Urediniomycetes

Abstract

The concept of the monophyletic group of organisms included in the class Urediniomycetes is relatively new (Swann and Taylor 1995b). This taxon contains the rust fungi, the Septobasidiales, and various species that formerly were classified as smuts (e.g., Microbotryum, Sphacelotheca, Rhodosporidium), jelly fungi (e.g., Eocronartium, Helicobasidium, Platygloea, Phleogena), or with other groups (Pachnocybe and Agaricostilbum with deuteromycetes; Mixia osmundae with ascomycetes). In taking a phylogenetic approach to this taxon, we are explicitly accommodating asexual species in the class, such as the asexual yeasts (see Fell et al., Chap. 1, this Vol.; Swann and Taylor 1995a), and the aquatic hyphomycete Naiadella fluitans. In order to provide a name for this diverse group, Swann and Taylor (1995b) enlarged the concept of the existing class name Urediniomycetes, which had previously contained only the Uredinales (Hawksworth et al. 1983).