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Biatoropsis

Scientific Name: Biatoropsis

Family:

Category: Lichen

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Biatoropsis usnearum

Biatoropsis usnearum is a lichenicolous fungus, often found as pinkish galls on Usnea species (old man's beard). It is sometimes referred to as "Bits in old man's beard."

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Biatoropsis usnearum Räsänen
  • Authority: Räsänen
  • Family: Tremellaceae
  • Rank: Species
  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Division: Basidiomycota

Distribution and Habitat

  • Biatoropsis usnearum has a cosmopolitan distribution, having been found on all continents except Antarctica.
  • It is a parasite of Usnea species, and also found on Protousnea dusenii.

Ecological Role

  • Biatoropsis usnearum is a basidiomycete parasite that forms galls on lichens of the genus Usnea.
  • It is part of the Biatoropsis-Usnea system, which is used to study factors inducing parasite diversification.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Biatoropsis usnearum is a mycoparasite, specifically targeting lichens like Usnea subfloridana.
  • It forms a complex with at least 7 different independent species.
  • It is associated with inter-species relationships, particularly feeding relationships.

Further Information

  • Information can be found in the Greater Sonoran Desert Lichen Flora (Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bungartz, F., (eds.) 2001).
  • Additional resources are available through Index Fungorum (http://www.indexfungorum.org/names/NamesRecord.asp?RecordID=281203) and Discover Life.