Pluteaceae

Abstract: Termitomyces was described by Heim (1942a) for a group of termitophilous agarics found in central Africa The Tribe Termitomceteae (Jfilich) Singer has been placed within Tricholomataceae Heim ex Pouzar by Singer (1986), close to the Tribe Lyophylleae Kiihner ex Bas, based upon the presence of siderophilous granulation detected in the basidia Jiilich (1981) raised the group to family level, Termitomycetaceae, and placed it alongside Amanitaceae Roze and Torrendiaceae Jiilich in the Amanitales Jiilich Pegler (1986) preferred to accommodate the genus Termitomyces Heim within Pluteaceae Kotl & Pouzar, largely on the basis of the pluteoid habit, with densely crowded, free lamellae which rapidly decay, the pink spore deposit, the type of hymenial cystidia, and the basidiospores which often develop a wall-structure with two teguments and the presence of an open-pore hilum (Pegler & Young, 1971) The main difference from other genera in Pluteaceae lies in a hymenophoral trama with divergent, rather than convergent, hyphae in the basidiomatal primordia, together with the termitophilous association Singer (1945) separated Termitomyces microcarpus (Berk & Broome) Heim in order to propose a new genus, Podabrella, on the basis of the epigeous habit and lack of pseudorhizal development, and to which he added some neotropical, non-termitophilous species Zang (1981) examined some collections from Yunnan Province, P R China, and proposed a new genus, Sinotermitomyces, which may be separated from Termitomyces as follows:

Abstract: The phylogeny of several species-complexes of the genera Pluteus and Volvopluteus (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) was investigated using molecular data (ITS) and the consequences for taxonomy, nomenclature and morphological species recognition in these groups were evaluated. Conflicts between morphological and molecular delimitation were detected in sect. Pluteus, especially for taxa in the cervinus-petasatus clade with clamp-connections or white basidiocarps. Some species of sect. Celluloderma are apparently widely distributed in Europe, North America and Asia, either with (P. aurantiorugosus, P. chrysophlebius, P. fenzlii, P. phlebophorus) or without (P. romellii) molecular differentiation in collections from different continents. A lectotype and a supporting epitype are designated for Pluteus cervinus, the type species of the genus. The name Pluteus chrysophlebius is accepted as the correct name for the species in sect. Celluloderma, also known under the names P. admirabilis and P. chrysophaeus. A lectotype is designated for the latter. Pluteus saupei and Pluteus heteromarginatus, from the USA, P. castri, from Russia and Japan, and Volvopluteus asiaticus, from Japan, are described as new. A complete description and a new name, Pluteus losulus, are given for the African P. cervinus var. ealaensis. The American Volvopluteus michiganensis is described in detail. Taxonomic comments and a morphology-based key to all known species of Volvopluteus are provided.

Abstract: The taxonomy and phylogeography of Pluteus section Pluteus in the Holarctic region was investigated using morphological and molecular data. Over 300 specimens spanning the major areas of boreal and temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere were studied and nrITS and tef1 were obtained for phylogenetic analyses. In order to stabilize the taxonomy of the group all available type collections were studied and, if possible, sequenced. A total of 26 species occurring in Eurasia and North America were recovered in the phylogenetic analyses. Twelve species are described as new ( Pluteus rangifer , P. elaphinus, P. hibbettii, P. eos, P. orestes, P. methvenii, P. shikae, P. kovalenkoi, P. leucoborealis, P. sepiicolor, P. oreibatus, P. atrofibrillosus ), one is provisionally named ( P. parilis ) and one variety is raised to species rank ( P. americanus ). In many cases separation of the species based on morphology alone is challenging. In general, tef1 distinguishes the species better than nrITS. Structured infraspecific genetic variation was detected in the nrITS phylogenies for five species ( P. atromarginatus, P. hibbettii, P. orestes, P. primus and P. shikae ) and in the tef1 phylogenies for P. cervinus . Phylogeographic patterns are strikingly different among the species in this group and include widespread Holarctic species, exclusively Palearctic, putative disjuncts and endemics in each Holarctic subregion (Eastern/Western Palearctic and Nearctic). Identification keys are provided for each subregion.

Abstract: Pluteus lauracearum, a new species of Pluteus sect. Hispidoderma, is described and illustrated based on macro- and micromorphological data and phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear rDNA sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region. Morphologically, this novel species is characterized by small basidiomata having whitish to dark brown pileus colour, with finely to distinctly granulose surface, a white and translucently striate pileus margin, and mostly narrowly fusiform to lageniform pleurocystidia with long narrow necks and a distinctly subcapitate to capitate apex. This new species is described based on collections made in Turkey (Kusadasi) and Portugal (Madeira), where they were growing on well-rotten wood in thermophilic Laurus forests. Pluteus lauracearum is compared with taxa in Pluteus sect. Hispidoderma that are morphologically similar and/or phylogenetically related.