monotypic genus, it contains the single species Tyrannosorus pinicola. The genus was first formally described by Untereiner & Malloch,[1] although the species was previously described by others. It takes its name, meaning "despotic heap", from its ascomata, which have long and sharp spines, presumably to deter small animals.[2]
| Tyrannosorus pinicola | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Tyrannosorus Untereiner & Malloch |
| Type species | |
| Tyrannosorus pinicola (Petrini & P.J. Fisher) Unter. & Malloch | |
T. pinicola's anamorph was previously falsely described as a member of the Helicodendron genus due to its helical conidia, which coiled 5-6 times, or less so in older cultures.[2] T. pinicola may have convergently evolved similar spore morphology to Helicodendron due to occupying an aero-aquatic niche,[3] where the helicoid spores trap an air pocket that enables flotation of spores in aquatic environments.
Description
T. pinicola's ascomata are dark-brown to black, and occur solitarily. The ascomata are between pear-shaped (pyriform) and egg-shaped (ovate). They have ostioles and sharp-pointed setae, which give the genus Tyrannosorus its name. The asci are enclosed in a double wall (bitunicate), the inner of which is thickened, and taper towards the base. The ascospores come in pairs of cells and are brown with indistinct striae.
