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The polypore genera, Henningsia and Rigidoporus
Volume 9, Part 3, August 1995
THE POLYPORE GENERA, HENNINGSIA AND RIGIDOPORUS E.J.H. CORNER 91 Hinton Way, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB25AH, UK The recent contribution to the Mycologist on the discovery of Henningsia brasiliensis in Ecuador (Nunez, 1994) prompts me to take up again the cognate problem of the identification of three common tropical polypores, namely Rigidoporus micromegas (neotropical), R. microporus (pantropical) and R. zonalis (paleotropical).They have been much confused and the first two still are (Corner 1987,1993). What I concludedabout them is still overlooked,and it is here that the identity of H. brasiliensis enters. The first question is whether H. brasiliensis and R. micromegas are synonyms. I can find no difference in their descriptions. Ryvarden (1991) attempted to distinguish Henningsia by the presence of gloeopleroushyphae in the fruit-body, its bright yellow tubes and the absence of reddening ofthe tissue which was said to be prevalent in Rigidoporus. None of these slight distinctions, however, bears scrutiny. I described gloeoplerous hyphae for R. micromegas and the very different R. defibulatus (Corner, 1987); they may well occur in other species of the genus. Then, numerous species of Rigidoporus have yellow to orange or reddish tubes (including R. micromegas and R. microporus). As for the reddening of the tissue, it is a property of few species of Rigidoporus, and Nunez described it for H. brasiliensis though in this case it seems to refer to the exposure of the inner mature tissue rather than to oxidation. All these points enhance the likelihood that H. brasiliensis and R. micromegas are one and the same species. If this conclusion is true, then Henningsia (1897) has generic priority over Rigidoporus (1905). It is to be hoped that the well-known and much used Rigidoporus with many species will be conserved over the little known and scarcely used Henningsia with one (or two) species. Concerning the three common tropical species of Rigidoporus, I have often found them and studied them in the living state, as dried speci-
mens and as preserved in alcohol-formalin.I have no difficulty in distinguishing them but the mistake still prevails that R. micromegas and R. microporus are synonyms (Corner, 1993). In discussing spore shape and size, Nunez adopts the idea that the air in the lower parts of dense tropical forest is still. I have never found this to be true. There are many slight air-currents to be perceived only by their effects, such as the violent waving ofa palm-frond and the thin smoke of polypore spores drifting upwards and away from their fruit-bodies. I see no reason why the distribution of Henningsia should be considered so confined. References Corner, E.J.H. (1987) Ad Polyporaceas IV, Nova Hedwigia Beiheft 86: p. 148, 172. Corner, E.J.H. (1993) Ad Polyporaceas - Explicanda. Nova Hedwigia 57: p. 155. Nunez, Maria (1994) First record of Henningsia brasiliensis outside Brazil. Mycologist 8: 175-176. Ryvarden, L. (1991) Genera of Polypores. Synopsis Fungorum 5. Fungiflora, Oslo.
BRITISH MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY CENTENARY 1896-1996 An ambitious series of events is being planned to celebrate the Centenary during 1996 including: 1. Three symposia at the University of Sheffield from April 10-12; A Century of Mycology: papers by distinguished contributors; Biodiversity: a currently topical theme; Postgraduate Symposium: The mycology of the future. 2. Grand Conversazione: A three day event to be held in London on September 26-28. 3. Several forays, including: a Spring Foray near Hereford with the Woolhope Club (forerunners of the British Mycological Society) and an Autumn Foray at Huddersfield with the Mycological Committee of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union.
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THE POLYPORE GENERA, HENNINGSIA AND RIGIDOPORUS E.J.H. CORNER 91 Hinton Way, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB25AH, UK The recent contribution to the Mycologist on the discovery of Henningsia brasiliensis in Ecuador (Nunez, 1994) prompts me to take up again the cognate problem of the identification of three common tropical polypores, namely Rigidoporus micromegas (neotropical), R. microporus (pantropical) and R. zonalis (paleotropical).They have been much confused and the first two still are (Corner 1987,1993). What I concludedabout them is still overlooked,and it is here that the identity of H. brasiliensis enters. The first question is whether H. brasiliensis and R. micromegas are synonyms. I can find no difference in their descriptions. Ryvarden (1991) attempted to distinguish Henningsia by the presence of gloeopleroushyphae in the fruit-body, its bright yellow tubes and the absence of reddening ofthe tissue which was said to be prevalent in Rigidoporus. None of these slight distinctions, however, bears scrutiny. I described gloeoplerous hyphae for R. micromegas and the very different R. defibulatus (Corner, 1987); they may well occur in other species of the genus. Then, numerous species of Rigidoporus have yellow to orange or reddish tubes (including R. micromegas and R. microporus). As for the reddening of the tissue, it is a property of few species of Rigidoporus, and Nunez described it for H. brasiliensis though in this case it seems to refer to the exposure of the inner mature tissue rather than to oxidation. All these points enhance the likelihood that H. brasiliensis and R. micromegas are one and the same species. If this conclusion is true, then Henningsia (1897) has generic priority over Rigidoporus (1905). It is to be hoped that the well-known and much used Rigidoporus with many species will be conserved over the little known and scarcely used Henningsia with one (or two) species. Concerning the three common tropical species of Rigidoporus, I have often found them and studied them in the living state, as dried speci-
mens and as preserved in alcohol-formalin.I have no difficulty in distinguishing them but the mistake still prevails that R. micromegas and R. microporus are synonyms (Corner, 1993). In discussing spore shape and size, Nunez adopts the idea that the air in the lower parts of dense tropical forest is still. I have never found this to be true. There are many slight air-currents to be perceived only by their effects, such as the violent waving ofa palm-frond and the thin smoke of polypore spores drifting upwards and away from their fruit-bodies. I see no reason why the distribution of Henningsia should be considered so confined. References Corner, E.J.H. (1987) Ad Polyporaceas IV, Nova Hedwigia Beiheft 86: p. 148, 172. Corner, E.J.H. (1993) Ad Polyporaceas - Explicanda. Nova Hedwigia 57: p. 155. Nunez, Maria (1994) First record of Henningsia brasiliensis outside Brazil. Mycologist 8: 175-176. Ryvarden, L. (1991) Genera of Polypores. Synopsis Fungorum 5. Fungiflora, Oslo.
BRITISH MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY CENTENARY 1896-1996 An ambitious series of events is being planned to celebrate the Centenary during 1996 including: 1. Three symposia at the University of Sheffield from April 10-12; A Century of Mycology: papers by distinguished contributors; Biodiversity: a currently topical theme; Postgraduate Symposium: The mycology of the future. 2. Grand Conversazione: A three day event to be held in London on September 26-28. 3. Several forays, including: a Spring Foray near Hereford with the Woolhope Club (forerunners of the British Mycological Society) and an Autumn Foray at Huddersfield with the Mycological Committee of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union.
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