Dermateaceae

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.

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 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