''Cairneyella'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of at least two ericoid mycorrhizal and root-associated

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

that is, to date, endemic to Australian plants, mostly from the family

Ericaceae The Ericaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the heath or heather family, found most commonly in acidic and infertile growing conditions. The family is large, with c.4250 known species spread across 124 genera, making it th ...

. It has been demonstrated to form typical ericoid mycorrhizal coils in hair roots and is known to enhance the growth of ericaceous seedlings. The genus is named in honour of John Cairney, an Australian-Scottish mycologist.

Species

References

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