Some Entolomataceae (Agaricales) from Costa Rica

A preliminary account of Entolomataceae from Costa Rica is presented. Three new taxa are described, two inClitopilus, one inRhodocybe, and three new combinations are proposed inInocephalus. Five taxa ofClitopilus are reported for the first time from Costa Rica and a key to species is provided. Four species ofRhodocybe are discussed and a key to the six species known from Costa Rica is also provided.Alboleptonia earlei, Inocephalus murraii, Inocephalus quadratum, Rhodocybe incarnata andRhodocybe pseudonitellina are now known to occur in Costa Rica.     

Studies on the embryology and gynoecium structures inDrimys winteri (Winteraceae) and someAnnonaceae

Drimys winteri (Winteraceae) and 11 species ofAnnonaceae, namelyAnnona montana, Artabotrys hexapetalus, Bocagea sp.,Papualthia sp.,Polyalthia nitidissima, Tetrameranthus umbellatus, T. duckei, Uvaria sp.,Xylopia malayana, X. aromatica, andX. emarginata, were investigated embryologically with special reference to development of ovule and embryo sac. The ovules are anatropous, crassinucellate and in most taxa bitegmic. The inner integument is of epidermal origin. TheAnnonaceae investigated have a multi-layered, later vascularized outer integument with most probably subepidermal initiation. In contrast,Drimys winteri has a three-layered, non-vascularized outer integument of epidermal origin. The annonaceous genusTetrameranthus (T. umbellatus andT. duckei) possesses a middle integument between the inner and the outer one, stated here for the first time in a neotropic representative ofAnnonaceae. Within the angiosperms this feature occurs inAnnonaceae only. The embryological characters are rather homogeneous. Differences between the species investigated are found in, e.g. the number of cell layers in the inner integument, which is commonly two inAnnonaceae as compared to three inDrimys winteri, the presence or absence of a hypostase, the number of layers in the nucellar epidermis, great differences in size of ovules, and the species-specific pattern of tannin deposition in the ovules. In the species so far investigated the embryo sacs develop according to thePolygonum-type. InXylopia malayana andBocagea sp. in addition the carpels were investigated. They are conduplicate. InXylopia malayana the free carpels are united by an extragynoecial compitum, inBocagea sp. each stigma produces its isolated mucilage cap. The results obtained from the investigated taxa are discussed and compared with published data on embryology and gynoecium structure in other annonaceous and winteraceous taxa.     

Ovule and seed anatomy ofCistaceae and relatedMalvanae

Ovule and especially seed anatomy of eight species ofCochlospermaceae, Bixaceae, Cistaceae, Monotoideae, Pakaraimaeoideae (two subfamilies ofDipterocarpaceae), andSarcolaenaceae were investigated. All representatives show a bixoid chalazal region in the seed as probable exclusive synapomorphy among angiosperms. The palisade layer of the exotegmen is curved inwards at its proximal end and forms a dome-shaped structure. A plug of hypostase tissue with an annulus/core structure fits into this dome. Moreover, two additional tissue types in the hypostase can be found in some representatives of the group. These and other micromorphological, wood anatomical, and floral morphological characters, indicate that the taxa form a monophyletic group close toMalvales s. str. The form of the starch grains in the endosperm is compared and is described for the first time forPakaraimaea (Dipterocarpaceae) andLeptolaena (Sarcolaenaceae). The position ofDiegodendron close toBixa and the presumably more distant positions ofMuntingia andNeuradaceae are discussed.     

Karyosystematics and evolution of AustralianAnnonaceae as compared withEupomatiaceae,Himantandraceae, andAustrobaileyaceae

Chromosome counts are presented for 12 genera and 20 species of AustralianAnnonaceae (all diploid with 2n = 16 or 18; Table 1) and two species ofEupomatiaceae (2n = 20, partly from Papua New Guinea). Detailed studies on interphase nuclear structure, condensing behaviour of chromosomes, and fluorochrome and Giemsa C-banding patterns also includeHimantandraceae (Galbulimima) andAustrobaileyaceae. — Eupomatiaceae completely correspond withAnnonaceae karyologically, their base number 2n = 20 is interpreted to have evolved from 2n = 18 by ascending dysploidy from common ancestors.Eupomatia laurina andE. benettii differ in DNA and constitutive heterochromatin (hc) quantity; their evolution from high to low DNA content probably corresponds to general progressions inMagnoliidae. Austrobaileya has nuclei of the presumably primitive Tetrameranthus type which is closely related to that ofGalbulimima and several other primitive taxa inMagnoliidae. Karyomorphology and other characters support the maintainance of two main branches within theMagnoliidae, Laurales andMagnoliales, withAustrobaileya probably intermediate; theWinteraceae appear more remote.—InAnnonaceae the reestablishment ofAncana is underlined by its chromosome number (2n = 18) the unexpected and specialized disulcate pollen, and various morphological characters which point to a close alliance with the Australian endemic generaFitzalania andHaplostichanthus (also disulcate) and the American genus pairSapranthus/Desmopsis; they are united in the provisionalSapranthus tribe, with a more distant position toFissistigma s. str. (2n = 16). AustralianAnnonaceae exhibit a high generic and a low species diversity; they can be considered as an ± old and partly impoverished outpost of the family with phytogeographical relationships to Asia, Africa and America.—On the base of field observations three main types of floral development inAnnonaceae are proposed, the most elaborated one found in the fly pollinated genusPseuduvaria. The growth form change from shrubs to lianas during the ontogeny ofDesmos andMelodorum, the vegetative propagation of anAncana species and the ecological and evolutionary patterns of the taxa investigated are discussed.     

Pollen evolution and systematics inAnnonaceae with special reference to the disulcate Australian endemic genera

All genera ofAnnonaceae endemic in Australia (Ancana, Fitzalania, Haplostichanthus) show almost exactly the same type of disulcate (disulculate) pollen with intact exine extending over the sulci. Tetrad stages inHaplostichanthus andAncana reveal a latudinal subequatiorial orientation of the two sulci at the proximal hemisphere. Sometimes they fuse into a ±zonosulcate aperture.Fissistigma pollen grains are ±globose and have a flattened pole with a central elevation and a concentric groove, covered by a somewhat reduced exine. This palynological characters give further support for separating the generaAncana andFissistigma. Germination was observed inHaplostichanthus where the pollen tube emerges at one of the two sulci and inFissistigma where the flattened part breaks up during germination. The aperture types described here are obviously transitional stages between aperturate and inaperturate pollen grains and are discussed in regard to pollen evolution.     

Electrophoretic seed albumin patterns and species relationships inVicia sect.Faba (Fabaceae)

Electrophoretic analysis of seed albumins (PAGE) covered 173 accessions representing nine species ofVicia sect.Faba. The number of albumin bands recorded in particular species varied from three inV. eristaloides to 23 inV. faba; in total, 38 bands were distinguished in the investigated material. The examined species, exceptV. eristalioides, showed intraspecific variation with respect to the number and relative staining intensity of albumin bands; individual variation was especially marked inV. faba and inV. narbonensis. Hierarchical clustering of the investigated taxa was based onBhattacharyya distances calculated from the electrophoretic data. The taxa grouped in three main clusters.Vicia faba and the rather remotely relatedV. kalakhensis formed one cluster. The second cluster was composed ofV. narbonensis distantly related toV. hyaeniscyamus. The third cluster comprised three subgroups: 1.V. johannis, V. galilaea andV. serratifolia, 2.V. eristalioides, and 3.V. bithynica. The obtained results are discussed with reference to taxonomic relationships inVicia sect.Faba.     

Taxonomic studies on new or critical fungi of non-pathogenic Onygenales 1

From recent isolates of microfungi on soil materials collected at several localities in the world, five new taxa of the Onygenales are described and illustrated. A new monotypic genus,Kraurogymnocarpa lenticulospora, is proposed. New species are described inAmauroascus, Aphanoascus, andArachnomyces. A new variety ofPseudogymnoascus roseus is also proposed.     

Seed-coat anatomy of japanese species ofCorydalis andDicentra (Papaveraceae; Fumarioideae)

Development and structure of seed-coat were examined in 16 species ofCorydalis and two species ofDicentra. Neither the tegmen (developed ii) nor the testa (developed oi) is multiplicative during seed development. Mature seed-coat is consistent in all the species examined in having mechanical structure in the exo- or endotesta. Differences are found in (1) which of the integumentary layers develops into the main mechanical layer (exotesta or endotesta), (2) whether a mesotesta is differentiated or not, and (3) whether the endotegmen is persistent as a layer of thick-walled cells, is persistent only partially, or is thoroughly degenerated. Theses seed-coat characters distinguish six groups of species (i.e., four groups inCorydalis and two inDicentra), which represent well infrageneric taxa proposed on the other characters. Evidence from seed-coat anatomy further suggests thatDicentra spectabilis (subg.Hedycapnos) retains the primitive (endotestal) seed-coat of Fumarioideae.     

Paraveinal mesophyll: Review and survey of the subtribeErythrininae (Phaseoleae,Papilionoideae, Leguminosae)

Paraveinal mesophyll (PVM) is a distinctive anatomical feature of the leaf mesophyll of some plant taxa that may represent a specialized physiological compartment. A comprehensive review of the 42 published references that mention PVM or similar cell layers and a survey of 121 of the 272 species of all nine genera of thePhaseoleae subtribeErythrininae demonstrate that PVM is nearly exclusively found inLeguminosae. InLeguminosae, PVM is either rare or absent in subfamilyCaesalpinioideae, uncommon inMimosoideae, and extensively distributed amongPapilionoideae. In subtribeErythrininae, PVM is ubiquitous inErythrina, and occurs in four other genera. ThreeErythrininae genera (Apios, Mucuna, andCochlianthus) lack PVM. Unique chloroplast-poor, enlarged conical cells (pellucid palisade idioblasts) occur in 80 species ofErythrina but not in any other genus ofErythrininae.     

Hybridisation,genomic constitution and generic delimitation inElymus s. l. (Poaceae: Triticeae)

Intergeneric crosses were made between representatives of the genomically-defined generaElymus, Agropyron, Elytrigia, Pseudoroegneria, andThinopyrum. The genomic constitution ofElytrigia repens, the type species ofElytrigia, is shown to be SSH, a genomic combination otherwise found only inElymus. The S genome ofPseudoroegneria has almost always a dominant influence on the morphology of the taxa of which it is a component.Wang (1989) showed that the J genome inThinopyrum and the S genome have considerable homoeology, with a mean c-value of 0.35 in diploid SJ hybrids. A genetic coherence from S to SJ^e, J^e, J^eJ^b, and J^b can be expected, agreeing with the continuous morphologic variation pattern observed. Because of the absence of morphological discontinuities between the taxa,Pseudoroegneria (S),Elymus (SH, SY, sometimes with additional genomes),Elytrigia (SSH, SSHX), andThinopyrum (SJ, SJJ, J) are best treated as a single genus,Elymus, following the generic concept ofMelderis in Flora Europaea and Flora of Turkey. The basic genomic constituents ofElymus will then be the S and/or J genomes.Agropyron, with diploids, tetraploids, and hexaploids based on the P genome is morphologically distinct from other genera inTriticeae. In a few species ofElymus andPseudoroegneria, a P genome is an additional constituent. In these cases the P genome has a negligible morphological influence. Therefore, it seems reasonable to maintainAgropyron as a separate genus.     

Comparative capitular morphology and anatomy of Coreopsis L. and bidens L. (compositae), including a review of generic boundaries

The capitular and floral morphology and anatomy ofBidens L. andCoreopsis L. were studied. All the North American species ofCoreopsis were studied. Selected species ofBidens from North and South America andCoreopsis from South America were included. The results were compared with previous observations on African species ofBidens (incl.Coreopsis). Emphasis was given to character states of the ray florets, paleae, stylearm apices, outer phyllaries, achenes, and pollen grains. Some of the character states are unique features ofCoreopsis, e.g., globular and elongately conical receptacles, deltoid outer phyllaries, truncate and indistinctly 3–5-dentate, 3–4-lobed ray florets, narrowly spathulate paleae, subulate paleae with linear-filiform upper half, hairy and apically 3-cleft paleae, truncate, convex or shallowly conical stylearm apices with the sweeping hairs limited to the area above the stigmatic surfaces and the orbicular to circular achenes. The cylindric setaceous pappus bristles so commonly encountered inBidens are unknown inCoreopsis. The pappus bristles inCoreopsis are paleaceous but similar, though thicker ones are also found in African species ofBidens (incl.Coreopsis) with winged achenes. Twin-celled hairs (setulae) with differing degrees of wall thickness are found on the achenes ofCoreopsis sect.Pseudoagarista (Mexico and South America),Coreopsis sect.Pugiopappus (California), AfricanBidens with winged achenes (e.g.,B. prestinaria, B. macroptera) and some North AmericanBidens (e.g.,B. aristosa). Similar sclerotic parenchyma make up the achenial wings of species in both genera. These may be interpreted as homologous structures, indicating the underlying similarity of these taxa and their derivation from a common ancestral stock.     

Three new species ofMarasmius sectionSicci from eastern Honshu, Japan

Three new species belonging toMarasmius sectionSicci (Agaricales) are described and illustrated from eastern Honshu, Japan:Marasmius nocturnus sp. nov., forming a dark brown pileus and marginate lamellae, was found on leaf litter inPasania—Quercus forests;Marasmius occultatus sp. nov., producing brownish orange or light brown basidiomata and long, cylindrical-fusoid basidiospores, was found on dead fallen twigs ofAphananthe aspera andQuercus myrsinaefolia;Marasmius opulentus sp. nov., having a reddish orange pileus and a pubescent stipe, was found on leaf litter in laurel-leaved forest.     

A new species ofLentinula (Agaricales) from Central America

Lentinula aciculospora sp. nov. is described from a single Province in Costa Rica. Stature and habit of basidiomata of this species are similar to some otherLentinula taxa (i.e.L. edodes), but the elongate-cylindrical shape of basidiospores is a distinctive character ofL. aciculospora. The mating system ofL. aciculospora is tetrapolar as also found in other species of the genus, but this species is genetically isolated fromL. boryana, and all morphological variants ofL. edodes.     

Three new species and a new combination in the genusTorulomyces from soil

Seven isolates ofTorulomyces from Asian and Australian soil samples were studied in comparison with known taxa of the genus and withMonocillium indicum, the type species ofMonocillium. Three new species,Torulomyces parviverrucosus, T. laevis, andT. ovatus, are described, andT. brunneus is described as a new combination. Conidial characteristics, especially their shape and surface structure, are useful taxonomic criteria for distinguishing species ofTorulomyces. Monocillium is considered to be a distinct genus.     

rbcL sequences support exclusion ofRetzia,Desfontainia, andNicodemia from theGentianales

The taxonomic positions ofRetzia, Desfontainia, andNicodemia have been much discussed, and all three genera have been included inLoganiaceae (Gentianales). We have made a cladistic analysis ofrbcL gene sequences to determine the relationships of these taxa toGentianales. Four newrbcL sequences are presented; i.e., ofRetzia, Desfontainia, Diervilla (Caprifoliaceae), andEuthystachys (Stilbaceae). Our results show thatRetzia, Desfontainia, andNicodemia are not closely related toLoganiaceae or theGentianales. Retzia is most closely related toEuthystachys and is better included inStilbaceae. The positions ofDesfontainia andNicodemia are not settled, butDesfontainia shows affinity for theDipsacales s.l. andNicodemia for theLamiales s.l.     

Mycena auricoma,a new species ofMycena sectionRadiatae from Japan,andMycena spinosissima,a new record in Japan

Two lignicolous species ofMycena (Agaricales, Basidiomycetes) are described and illustrated from eastern, Japan:Mycena auricoma sp. nov., forming ephemeral coprinoid basidiomata and belonging to sectionRadiatae, was found on a dead fallen twig ofQuercus serrata. It appears to close to a Malaysian species,“Trogia” crinipelliformis. Mycena spinosissima in sectionSacchariferae, new to Japan, was collected from dead bark ofAphananthe aspera, a dead fallen inflorescence ofCryptomeria japonica, and a dead fallen twig ofQuercus serrata.     

Fusarium fractiflexum sp. nov. and two other species within theGibberella fujikuroi species complex recently discovered in Japan that form aerial conidia in false heads

Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted on 12 strains ofFusarium, deposited in MAFF asF. subglutinans (≡F. moniliforme var.subglutinans≡F. sacchari var.subglutinans) orFusarium sp. because they formed aerial conidia in false heads in the dark. These strains were resolved as three distinct species within theGibberella fujikuroi species complex. A new species,F. fractiflexum, and two species new to Japan,F. circinatum andF. concentricum, are described and illustrated and their morphological features are discussed.Fusarium fractiflexum, isolated from diseased yellow leaf spots ofCymbidium spp., is differentiated from other fusaria based on its yellowish colonies and aerial conidia formed in false heads in the dark and in zigzag-like conidial chains under black light. Japanese strains ofF. circinatum also formed elongate, coiled sterile hyphae. Phialidic aerial conidia with a pointed apex and a wedgeshaped base were found inF. concentricum cultured under black light and represent a new diagnostic character of the species, in addition to colonies with alternating concentric rings when cultured on PDA. Based on DNA sequences of the β-tubulin gene and two other loci, strains ofF. fractiflexum were resolved phylogenetically as members of the Asian clade of theG. fujikuroi species complex. In addition, Japanese strains ofF. circinatum andF. concentricum were phylogenetically identical to the ex-type strains.     

Two newhalophytophthora species,H. tartarea andH. masteri,from intertidal decomposing leaves in saltmarsh and mangrove regions

Two new pythiaceous fungi were obtained from decaying leaves submerged in saltmarsh environments of the east coast of the U.S.A., or fringing mangroves in the Bahama Islands, and are described here asHalophytophthora tartarea andH. masteri. The two species have superficially similar zoosporangia whose dehiscence tubes have ragged-looking apices. However, differences in fine structures and development of the dehiscence tube and plug, characteristics of the dehiscence plugs, and presence or absence of vesicles clearly distinguish the two species.Halophytophthora masteri is the only species ofHalophytophthora that has a zoospore release mechanism involving both an extruded plug and a vesicle. Cultural properties concerning growth and asexual reproduction at various salinities and temperatures are also different between the two, probably reflecting adaptation to their respective habitats. Though zoospore release inH. masteri occurs spontaneously from mature zoosporangia, it is remarkably enhanced inH. tartarea and alsoH. masteri by mildly dehydrating mature zoosporangia followed by rewetting with seawater, which suggests a possible relation between the asexual reproduction of these oomycetes and the tidal rhythm in their natural habitats.