Thelephora


Thelephora is a genus of fungi in the family Thelephoraceae. The genus has a widespread distribution and contains about 50 species. Fruit bodies of species are leathery, usually brownish at maturity, and range in shape from coral-like tufts to having distinct caps. Almost all species in the genus are thought to be inedible, but Thelephora ganbajun is a gourmet fungus in Yunnan province of southwest China.
The generic name is derived from the Greek thele meaning nipple and phorus meaning bearing. Species in the genus are commonly known as "fiber fans" and "fiber vases".
Some Thelephora species are known to accumulate or even hyperaccumulate trace elements in fruit-bodies. Thelephora penicillata hyperaccumulates cadmium and arsenic.

Species