Gymnopilus maritimus (Basidiomycota, Agaricales), a new species from coastal psammophilous plant communities of northern Sardinia, Italy, and notes on G. arenophilus

The new species Gymnopilus maritimus is described from coastal plant communities of Juncus maritimus, growing on sandy soil or on decaying plants, from northwestern Sardinia (Italy). The distinguishing features of G. maritimus are: (1) an unusual habitat, (2) robust basidiomata, (3) mild taste, and (4) big and strongly warted spores. The new species is compared with the micromorphologically similar species G. fulgens sensu auct. Brit. p.p. and the biogeographically and ecologically similar species G. arenophilus, as well as with other European species. A photograph of fresh material, drawings of the main micromorphological features, and FESEM and optical microscope microphotographs of basidiospores are added. Furthermore, some notes on micromorphological characters of G. arenophilus are presented and its distribution area enlarged with a record from France. A key for the European species of Gymnopilus morphologically, ecologically, and/or biogeographically related to G. maritimus is presented. The phylogeny inferred from ITS rDNA sequences revealed that G. maritimus represents an independent species and that it is not related to G. arenophilus or G. fulgens. It is the sister group of the clade containing G. imperialis and G. spectabilis, but with a bootstrap support below 50%. The characters shared by the species in this clade are: (1) robust basidiomata, (2) pileus fibrillose or scaly-fibrillose, and (3) spores longer than 8 μm, dextrinoid and strongly warted. Gymnopilus imperialis and G. spectabilis differ by the basidiomata with membranous ring in the stem, living on conifers or decaying wood, and having narrower or wider spores, respectively. Taxonomical novelties: Gymnopilus maritimus Contu, Guzm.-Dáv., A. Ortega & Vizzini     

Anamorphs of the Bolbitiaceae (Basidiomycota, Agaricales)

We describe and illustrate thallic conidiogenesis in 14 species of the Bolbitiaceae sensu Singer studied in culture. Conidiogenesis of 12 species is shown for the first time. Bolbitius vitellinus and the investigated species of Conocybe (C. albipes, C. appendiculata, C. magnicapitata, C. semiglobata, C. subovalis, C. subpubescens, C. sulcatipes and C. teneroides) possessed a similar mode of conidiogenesis. Species of both genera formed mostly coiled conidiogenous hyphae arising sympodially from differentiated conidiophores. The anamorphs of the Agrocybe species were not uniform and predominantly differed from those of Conocybe and Bolbitius. The conidia of Agrocybe dura, A. firma and A. praecox developed by the simple fragmentation of normally branched hyphae. Sympodially proliferating conidiophores occurred in Agrocybe arvalis and A. aegerita. Secretory cells of different size and shape were found in Agrocybe and in Conocybe. Our results corroborate a close phylogenetic relationship between Bolbitius and Conocybe as well as the polyphyly of the Bolbitiaceae as currently treated, which is consistent with recent molecular phylogenetic studies. Consequently we emend the family concept based on anamorphic characters.     

Lepiota vellingana sp. nov. (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) a new species from Lahore, Pakistan

A new species of Lepiota, L. vellingana, is described and illustrated from Lahore, Pakistan. It is characterized by a campanulate to plano-convex, slightly umbonate, white pileus covered with pinkish brown scales, crowded lamellae, guttulate basidiospores, long trichodermial stipe elements, and long trichodermial pileal elements.     

Two new species of Melanoleuca (Agaricales,Basidiomycota) from northeastern China,supported by morphological and molecular data

Two new species, Melanoleuca leucopoda and M. porphyropoda, are described based on collections made from Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China. Melanoleuca leucopoda is mainly characterized by its whitish stipe with fibrils and oblong spores with elongated warts. Melanoleuca porphyropoda differs from all other Melanoleuca species in lacking cystidia and in having decurrent gills and a purplish stipe. The sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) of Melanoleuca species were analyzed and the results indicated that two new species clustered into two clades and differed from the other species of the genus. The combination of morphological and molecular data confirmed that the two fungi are new species. The morphological similarity of the new species to other species of Melanoleuca and the systematic position of the two species based on molecular data are also discussed.     

Guyanagaster, a new wood-decaying sequestrate fungal genus related to Armillaria (Physalacriaceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota)

? Premise of the study: Sequestrate basidiomycete fungi (e.g. "gasteromycetes") have foregone ballistospory and evolved alternative, often elaborate mechanisms of basidiospore dispersal with highly altered basidioma morphology. Sequestrate fungi have independently evolved in numerous Agaricomycete lineages, confounding taxonomic arrangements of these fungi for decades. Understanding the multiple origins and taxonomic affinities of sequestrate fungi provides insight into the evolutionary forces that can drastically alter basidioma morphology. In the neotropical rainforests of the Guiana Shield, we encountered a remarkable sequestrate fungus fruiting directly on decaying hardwood roots. The fungus' singular combination of traits include a wood-decaying habit; black, verrucose peridium; reduced stipe; and gelatinized basidiospore mass. ? Methods: Guyanagaster necrorhiza gen. et sp. nov. is described. Macro- and micromorphological characters were assessed and compared to most similar taxa. To determine the phylogenetic affinities of the fungus, DNA sequence data were obtained for the 18S, ITS, and 28S rDNA, RBP2, and EF1α regions and subjected to single- and multi-gene analyses. DNA sequences from fungal vegetative organs growing on decaying woody roots confirmed the wood-inhabiting lifestyle of Guyanagaster. ? Key results: Guyanagaster is morphologically unique among sequestrate fungi worldwide. Phylogenetic evidence places Guyanagaster in close relation to the wood-decaying mushroom genus Armillaria in the Physalacriaceae (Agaricales, Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota). ? Conclusions: Guyanagaster represents an independently evolved sequestrate form within the Physalacriaceae. Although molecular data confirm that Guyanagaster is closely related to Armillaria, the unusual features of this fungus suggest a case of radically divergent morphological evolution.     

Echium anchusoides (Boraginaceae), a new species from Sardinia (Italy)

The new species Echium anchusoides , endemic to the main siliceous massifs of Sardinia, is described and illustrated. It was formerly confused with E. pustulatum , a Mediterranean form of E. vulgare , but differs in characters regarding habit, leaves, inflorescence, corolla, stamens and mericarps. Contrary to the taxa of the E. vulgare group, E. anchusoides is also characterized by a higher ecological specificity, being linked to natural habitats with siliceous growth substratum. Micromorphological analyses provide additional information on the indumentum and reproductive structures, such as pollen, stigmatic papillae, nectar ducts and mericarp coat surface.     

中国杯形无隔担子菌研究1：分枝管菌属

目前我国共发现分枝管菌属的真菌4种,其中微小分枝管菌Henningsomyces minimus为中国首次报道,该种发现于广西壮族自治区的弄岗自然保护区和陇瑞自然保护区。根据中国的材料对该种进行了详细描述和显微结构绘图,给出了中国该属种类的检索表,并对其他三个种进行了概要描述。     

海南岛粉褶蕈属（粉褶蕈科，伞菌目）一新种

近漏斗形粉褶蕈Entoloma subinfundibuliforme为一新种,其显著特征是子实体中到大型,杯伞状,菌盖漏斗形,菌褶延生,担孢子4-5(-6)角,近等径,无囊状体和锁状联合。模式标本保存于广东省微生物研究所标本馆(GDGM)。     

Phylogeny of the Pluteaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota): taxonomy and character evolution

The phylogeny of the genera traditionally classified in the family Pluteaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) was investigated using molecular data from nuclear ribosomal genes (nSSU, ITS, nLSU) and consequences for taxonomy and character evolution were evaluated. The genus Volvariella is polyphyletic, as most of its representatives fall outside the Pluteoid clade and shows affinities to some hygrophoroid genera (Camarophyllus, Cantharocybe). Volvariella gloiocephala and allies are placed in a different clade, which represents the sister group of Pluteus, and a new generic name, Volvopluteus, is proposed to accommodate these taxa. Characters such as basidiospore size and pileipellis structure can be used to separate Pluteus, Volvariella and Volvopluteus. The genus Pluteus is monophyletic and includes species with partial veil traditionally classified in the genus Chamaeota. The evolution of morphological features used in the infrageneric taxonomy of the genus, such as metuloid cystidia and pileipellis structure, was analyzed. Agreement between the molecular phylogeny and morphological subdivision of Pluteus is, generally speaking, good, though some rearrangements are necessary: (i) species with non-metuloid pleurocystidia and pileipellis as a cutis are placed either in sect. Celluloderma, together with the species characterized by a hymenidermal pipeipellis, or in sect. Pluteus, with the metuloid bearing species; (ii) subdivision of sect. Celluloderma according to the presence/absence of cystidioid elements in the pileipellis is not supported by molecular data.     

Toward a better understanding of the infrageneric relationships in Cortinarius (Agaricales, Basidiomycota)

Research on the molecular systematics of Cortinarius, a species-rich mushroom genus with nearly global distribution, is just beginning. The present study explores infrageneric relationships using rDNA ITS and LSU sequence data. One large dataset of 132 rDNA ITS sequences and one combined da-taset with 54 rDNA ITS and LSU sequences were generated. Hebeloma was used as outgroup. Bayesian analyses and maximum-likelihood (ML) analyses were carried out. Bayesian phylogenetic inference performed equally well or better than ML, especially in large datasets. The phylogenetic analysis of the combined dataset with species representing all currently recognized subgenera recovered seven well-supported clades (Bayesian posterior probabilities BPP > 90%). These major clades are: /Myxacium s.l., /subg. Cortinarius, the /phlegmacioid clade (including the subclades /Phlegmacium and /Delibuti), the /calochroid clade (/Calochroi, /Ochroleuci and /Allutus), the /telamonioid clade (/Telamonia, /Orellani, /Anomali), /Dermocybe s.l. and /Myxotelamonia. Our results show that Cortinarius consists of many lineages, but the relationships among these clades could not be elucidated. On one hand, the low divergence in rDNA sequences can be held responsible for this; on the other hand, taxon sampling is problematic in Cortinarius phylogeny. Because of the incredibly high diversity (~2000 Cortinarius species), our sampling included <5% of the known species. By choosing type species of subgenera and sections, our sampling is strongly biased toward Northern Hemisphere taxa. More extensive taxon sampling, especially of species from the Southern Hemisphere, is essential to resolve the phylogeny of this important genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi.     

Remarkable desmids (Desmidiaceae, Charophyta) from Sardinia, Italy

A number of benthic microfauna samples collected in Sardinia in the 1970s, and screened for the occurrence of microalgae in the 1990s, revealed some remarkable desmid species. Most of these species could not be found in a series of samples collected in 2006. Eleven desmid taxa are discussed in detail, two of which are described as new to science; Cosmarium majaeforme sp. nov. and Xanthidium sardiniense sp. nov. The specific composition of the Sardinian desmid flora is discussed both in relation to the prevailing environmental conditions and to its geographic position close to the African continent.     

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.     

Cortinarius badiolaevis, a new conifer-associated, darkening species in the subgenus Telamonia (Basidiomycota, Agaricales)

A new species, Cortinarius badiolaevis Niskanen, Liimat., Mahiques, Ballarà, Kyt?v. in subgenus Telamonia, is described based on morphological and molecular data. Typical for the species is a dark brown cap, pale flesh, indistinct universal veil, small amygdaloid to ellipsoid spores [7.0–8.5 × 4.5–5.0(−5.5) μm], and dark exsiccata. It occurs in mesic to dryish coniferous forests, and grows in calcareous soil presumably with Pinus and Picea. So far, it is only known from Spain and Sweden, and considered rare. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of the ITS regions, it does not belong to any of the known sections, nor does it have any very closely related sister species.     

Anchusa formosa (Boraginaceae), a new species from Southern Sardinia (Italy)

ABSTRACT

A new Anchusa species was discovered in the massif of Mt. Lattias in South-Western Sardinia. This species, here described as A. formosa, shows a sharp phenotypic differentiation from the other Sardinian endemic taxa of Anchusa, especially in habit, leaf shape and size, inflorescence and calyx morphology. Ecological traits are also peculiar, the plant being restricted to siliceous debris that accumulates in small depositional areas of dry stream beds. A. formosa is likely to represent a paleogenic schizoendemism originated through isolation and genetic drift from the same genie pool of the other Corso-Sardinian endemic taxa of Anchusa. SEM analyses provide additional information on the micromorphology of the stigma and its papillar pattern, pollen grains, mericarp coat surface and trichomes. The anatomical structure of stem, root and leaf were also analysed. Due to its extreme localization and ecological specialization, A. formosa needs total protection in its natural habitat and should be added to National and International Red Lists of plants at risk of extinction.     

A new species ofPsilocybe (Agaricales)

Psilocybe laetissima sp. n. of the sect.Merdariae is close toP. sabulosa s.l. and known to us from Austria, Hungary, and West Germany.     

Ecology and diversity of Cortinarius species (Agaricales,Basidiomycota) associated with Quercus ilex L. in the Mediterranean area of Liguria (North-western Italy)

Cortinarius is one of the most widespread macrofungal genera. Although Mediterranean basin is considered a biodiversity hotspot, very few studies have addressed the presence and importance of Cortinarius species in such area. Surveys were carried out in Liguria (NW Italy) in different habitats characterized by the presence of Quercus ilex. Altogether 67 taxa were observed: 49 of them are new records for Liguria while 23 represent new records for Italy. In addition, we report the distinguishing characters and ecological traits of the species which are also rare in Europe.     

A new taxon in the genusMoehringia (Caryophyllaceae)

The new taxonMoehringia intricata subsp.giennensis, from the calcareous mountains of the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula is described. A comparative morphological study with regard to the most closely related taxa, contributes information of leaf anatomy, seed and pollen morphology, ecology and distribution.     

Musumecia gen. nov. in the Tricholomatoid clade (Basidiomycota,Agaricales) related to Pseudoclitocybe

Musumecia, a new genus of Agaricales, is described to accommodate the new species Musumecia bettlachensis. Based on a combined ITS– and LSU–rDNA Bayesian, Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony analysis, Musumecia clearly clusters within the Tricholomatoid clade, where it is sister to Pseudoclitocybe. Musumecia is distinguished from allied genera by a unique combination of macro‐ and micromorphological characters, including basidiomes with a clitocyboid/hygrophoroid habit, emerging from a fleshy pseudosclerotial mass (pseudosclerotium), decurrent and thick lamellae, a brown darkening of both lamellae and stipe, whitish‐cream spore print, elongated non‐siderophilous basidia, smooth, acyanophilous and inamyloid basidiospores, and the absence of both cystidia and clamp‐connections.