Ertzia

Ertzia
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Lepidostromatales
Family: Lepidostromataceae
Genus: Ertzia
B.P.Hodk. & Lücking (2014)
Species:
E. akagerae
Binomial name
Ertzia akagerae
(Eb.Fisch., Ertz, Killmann & Sérus.) B.P.Hodk. & Lücking (2014)
Synonyms
  • Multiclavula akagerae Eb.Fisch., Ertz, Killmann & Sérus. (2007)
  • Lepidostroma akagerae (Eb.Fisch., Ertz, Killmann & Sérus.) Ertz, Eb.Fisch., Killmann, Sérus. & Lawrey (2008)

Ertzia is a monospecific genus in the family Lepidostromataceae (the only family within the fungal order Lepidostromatales). The sole species is Ertzia akagerae, a basidiolichen. The genus was circumscribed in 2014 by Brendan Hodkinson and Robert Lücking. Ertzia is distinguished from all other lichenized clavarioid fungi (Multiclavula (Cantharellales), Lepidostroma (Lepidostromatales), and Sulzbacheromyces (Lepidostromatales)) by having a microsquamulose thallus that forms contiguous glomerules (reminiscent of a 'Botrydina-type' thallus) with a cortex of jigsaw puzzle-shaped cells. Ertzia akagerae grows on soil in the African tropics.