Species of fungus
Tremella fibulifera is a species of fungus in the family Tremellaceae. It produces soft, whitish, lobed to frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps (fruit bodies) and is parasitic on other fungi on dead branches of broad-leaved trees. It was originally described from Brazil.
Taxonomy
Tremella fibulifera was first published in 1895 by German mycologist Alfred Möller based on a collection made in Brazil.[1]
Description
Fruit bodies are soft, gelatinous, whitish, up to 2.5 cm (1 in) across, and lobed. Microscopically, the basidia are tremelloid (subglobose, with oblique to vertical septa), 4-celled, 13 to 18 by 9 to 16 μm. The basidiospores are ellipsoid, smooth, 7 to 10 by 6 to 7 μm.[2]
Similar species
Tremella subfibulifera, also described from Brazil, appears macroscopically identical but differs microscopically in having slightly smaller basidiospores (5.5 to 10 by 4 to 6 μm). DNA sequencing has shown that it is a distinct species.[2] Several other species, including Tremella olens and Tremella neofibulifera, are macroscopically similar and belong within the T. fibulifera complex, but occur in Asia or Australia.[2]
Habitat and distribution
Tremella fibulifera is a parasite on lignicolous fungi, but its host species is unknown, though collections have been noted on pyrenomycetes.[1] It is found on dead, attached or fallen branches of broad-leaved trees.
The species is currently known from Brazil,[1][3][2] Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama,[4] Venezuela (as T. olens),[5] and Jamaica (as T. olens).[6]
References