XVI International Botanical Congess
The concept of genus is dependent on a concept of species. Species and ultimately genera are delimited on holomorphic criteria, anamorphs are increasingly utilized in delimiting ascomycetous genera. The advantage of sex (telemorph) is thought to be diversification via speciation. Ascomycetous clades often contain pleomorphic holomorphs. When the teleomorph of a pleomorphic holomorph becomes extinct, the remaining anamorph (clone) loses its sexual connection and presumably some of its capacity for diversification. The possible consequences and implications are discussed.