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A new variety of Lentinus caespiticola from Southern India
Mycol. Res. 99 (4): 451-452 (1995)
451
Printed in Great Britain
A new variety of Lentinus caespiticola from Southern India
P. MANIMOHAN AND K. M. LEE LAVA THY Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala, 673 635, India
Lentinus caespiticola var. asiaticu5 var. nov. is described, illustrated and discussed on the basis of Southern Indian collections.
Lenfinus caespiticola Pat. & Har. is unique amongst species of Lenfinus Fr. [subgenus Panus (Fr.) Pegler, section Panus (Fr.) Pegler] in being graminicolous. The small, inconspicuous basidiomes are always found associated with dead grass roots and stems (Pegler, 1983). Although pantropical in distribution, with reports from the neotropics and Africa, it has not been recorded from Asia. While studying the agaric flora of Kerala State, India, ample specimens of this species were collected on
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Figs 1-6, Lentinus caespiticola var. asiaticus. Fig. 1. Basidiomes. Fig. 2. Spores. Fig. 3. Basidia. Fig. 4. Cheilocystidia. Fig. 5. Gloeocystidia. Fig. 6, Skeletal hyphae. Fig. 7. Spores of Lentinus caespiticola var. caespiticola (from holotype).
several occasions. As these collections showed some deviations from the established concept of the species, it is proposed to describe them under a new varietal name. In the description, the colour names given in quotation marks and the colour codes added in brackets are from Kornerup & Wanscher (1978). Spore range given is based on measurement of 45 spores and the spore quotient Qm denotes the mean value of Q (length/width ratio) of each of the 45 spores. All collections examined are deposited in the Kew Herbarium (K). Lentinus caespiticola Pat. & Har. var. asiatieus Manim. & Leelav" var. nov. (Figs 1-6) A typo differt: basidiocarpo non caespitoso, primo lilaceotincto, margine pilei fimbriato, sporis late ovo-ellipsoideis, gloeocystidibus raris. Basidiomes small, leathery, never in caespitose groups. Pileus 5-20 mm diam., initially applanate with a small depression at the disc, soon becoming deeply infundibuliform; surface lilac brown (12£4) when young, but this colour qUickly disappears from the centre towards the margin and becomes 'orange white' (5A2) to 'pale yellow' (4A3), appressed hairy, dotted with minute squamules formed of small clumps of subered hairs, glabrescent, without striations and zonations of any kind; margin slightly incurved and entire in the beginning, become upturned and lobate, fimbriate because of fine squamules on the rim. Lamellae deeply decurrent, 'yellowish white' (4A2), narrow, up to 2 mm wide, close to almost crowded, often furcate, with lamellulae of 3-4 lengths; lamella-edge entire, concolorous with the sides. Stipe mostly centraL occasionally eccentric, 10-15 X 1-2 mm, cylindric, solid; surface lilac brown (12£4) in very young specimens, becoming' pale yellow' (4A3), finely pruinose; basal mycelium scanty, white. Context thin, white. Odour not distinctive. Spore print white. Spores 6-7 x 4-5 (6'4±O'4 X 4'6±O'3) IJm, Q = 1'21'55, Qrn = 1'41, ovo-ellipsoid, thin-walled, hyaline, smooth, inamyloid, Basidia 25-35 x 5-7 IJm, clavate, 4-spored;
A new variety of Lentinus caespiticola Table 1. Differences between the two varieties of Lentinus caespiticola Var. asiaticus
Var. caespiticola
I. Basidiomes never occur in caespitose groups 2. Pileal margin finely fimbriate 3. Spores broadly ovo-ellipsoid
Basidiomes always occur in caespitose groups Pileal margin not fimbriate Spores narrowly ovo-ellipsoid (Qm = 1'63) Gloeocystidia abundant Not known
(Qm = 1'41)
4. Gloeocystidia occasional 5. Lilac tint to fresh, young basidiomes
sterigmata up to 6!-lm long. Lamella-edge sterile with crowded cheilocystidia; cheilocystidia 17-28 x 5-8 !-lm, versiform, clavate, fusoid or strangulated, thin-walled, hyaline. Gloeocystidia occasionally present on edge and sides of lamellae, 33-75 x 7'5-10 !-lm, fusoid, ventricose-rostrate or mucronate, hyaline, with a thin- refractive wall. Hymenophoral trama broad, irregular; hyphae similar to that of pileal context. Pileal context made up of dimitic hyphal system; generative hyphae 2-4 !-lm wide, thin-walled, moderately branched, with clamp-connexions; skeletal hyphae dominant, originating from and obliterating-generative hyphae, 2-4 !-lm wide, frequently more than 1000!-lm long, mostly unbranched, rarely with solitary lateral branching, with a very thick wall and a narrow lumen. Pileipellis a cutis of agglutinated, radially parallel, 3-5!-lm wide, slightly thick-walled generative hyphae; squamules of pileal surface and margin formed of agglutinated clumps of 3-5!-lm wide, slightly thick-walled generative hyphae. Stipitipellis a cutis of agglutinated, 3-5 !-lm wide, slightly thick-walled generative hyphae. On the ground, arising from clumps of decaying roots of grass, from open grasslands, never in the shade, always seen as scattered single specimens, seen only during the dry spell (Sep.-Oct.) between the two monsoon seasons of the region. Specimens examined: India, Kerala State, Calicut University campus: 23 Oct. 1990, Manimohan, K(M)25899; 24 Oct. 1990, Manimohan, K(M)25900; 29 Sept. 1992, Manimohan, K(M)25901; 30 Sep. 1992, (Accepted 29 July 1994)
452 Manimohan, K(M)25902; 26 Oct. 1993, Manimohan, K(M)25898 (holotype).
Lentinus caespiticola is characterized by the following features: (1) small graminicolous basidiomes; (2) umbilicate to infundibuliform pileus with finely squamulose surface; (3) central stipe; (4) ovo-ellipsoid spores; (5) sterile lamella-edge with crowded cheilo-cystidia; (6) gloeocystidia in the hymenium; and (7) a dimitic hyphal system with skeletal hyphae. As the Kerala collections show all these features, there is no doubt that they belong in L. caespiticola. The new variety, however, differs from the typical variety in a few minor features. Basidiomes of var. caespiticola, according to Pegler (1983), 'are always to be found tufted'. Basidiomes of var. asiaticus always occur as scattered Single specimens. Spores of var. caespiticola are narrowly ovo-ellipsoid (Fig. 7). with a larger (1'63, see Pegler, 1983) Qm value (Q = 1'43-1'75) while those of var. asiaticus are broadly ovoellipsoid with a smaller (1'41) Qm value (Q = 1'2-1'55). Basidiomes of var. asiaticus exhibit a lilac tint when quite fresh. Although this has not been reported in the case of var. caespiticola, this feature is quite common amongst species of Lentinus section Panus (Singer, 1986: 182) and therefore it is possible that this feature has been overlooked in the case of previous collections of var. caespiticola. Fimbriate pileal margin, another feature exhibited by several species of Lentinus, is characteristic of var. asiaticus but this feature has not been reported for var, caespiticola. Finally, gloeocystidia, although present, are remarkably scarce in var. asiaticus. These differences are summarized in Table 1. We are grateful to the director of Herb. PC for a loan of the type material of Lentinus caespiticola var. caespiticola, REFERENCES Komerup, A. & Wanscher, j. H. (1978). Methuen Handbook of Colour, 3rd edn. Methuen: London, U.K. Pegler, D. N. (1983). The genus Lentinus: a world monograph. Kew Bulletin Additional Series 10, 1-281. Singer, R. (1986). The Agaricales in Modem Taxonomy, 4th edn. Koeltz Scientific Books: Koenigstein, Germany.
451
Printed in Great Britain
A new variety of Lentinus caespiticola from Southern India
P. MANIMOHAN AND K. M. LEE LAVA THY Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala, 673 635, India
Lentinus caespiticola var. asiaticu5 var. nov. is described, illustrated and discussed on the basis of Southern Indian collections.
Lenfinus caespiticola Pat. & Har. is unique amongst species of Lenfinus Fr. [subgenus Panus (Fr.) Pegler, section Panus (Fr.) Pegler] in being graminicolous. The small, inconspicuous basidiomes are always found associated with dead grass roots and stems (Pegler, 1983). Although pantropical in distribution, with reports from the neotropics and Africa, it has not been recorded from Asia. While studying the agaric flora of Kerala State, India, ample specimens of this species were collected on
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Figs 1-6, Lentinus caespiticola var. asiaticus. Fig. 1. Basidiomes. Fig. 2. Spores. Fig. 3. Basidia. Fig. 4. Cheilocystidia. Fig. 5. Gloeocystidia. Fig. 6, Skeletal hyphae. Fig. 7. Spores of Lentinus caespiticola var. caespiticola (from holotype).
several occasions. As these collections showed some deviations from the established concept of the species, it is proposed to describe them under a new varietal name. In the description, the colour names given in quotation marks and the colour codes added in brackets are from Kornerup & Wanscher (1978). Spore range given is based on measurement of 45 spores and the spore quotient Qm denotes the mean value of Q (length/width ratio) of each of the 45 spores. All collections examined are deposited in the Kew Herbarium (K). Lentinus caespiticola Pat. & Har. var. asiatieus Manim. & Leelav" var. nov. (Figs 1-6) A typo differt: basidiocarpo non caespitoso, primo lilaceotincto, margine pilei fimbriato, sporis late ovo-ellipsoideis, gloeocystidibus raris. Basidiomes small, leathery, never in caespitose groups. Pileus 5-20 mm diam., initially applanate with a small depression at the disc, soon becoming deeply infundibuliform; surface lilac brown (12£4) when young, but this colour qUickly disappears from the centre towards the margin and becomes 'orange white' (5A2) to 'pale yellow' (4A3), appressed hairy, dotted with minute squamules formed of small clumps of subered hairs, glabrescent, without striations and zonations of any kind; margin slightly incurved and entire in the beginning, become upturned and lobate, fimbriate because of fine squamules on the rim. Lamellae deeply decurrent, 'yellowish white' (4A2), narrow, up to 2 mm wide, close to almost crowded, often furcate, with lamellulae of 3-4 lengths; lamella-edge entire, concolorous with the sides. Stipe mostly centraL occasionally eccentric, 10-15 X 1-2 mm, cylindric, solid; surface lilac brown (12£4) in very young specimens, becoming' pale yellow' (4A3), finely pruinose; basal mycelium scanty, white. Context thin, white. Odour not distinctive. Spore print white. Spores 6-7 x 4-5 (6'4±O'4 X 4'6±O'3) IJm, Q = 1'21'55, Qrn = 1'41, ovo-ellipsoid, thin-walled, hyaline, smooth, inamyloid, Basidia 25-35 x 5-7 IJm, clavate, 4-spored;
A new variety of Lentinus caespiticola Table 1. Differences between the two varieties of Lentinus caespiticola Var. asiaticus
Var. caespiticola
I. Basidiomes never occur in caespitose groups 2. Pileal margin finely fimbriate 3. Spores broadly ovo-ellipsoid
Basidiomes always occur in caespitose groups Pileal margin not fimbriate Spores narrowly ovo-ellipsoid (Qm = 1'63) Gloeocystidia abundant Not known
(Qm = 1'41)
4. Gloeocystidia occasional 5. Lilac tint to fresh, young basidiomes
sterigmata up to 6!-lm long. Lamella-edge sterile with crowded cheilocystidia; cheilocystidia 17-28 x 5-8 !-lm, versiform, clavate, fusoid or strangulated, thin-walled, hyaline. Gloeocystidia occasionally present on edge and sides of lamellae, 33-75 x 7'5-10 !-lm, fusoid, ventricose-rostrate or mucronate, hyaline, with a thin- refractive wall. Hymenophoral trama broad, irregular; hyphae similar to that of pileal context. Pileal context made up of dimitic hyphal system; generative hyphae 2-4 !-lm wide, thin-walled, moderately branched, with clamp-connexions; skeletal hyphae dominant, originating from and obliterating-generative hyphae, 2-4 !-lm wide, frequently more than 1000!-lm long, mostly unbranched, rarely with solitary lateral branching, with a very thick wall and a narrow lumen. Pileipellis a cutis of agglutinated, radially parallel, 3-5!-lm wide, slightly thick-walled generative hyphae; squamules of pileal surface and margin formed of agglutinated clumps of 3-5!-lm wide, slightly thick-walled generative hyphae. Stipitipellis a cutis of agglutinated, 3-5 !-lm wide, slightly thick-walled generative hyphae. On the ground, arising from clumps of decaying roots of grass, from open grasslands, never in the shade, always seen as scattered single specimens, seen only during the dry spell (Sep.-Oct.) between the two monsoon seasons of the region. Specimens examined: India, Kerala State, Calicut University campus: 23 Oct. 1990, Manimohan, K(M)25899; 24 Oct. 1990, Manimohan, K(M)25900; 29 Sept. 1992, Manimohan, K(M)25901; 30 Sep. 1992, (Accepted 29 July 1994)
452 Manimohan, K(M)25902; 26 Oct. 1993, Manimohan, K(M)25898 (holotype).
Lentinus caespiticola is characterized by the following features: (1) small graminicolous basidiomes; (2) umbilicate to infundibuliform pileus with finely squamulose surface; (3) central stipe; (4) ovo-ellipsoid spores; (5) sterile lamella-edge with crowded cheilo-cystidia; (6) gloeocystidia in the hymenium; and (7) a dimitic hyphal system with skeletal hyphae. As the Kerala collections show all these features, there is no doubt that they belong in L. caespiticola. The new variety, however, differs from the typical variety in a few minor features. Basidiomes of var. caespiticola, according to Pegler (1983), 'are always to be found tufted'. Basidiomes of var. asiaticus always occur as scattered Single specimens. Spores of var. caespiticola are narrowly ovo-ellipsoid (Fig. 7). with a larger (1'63, see Pegler, 1983) Qm value (Q = 1'43-1'75) while those of var. asiaticus are broadly ovoellipsoid with a smaller (1'41) Qm value (Q = 1'2-1'55). Basidiomes of var. asiaticus exhibit a lilac tint when quite fresh. Although this has not been reported in the case of var. caespiticola, this feature is quite common amongst species of Lentinus section Panus (Singer, 1986: 182) and therefore it is possible that this feature has been overlooked in the case of previous collections of var. caespiticola. Fimbriate pileal margin, another feature exhibited by several species of Lentinus, is characteristic of var. asiaticus but this feature has not been reported for var, caespiticola. Finally, gloeocystidia, although present, are remarkably scarce in var. asiaticus. These differences are summarized in Table 1. We are grateful to the director of Herb. PC for a loan of the type material of Lentinus caespiticola var. caespiticola, REFERENCES Komerup, A. & Wanscher, j. H. (1978). Methuen Handbook of Colour, 3rd edn. Methuen: London, U.K. Pegler, D. N. (1983). The genus Lentinus: a world monograph. Kew Bulletin Additional Series 10, 1-281. Singer, R. (1986). The Agaricales in Modem Taxonomy, 4th edn. Koeltz Scientific Books: Koenigstein, Germany.