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Cora (fungus)

Genus of lichens From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cora (fungus)
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Cora is a large genus of basidiolichens in the family Hygrophoraceae. Modern molecular phylogenetics research has revealed a rich biodiversity in this largely tropical genus. The genus was originally thought to contain only a single species until DNA studies revealed its extraordinary diversity. In 2016, scientists described 70 new species in one landmark study, bringing the total to nearly 200 recognized species, with estimates suggesting around 450 species may actually exist. Most species are found in the Americas, particularly in the northern Andes mountains, though some occur in tropical Africa, Asia, and Atlantic islands. These lichens typically form leaf-like structures that can create dense carpets on the ground in mountain grasslands and similar open habitats.

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Taxonomy

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Cora was originally circumscribed by the Swedish "Father of Mycology", Elias Magnus Fries, in 1825. He included a single species, until then known as Thelephora pavonia Weber & D.Mohr.[2] Until relatively recently, Cora was thought to contain one species,[3] or was placed into synonymy with Dictyonema.[4] Cora was recognized as an independent genus separate from Dictyonema in 2013.[5][6]

Molecular phylogenetic analysis using DNA barcoding of the internal transcribed spacer region has improved the understanding of the diversity of Cora. In 2016, a landmark study identified and formally described 70 new species, bringing the total number of recognised Cora species to 189. This represented a dramatic increase from the single species recognized until about a decade prior. The study employed a "turbo-taxonomy" approach, combining international collaboration, rigorous quantitative phylogenetic methods, and standardised protocols for phenotype description to efficiently describe and catalog the new species.[7] Cora species can be distinguished by a combination of morphological, anatomical, and ecogeographical features. This work established Cora as one of the most species-rich lichen genera, with estimates suggesting the existence of almost 200 species, and about 450 species predicted to exist.[6][8][7][9]

Studies using the PhyloKey tool, which employs a technique called morphology-based phylogenetic binning, have help to elucidate the diversity within Cora. Phylogenetic binning involves mapping morphological characters onto a molecular reference tree and calculating weights for their consistency. This approach has confirmed the identification of species with high accuracy even with incomplete character data, revealing numerous previously unrecognized species. PhyloKey has also facilitated the restudy of herbarium samples, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the genus's diversity and aiding in the discovery of new species.[10]

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Habitat and distribution

Mexico and (at least formerly) Florida are the northernmost distribution points for the genus Cora, while its southernmost locale is southern Chile.[9] It has its highest biodiversity in the northern Andes.[9] Biogeographic data suggests that Cora originated in South America and expanded eastward.[11] The vast majority (95%) of the known species are found in the Americas, but the genus has also been recorded from tropical Africa, tropical Asia, and South Atlantic islands. Twelve species and subspecies have been described from Mexico;[12] the only species known to have occurred north of Mexico is the possibly extinct Cora timucua, which is known to have formerly existed in Florida.[13]

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Thallus evolution, structure and ecology

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Within the Dictyonema (in the broad sense) radiation, Cora represents the most derived stage: its foliose, shell-like lobes carry corticioid hymenophores that are fully integrated into the thallus, unlike the free or partly free basidiocarps seen in Cyphellostereum and Dictyonema. A true upper cortex—a protective layer of anticlinal and perpendicular hyphae—occurs only in Cora and its relative Corella, and anatomical differences show that the cortex of Cora evolved independently from that of Corella. The cyanobacterial partner (Rhizonema) is morphologically remodelled by the fungus: trichomes break into coiled packets enclosed by an orbicular hyphal sheath whose "jigsaw-puzzle" cells send intracellular haustoria into the photobiont—features shared with Acantholichen and Corella but absent from Cyphellostereum. Molecularly, Cora shows markedly lower ITS length variation than earlier-branching genera, consistent with a relatively recent but rapid diversification after its morphology stabilised. This refined architecture confers an ecological edge: in tropical páramo and similar open habitats, Cora lichens can form carpets of dozens to hundreds of individuals per square metre, out-competing other basidiolichens and even many ascolichens.[5]

Species

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As of August 2025, Species Fungorum (in the Catalogue of Life) accepts 98 species in genus Cora.[14]

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Cora glabrata, Chile
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Cora species growing as an epiphyte in Machu Picchu, Peru
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References

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