National Herbarium (Fungi), National Biodiversity Centre (THIM-myco)
Represents a small mycological collection of some macro fungi, insect fungi, and soil borne fungi. Most specimens were collected in several collecting events during 2009-2010. The fungal groups represented by the families Cordycipitaceae (97 specimens), Clavicipitaceae (47), and Ophiocordycipitaceae (25) highlight the remarkable diversity of entomopathogenic fungi, many of which parasitize insects and other arthropods and play vital roles in regulating invertebrate populations in natural ecosystems. Complementing these are members of the Phanerochaetaceae (16), a family of wood-decaying basidiomycetes known for their powerful lignin-degrading enzymes that drive nutrient cycling and forest decomposition processes. The presence of Tricholomataceae (4), a broadly distributed group of agaric fungi, reflects ecological versatility across soil and leaf-litter habitats, while Hypocreaceae (2) adds further representation of brightly colored, substrate-specialized ascomycetes. Together, these families illustrate a wide ecological spectrum—from insect parasites to wood decomposers—demonstrating the functional richness and taxonomic breadth of the fungal community in the region.
The families Ophiostomataceae, Entomophthoraceae, Trichocomaceae, Ceratostomataceae, Chionosphaeraceae, and Plectosphaerellaceae represent diverse ecological and biological roles: Ophiostomataceae includes many wood-staining fungi often associated with bark beetles; Entomophthoraceae contains insect-infecting pathogens important in natural biological control; Trichocomaceae includes major genera such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, known for antibiotic production, food fermentation, and opportunistic pathogens; Ceratostomataceae comprises saprotrophic fungi that decompose organic matter; Chionosphaeraceae features small, often yeast-like basidiomycetes; and Plectosphaerellaceae includes soil and plant-associated fungi, some of which are plant pathogens.
The families Ophiostomataceae, Entomophthoraceae, Trichocomaceae, Ceratostomataceae, Chionosphaeraceae, and Plectosphaerellaceae represent diverse ecological and biological roles: Ophiostomataceae includes many wood-staining fungi often associated with bark beetles; Entomophthoraceae contains insect-infecting pathogens important in natural biological control; Trichocomaceae includes major genera such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, known for antibiotic production, food fermentation, and opportunistic pathogens; Ceratostomataceae comprises saprotrophic fungi that decompose organic matter; Chionosphaeraceae features small, often yeast-like basidiomycetes; and Plectosphaerellaceae includes soil and plant-associated fungi, some of which are plant pathogens.
Contact: Data Curator: Michael B Thomas (michaelbthomas@gmail.com)
Collection Type: Preserved Specimens
Management: Live Data managed directly within data portal
Global Unique Identifier: b1675c0a-224b-4a6d-b356-6f6d9d7446f7
Usage Rights: CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non-Commercial)
Rights Holder: Royal Government of Bhutan
Address:
National Biodiversity Centre
National Herbarium
Post Box 875
Serbithang, Thimphu
Bhutan
Collection Statistics:
- 201 specimen records
- 201 (100%) georeferenced
- 106 (53%) identified to species
- 12 families
- 22 genera
- 36 species
- 36 total taxa (including subsp. and var.)