Dermateaceae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Leotiomycetes
Order:	Helotiales
Family:	Dermateaceae Fries (1849)[1]
Type genus
Dermea Fries (1825)[1]

The Dermateaceae is a family of cup fungi in the order Helotiales. Most species in this family are plant pathogens but some are saprobes. These fungi are commonly referred to as "earth tongues" or "earthfan fungi" due to their distinctive appearance.

Morphology

Dermateaceae fungi are characterized by their fruiting bodies, which are often small, cup-shaped, or tongue-shaped structures. These structures can vary in color, but they are typically brown or dark in appearance.

Habitat

Members of the Dermateaceae family are typically found in terrestrial environments. They are often associated with decaying plant material, leaf litter, and soil. Some species may be mycorrhizal, forming mutually beneficial relationships with plants.

Distribution

Dermateaceae fungi can be found in various parts of the world. They are not limited to a specific geographic region and can be found in both temperate and tropical ecosystems.

Ecological Role

Many species within this family are saprophytic, meaning they obtain nutrients by decomposing organic matter, such as dead plant material. As decomposers, they play a vital role in nutrient cycling and ecosystem health.

Taxonomy

Dermateaceae is a well-defined family within the order Helotiales, which is part of the class Leotiomycetes. It is a taxonomically recognized group of fungi.

Reproductive Structure

Like other fungi, Dermateaceae reproduce through the formation of spores, typically produced in the fruiting bodies. The spores are essential for the dispersal and reproduction of the fungi.

Diversity

The family Dermateaceae includes a diversity of species, with different ecological roles and adaptations. Some species are highly specialized to colonize specific substrates, while others have a broader ecological range.

Genera

This is a list of genera in the family, based on the 2007 Outline of Ascomycota.^[2]

Aivenia — Angelina — Anthopsis — Ascluella — Atropellis — Belonopsis — Blumeriella — Calloria — Calloriella — Cashiella — Cejpia — Chaetonaevia — Chlorosplenium — Coleosperma — Coronellaria — Crustomollisia — Cryptohymenium — Dennisiodiscus — Dermateopsis — Dermea — Dibeloniella — Diplocarpa — Diplocarpon — Diplonaevia — Discocurtisia — Discohainesia — Drepanopeziza — Duebenia — Durandiella — Eupropolella — Felisbertia — Graddonia — Haglundia — Hysteronaevia — Hysteropezizella — Hysterostegiella — Involucroscypha — Laetinaevia — Leptotrochila — Marssonina^[3] — Micropeziza — Mollisia — Naevala — Naeviella — Naeviopsis — Neofabraea — Neotapesia — Niptera — Nothophacidium — Obscurodiscus — Obtectodiscus — Patellariopsis — Patinella — Pezicula — Pezolepis — Phaeonaevia — Pirottaea — Pleoscutula — Ploettnera — Podophacidium — Pseudonaevia — Pseudoniptera — Pseudopeziza — Pyrenopeziza — Sarconiptera — Schizothyrioma — Scleropezicula — Scutobelonium — Scutomollisia — Sorokina — Sorokinella — Spilopodia — Spilopodiella — Trochila — Tuberculariella — Waltonia

References