''Austrocortinarius'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

in the family

Cortinariaceae The Cortinariaceae are a large family of gilled mushrooms found worldwide, containing over 3200 species. The family takes its name from its largest genus, the varied species of the genus ''Cortinarius''. Many genera formerly in the Cortinariaceae ...

Taxonomy

The genus was created in 2022 when the family Cortinariaceae, which previously contained only the one genus of ''

Cortinarius ''Cortinarius'' is a globally distributed genus of fungus in the family Cortinariaceae. Its members are commonly known by the names cortinar and webcap. It is suspected to be the largest genus of agarics, containing over 2,000 widespread species ...

'' was reclassified based on genomic data and split into the genera of ''Cortinarius'', '' Aureonarius'', ''Austrocortinarius'', '' Calonarius'', '' Cystinarius'', ''

Hygronarius ''Hygronarius'' is a genus of fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms ...

'', ''

Mystinarius ''Mystinarius'' is a genus of fungi in the family Cortinariaceae. Taxonomy The genus was created in 2022 when the family Cortinariaceae, which previously contained only the one genus of ''Cortinarius'' was reclassified based on genomic data a ...

'', ''

Phlegmacium ''Phlegmacium'' is a genus of fungi in the family Cortinariaceae. Taxonomy The genus was created in 1877 by the German mycologist Friedrich Otto Wünsche based on the earlier 1821 classification of the ''Agaricus'' tribe ''Phlegmacium'' by ...

'', ''

Thaxterogaster ''Thaxterogaster'' is a genus of fungi in the family Cortinariaceae. Taxonomy The genus was created in 1951 by the German mycologist Rolf Singer to contain the novel species ''Thaxterogaster magellanicum'' and ''Thaxterogaster violaceum.'' ...

'' and ''

Volvanarius ''Volvanarius'' is a genus of fungi in the family Cortinariaceae. Taxonomy The genus was created in 2022 when the family Cortinariaceae, which previously contained only the one genus of ''Cortinarius'' was reclassified based on genomic data ...

''. There is currently no infrageneric classification proposed.

Etymology

The name ''Austrocortinarius'' derives from austro''' meaning South and ''Cortinarius''. Currently the genus is only known from the Southern Hemisphere and so it is named in reference to this.

Species

As of January 2023,

Species Fungorum ''Index Fungorum'' is an international project to index all formal names (Binomial nomenclature, scientific names) in the fungus Kingdom (biology), kingdom. As of 2015, the project is based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of three partn ...

accepted 2 species of ''Austrocortinarius''. # '' Austrocortinarius australiensis'' (Cleland & Cheel) Liimat. & Niskanen (2022) # '' Austrocortinarius victoriaensis'' (Liimat.) Niskanen (2022)

Morphology

Basidiocarps In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome, or basidioma () is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the spore-producing hymenium is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the hymenomycetes; rusts and smuts do no ...

in the genus ''Austrocortinarius'' are characterized by their white color and distinct, peronate universal veils leaving annular remnants when mature. The basidiocarps may also possess a "rooting", subterranean stipe.

Geographic Range

Currently, ''Austrocortinarius'' is only known from the Southern Hemisphere. The genus has been documented in the following countries: Australia and New Zealand. Adams, Shannon Cortinarius 101: An Intro to the Genus, online presentation, 12 Sept 2023

References

Agaricales genera Cortinariaceae {{Fungus-stub