Echria

Fungalpedia – Note 426, Echria

Echria (N. Lundq.) Kruys, Huhndorf & A.N. Mill.

Citation when using this data: Tibpromma et al. 2024 (in prep.) – Fungalpedia, Ascomata.

Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig. 1

Classification: Neoschizotheciaceae, Sordariales, Sordariomycetidae, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi.

First, Lundqvist (1972) established Echria as a section of Arnium species (Arnium sect. Echria) as ascospores that are covered by a fringed sheath or numerous filaments. Based on the phylogeny performed by Kruys et al. (2014), they found that Arnium gigantospora and A. macrotheca are separated from the generic type species of Arnium, and they are recognized as separate genera utilizing the existing section name. Therefore, Kruys et al. (2014) raised section Echria to the genus level and transferred the two species to new combinations (Echria gigantospora and E. macrotheca). According to Kruys et al. (2014), both species are difficult to differentiate morphologically because ascomata are covered with long pointed tufts of agglutinated rigid hairs and striated gelatinous sheaths that swell in water and surround their ascospores. The spores of E. gigantospora are larger and have a fusiform, roughened spore wall, whereas those of E. macrotheca are smaller and ellipsoidal. Additionally, they appear to have distinct substrate preferences because E. gigantospora is found in submerged wood, whereas E. macrotheca is a coprophilous fungus. However, the type species was not designed for this genus.