Lepiotaceous fungi of West Bengal, India: the genus Chlorophyllum

The state West Bengal, India was thoroughly investigated and a total of ten specimens belonging to the genus Chlorophyllum was collected. Detailed morphological and molecular studies revealed that the collected specimens were distributed over three species among which two viz. Chlorophyllum hortense and C. molybdites were previously known from the region, and one, Chlorophyllum squamulosum sp. nov., is described herein as new to science. The new species is distinguished by its small plate-like squamules over the pileus coloured greyish brown to reddish brown or dark brown; truncate, hyaline basidiospores with a prominent germ-pore; relatively small (17–25 × 7.5–11.5 μm), clavate or spheropedunculate cheilocystidia; and a tightly packed hymeniderm type pileus covering. A comprehensive morphological description, field photographs of the basidiocarps, comparisons with phenotypically similar and phylogenetically related species and a phylogram showing the placement of each of the collected species are provided. Besides, earlier records of Chlorophyllum species from West Bengal as well as in India are consulted and information related to diversity of the genus in the country are discussed with notes on the previous records. An artificial dichotomous key is provided to aid in the identification of the presently available Chlorophyllum species in India.

Leucoagaricus callainitinctus—a new species of Leucoagaricus section Piloselli (Agaricaceae) from tropical India

An interesting species of lepiotaceous fungi, Leucoagaricus callainitinctus sp. nov., is described from Kerala State, India based on morphology and molecular phylogeny. This species is distinguished by basidiocarps that turn dark turquoise on bruising/handling or reacting with NH4OH. A phylogenetic study was conducted based on Maximum likelihood analysis of nrITS sequences. In the phylogram, the new species nested as a distinct lineage in a group, which consisted predominantly of members of section Piloselli of the genus Leucoagaricus. A comprehensive description, photographs of the basidiocarps and the microscopic structures, comparisons with phenetically similar and phylogenetically related species and a phylogram showing the placement of the new species are provided.

Greenhouses of botanical gardens as a habitat of alien and native macrofungi: a case study in Poland

In 2010, 16 macrofungi species were found in greenhouses of the Botanical Garden in Warsaw-Powsin. These included 8 species of lepiotaceous fungi and a few species known from warmer areas. For 3 species identified, which are new to Poland (Agaricus subrufescens, Leucocoprinus heinemannii, Marasmius teplicensis), a description is given, with drawings of their microscopic features and photographs. Species composition of macrofungi is compared in 5 complexes of greenhouses (Bayreuth, Graz, Jena, Paskov, Warsaw) in 4 countries from Central Europe. The total number of species in these 5 studies is 206, including 27 (13.2%) lepiotaceous fungi. The smallest number of species identified was in Warsaw (16). More than twice this number was recorded in Jena (33) and Graz (34), while the richest fungal biotas were in Bayreuth (79) and Paskov (88). Of the 16 species found in Warsaw, 8 were also found in other greenhouses. In the group of 33 species recorded in at least two complexes of greenhouses, the most abundant were the lepiotaceous fungi (39.4%) and mycenaceous fungi (15.1%). Leucocoprinus cepistipes and L. straminellus were recorded most often, in 4 of the 5 studied greenhouse complexes. CCA analysis demonstrated that the highest impact on species diversity is the area of greenhouses.