fungal genus family genus contains single species aquatic fungus species described new science produces fruit bodies lack specialized structures stem cap gills common mushrooms fruit bodies described aquatic floating small balls diameter loosely interwoven hyphae balls float surface water submerged twigs experimental observations development fruit body based growth fungus pure culture suggest thin strand ball water matures fruit bodies start hyphae cup shaped eventually single chamber contains reddish spores initially discovered marsh state washington fungus collected japan south_africa canada taxonomy classification phylogeny family genus species described publication graduate students undergraduate fall found fungus class project find located duplicate specimen located originally thought associated artificial species united fact spores mature inside fruit bodies forcibly discharged basidia similar genera include family family excluded genera significant differences spore color structure presence clamp connections structure basidia reasons new family described contain new species classified defunct order recently molecular clarify relationship fungi established membership clade related group species traditionally forming order additional molecular studies placed clade grouping includes families studies comparisons dna sequences placed near genera family field study molecular techniques survey aquatic fungal taxa small canada discovered fungal taxa high genetic affinity suggests closely related species common streams description genus description similar family description fruit bodies float embedded loose net like growth hyphae spores reddish fungus described aquatic later review considered floating fruit bodies tiny oval roughly spherical measure floating balls enclosed loose whitish surface consisting fine threads outer protective tissue layer thick hyphae typically diameter irregularly branched cystidia diameter surface feature helps water growing hymenium development gives fruit body single chamber reddish color cavity shape initially maturity filled spores measure smooth inner surface chamber comprises fertile spore bearing tissue hymenium basidia spore bearing cells conspicuous viewed microscope hyaline translucent club shaped usually basal separated narrow strip variable length basidia spored inflated central basidia measure typically long thick reddish mass spores egg shaped broad located away base smooth thick walled measure typically basal habitat distribution species originally discovered floating dishes contained submerged hardwood twigs previously collected marsh playground south shore seattle washington initial publication reported following year recovered wood blocks submerged water japan scientists later reported collecting japanese rice fields later surveys uncovered fungus south_africa freshwater ponds canada development grew cultures fungus placing fresh fruit bodies containing growth medium extract horse tips hyphae obtain cultures fungus grow variety media commonly grow fungi laboratory depending composition growth media fruit bodies formed early days initiating grown dim light minute blocks containing submerged water strands grew water surface eventually gave rise floating fruit bodies connected parent block strands hyphae studied development fruit body specimens grown pure culture starting fungus grows cup shape eventually closing completely create spherical structure mature fruit body fungus cup stage exposed hymenium immature typically spores develop fruit body fully closed cases fruit body stops developing cup stage hymenium continues mature results cup shaped fungus exposed layer basidia bearing normal mature spores structurally simple fungus relatively easy grow culture suggesting potential model organism fruit body development general experimental conditions fruit bodies matured produce spores hours fungus started growing aborted cups resemble fungi distinguished spore attachment lack forceful spore discharge later suggested fungus evolved loss compensated cup shaped fruit body closing maturity small cup shaped fungus adapted marine environment contrast starts closed fruit body later opens cup shaped known certainty spores dispersed disperse water mature spore containing fruit body float water surface dispersal mode reproduction commonly employed marine fungi competitive advantage marine environments
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