Ordus chiayiensis, a new combination of hyphomycete

The hyphomycete speciesTripospermum chiayiense is considered to be conspecific withOrdus tribrachiatus, and the former has nomenclatural priority according to Art. 11.4 of ICBN. In view of its conidial morphology, this species cannot be placed in the genusTripospermum, and a new combination,Ordus chiayiensis, is proposed.     

Notes on the genusLinum in Madagascar

Linum emirnense Bojer subsp.marojejyense Humb. is elevated to a species and the heterostylous condition thought to exist inL. emirnense is determined to be an artifact resulting from a fungal infection of the fruit.     

Notes on three Japanese Agaricales

Three species of Agaricales from Japan are treated here. 1) From the examination of the types and additional specimens,Lyophyllum nigrescens is conspecific withHydropus nigrita from Cuba. 2)Hydropus kansaiensis sp. nov. from Otsu appears close toTrogia mellea from Malaysia. 3)Alnicola lactariolens sp. nov. from Otsu is a distinctive species in this genus because of the purple color of its spore print.This work has been supported by a grant to one of us (H. C.) by the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science in 1988/89.     

Notes on twoUmbelopsis species:U. nana andU. vinacea from Japan

Umbelopsis nana andU. vinacea isolated from soils in Nagano Pref., Japan were redescribed and illustrated.     

Notes on new and noteworthy plant-inhabiting fungi in Japan (3)

In the third report of the present series, four new and noteworthy plant-inhabiting fungi are described and illustrated. Pseudodidymaria symplocarpi on Symplocarpus nipponicus is reported as a new species. Cheirospora botryospora and Exosporium mexicanum are new to Japan. Pittosporum tobira is a new host plant for Flosculomyces floridaensis.     

Notes onConocybe (Bolbitiaceae)

The mycological exploration of the Viennese nature preserve Lobau, resulted in the discovery of several new species ofBasidiomycetes; of special interest is the genusConocybe of which the authors present two new taxa:C. lobauensis andC. leporina var.tetraspora. FurthermoreC. neoantipus, C. striatipes andC. caespitosa are discussed, and the new varietiesC. neoantipus var.tucumana and var.carinthiaca as well asC. striatipes var.sejuncta are proposed.     

Notes on the floral morphology in Vivianiaceae (Geraniales)

The functional floral morphology of the three genera of Vivianiaceae (= Ledocarpaceae, Geraniales), Rhynchotheca, Viviania and Balbisia, is compared. Likely pollination mechanisms are inferred from morphology and field observations. The flowers of Viviania are nectariferous and apparently zoophilous with nectar as the (primary) pollinator reward. Balbisia has pollen flowers without nectaries, its showy corolla indicates that it is also zoophilous with pollen as sole pollinator reward; bees were observed as flower visitors. One taxon (B. gracilis) may be anemophilous. Rhynchotheca has flowers without petals, with large, pendulous anthers and lacks nectaries. It shows synchronous mass flowering in its natural populations and is evidently anemophilous. A comparison with other Geraniales shows that nectar flowers with small anthers are likely the ancestral condition in Vivianiaceae. This suggests that the pollen flowers with larger anthers of Balbisia and Rhynchotheca may represent an apomorphic condition. The documentation of pollen flowers and anemophily in Vivianiaceae expands the range of known floral and pollination syndromes in Geraniales.     

Notes onLaboulbenia stenolophi andLaboulbenia anoplogenii (Ascomycetes, Laboulbeniales)

Laboulbenia stenolophi is reported for the first time from Japan.Stenolophus iridicolor andS. propinquus are added as new hosts. The crowded antheridia and the protruding (bulging) cell IV are characteristic of this fungus, although thalli with an almost normal cell IV sometimes occur.Laboulbenia anoplogenii onAnoplogenius is easily distinguished from what has been calledL. anoplogenii onStenolophus, Astigis, Abacetus andChlaeminus by the following characters: 1) no crowded antheridia can be observed throughout thallus development, but many sterile long branches can be observed instead; 2) cell IV starts to undergo cell division early in thallus development; 3) cell V extends downward to the level of cell VII, rather than extending only as far as the perithecial basal cells; and 4) cell VI is usually longer and extends farther distally than cell III.Anoplogenius is the host genus ofL. anoplogenii and the records from other hosts represent misapplied names.     

Notes on new Agaricales of Japan 2

Three new species of Agaricales are described and illustrated from eastern Honshu, Japan:Boletus rhodocarpus sp. nov. (sectionLuridi), forming large, deep red basidiomata with a pileus covered with small, blackish brown scales, was found on ground in a highland forest dominated byTsuga diversifolia andAbies veitchii; Phaeomarasmius laccarioides sp. nov. (subgenusCarpophilus), forming a squamulose-fibrillose, reddish brown pileus in which the pileipellis consists of chains of thick-walled sphaerocysts with heavily incrusting, brown pigment, was found on a fallen fruit ofLiquidambar styraciflua; Pluteus phaeocephalus sp. nov. (subsectionHispidodermini of sectionCelluloderma), forming a dark brown, velvety pileus and a white stipe densely covered with dark brown punctate scales, was found on dead fallen twigs ofQuercus serrata.     

Notes on new Agaricales of Japan 1

Three new species of Agaricales are described and illustrated from eastern Honshu, Japan:Collybia effusa sp. nov. (sectionLevipedes), forming a distinctly sulcate-striate pileus and distant lamellae, was found on dead twigs ofCryptomeria japonica andCallicarpa japonica; Collybia macrosperma sp. nov., forming cylindrical-fusoid, relatively large-sized basidiospores and whitish basidiomata densely covered with fine, soft hairs, was found on dead fallen twigs in aCarpinus andQuercus forest:Marasmiellus, gregarius sp. nov (subsectionRamealini of sectionRameales), forming small, pale colored pilei and diverticulate cheilocystidia, was found on dead twigs ofHydrangea involucrata andTrachelospermum asiaticum.     

Notes on new Agaricales of Japan 3

Three new species of Agaricales are described and illustrated from eastern Honshu, Japan:Agrocybe pseudoerebia sp. nov. (sectionVelatae of subgenusAporus), forming fugaceous veil remnants around the pileal margin and relatively shorter basidiospores (less than 10 μm long) without a germ pore, was found on the ground in a broad-leaved forest;Lactarius glutininitens sp. nov. (sectionTriviales of subgenusRussularia), forming a pale grayish, strongly glutinous pileus and watery, latex without discoloration, was found on the ground in a lowland forest dominated byQuercus myrsinaefolia andQuercus serrata; Tricholoma foliicola sp. nov. (close to sectionAlbobrunnea), forming a reddish brown, hygrophanous, dry, glabrous pileus, almost adnate, densely crowded lamellae, small, ellipsoid basidiospores, and clampless hyphae, was found on leaf litter of a broad-leaved forest.     

Notes on new and noteworthy plant-inhabiting fungi from Japan (1)

Six fungi isolated from plant materials in Japan are described. The first isPseudohalonectria aomoriensis sp. nov. (Lasiosphaeriaceae). It differs from other known species of the genusPseudohalonectria in the dimensions of its asci and ascospores. The second,Monodictys abuensis, is newly added to the mycoflora of Japan. Its host,Zelkova serrata, is also newly recorded. Three others found on new host plants areDictyochaeta simplex onQuercus myrsinaefolia andBladhia crispa, Colletotrichum dematium onAucuba japonica var.borealis, andNectria mammoidea var.rubi onCercidiphyllum japonicum. The sixth,Trochophora fasciculata, aDaphniphyllum sooty leaf spot fungus renamed by Goos fromT. simplex, is reported with a full list of synonyms.     

Notes onLaboulbenia coneglanensis (Ascomycetes, Laboulbeniales) in Japan

Laboulbenia coneglanensis isolated from Japanese harpaline carabids is described and photographed. It is compared morphologically withL. flagellata from Japan and Europe, which is similar in appearance. The most important difference between the two species is in antheridial character and host range. Other characters such as coloration, perithecial shape, especially the shape of the perithecial apex, and size of ascospores are also useful for distinction.Laboulbenia ophoni var.dilatata described by Maire (1920) is regarded as a synonym ofL. coneglanensis.     

Notes on the capsule dehiscence inAcanthophyllum (Caryophyllaceae) and allied genera

The shape and the mode of dehiscence of the capsule had been regarded as good differential characters betweenAcanthophyllum and related genera.—Studies of these characters, including the shape of the ovary, in species ofAcanthophyllum, Diaphanoptera, Ochotonophila andScleranthopsis show, however, that they cannot be used as differential characters for the genusAcanthophyllum.Dedicated to Prof.K. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Notes onDiphucephala affinis (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae) associated with flowers ofHibbertia andAcacia in Western Australia

Notes are provided on the association of the beetleDiphucephala affinis (Scarabaeidae) with yellow flowers ofHibbertia hypericoides, H. huegelii (Dilleniaceae),Acacia pulchella, andA. stenoptera (Mimosaceae). Observations were undertaken during September 9–19, 1979 at S. Perth, Western Australia. They indicated thatD. affinis is not a pollinator ofHibbertia as suggested in the literature, but may play a small role in the pollination of someAcacia species.     

Notes on Quercus ilex L. in Liguria (NW Italy)

The climatic characteristics of the Liguria region have been outlined by means of raw data and derived indices (water balance related to potential evapotraspiration, Rivas-Martinez's index of mediterraneity and thermicity, De Martonne's index of dryness, and Emberger's pluviothermic quotient and index of summer dryness). Their interpretation suggests that Liguria is a boundary region between two different climatic areas: the Mediterranean and that of Central Europe.The distribution of Quercus ilex communities in Liguria have suffered the heavy consequences of human activity on the coastal belt of the region. There is, however, sufficient evidence to show that their presence is closely linked to climatic conditions. Quercus ilex communities are absent from the western coastal belt where the annual water balance is below –50 mm and high mean temperatures occur. They are also absent from marly limestone dominated areas where annual water balance is below 300 mm. Quercus ilex woods show a preference for water balance values between 0 and 600, with the better developed forests being found in central and eastern coastal Liguria.The Ligurian Quercus ilex woods are ascribed to Quercetum ilicis Br.-Bl. 1915. Given that the presence within their floristic composition of a group of species of Querco-Fagetea (more species in eastern stands, few in western ones) is an almost constant characteristic, the subass. fraxino-ostryetosum Mariotti 1984 can be retained for many of them. Quercus ilex is not present in the initial succession stages of Mediterranean Liguria vegetation. It can be found in later stages when the vegetation is more fully developed towards a maquis type structure. In this case it tends to become dominant and the community develops (if no fire or other human interference occurs) into a Quercus ilex forest. Frequently, this succession takes place under an old tree layer cover (generally Pinus sp.), a remanant of man's past management of the vegetation in the area.     

Notes on the biology of some psammophile Turbellaria of the Black Sea

The biology of two marine turbellarians, Cercyra hastata (Tricladida) and Pseudomonocelis ophiocephala (Proseriata) has been studied over a period of five years. They are the main components of the biocoenosis of the saccocirrus sand of Sevastopol Bay. These species have a significant role in the processes of secondary production and transformation of the organic matter in the coastal zone.     

Notes on the distribution ofLepilemur septentrionalis andL. mustelinus in Northern Madagascar

The superfamily Lemuridae, which includes some of the most primitive extant primates, is confined to the island of Madagascar. The speciesL. septentrionalis lives in the north of Madagascar. The geographical distribution of each of the four recognized subspecies is fairly well defined except for the southern limits of the southernmost subspecies, namelyL. s. andrafiamenensis. Similarly the southern and northern limits of distribution ofL. mustelinus are uncertain. Two expeditions were carried out, one in the south of the Andrafiamena mountain chain, the other in the north of the eastern forest, south of Vohemar to gain new information concerning the present southern limits ofL. septentrionalis and northern limit ofL. mustelinus. L. s. andrafiamenensis was found to the left of the Ambilobe-Vohemar road from Betsiaka to Maromokotra and on the left bank of the river Loky, to the coast.L. mustelinus was found only on the right bank of the river Lokoho to the coast. Both survey indicate smaller ranges than those indicated in recent publications, probably a result of continued human encroachment.