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Basidiolichens are members of the division Basidiomycota within the subkingdom Dikarya of the kingdom Fungus. They form a diverse yet much smaller group of lichens than the far more common ascolichens of the division Ascomycota. Owing to how few described species there are, basidiolichens are generally considered to be poorly researched, and few studies that characterize their exist. Biogeography, basidiolichen species may be distributed in a cosmopolitan manner or more regionally, ranging from arctic and montane habitats to more temperate and Tropics environments. Morphologically, basidiocarp (fruiting body) and thallus (vegetative tissue) structures may vary widely within and between basidiolichen Genus.
Basidiolichen photobionts are less described but are known to belong to the genera Scytonema and Rhizonema and to the Algae genera Coccomyxa (class Trebouxiophyceae) and Bracteacoccus (class Chlorophyceae).
In arctic, alpine, and temperate forests, the most common basidiolichens are in the agaric genus Lichenomphalia (including former members of Omphalina or Gerronema) and the clavarioid genus Multiclavula. Several lichenized genera occur in tropical regions, the most common being the foliose Dictyonema.
Basidiolichen genera within the family Hygrophoraceae possess a variety of basidiocarp structures. Within the genus Cora, fruiting bodies are often lobed and may be Glabrousness (smooth and glossy) or Seta (bristly), ranging in color from green to white. Basidiolichens of the genus Lichenomphalia are more (mushroom-like) in appearance, possessing a funnel-shaped cap, stalk, and gills. Members of Cyphellostereum form small white fan-like basidiocarps. The genus Multiclavula of the family Clavulinaceae as well as the genera within the family Lepidostromataceae are characterized by their Clavarioid fungi (erect, club-shaped, sometimes branching) fruiting bodies. The genus Marchandiomphalina of the family Corticiaceae comprises only one species, the Corticioid fungi (crust-like) basidiolichen M. foliacea. Its lack of conspicuous basidiocarps is a quality shared also by the two basidiolichen species of the family Atheliaceae.
Tentative chemical analyses suggest that the newly described Dictyonema huaorani produces the psychedelic psilocybin. The basidiolichen was previously reported to have been used in the Amazon by Waorani people Shamanism to call upon evil spirits and curse people.
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