Year: 1964
Type: article
Abstract: Some genera of Geoglossaceae, characterized by colourless spores and positive iodine reaction ofthe ascus pore, are compared with respect to the structure of the stipe. Ochroglossum is reduced to the synonymy ofMicroglos-sum. Mitrula is regarded as a monotypic genus. The genericnameHeyderia is restored. Thuemenidium is reintroduced to replace Corynetes. Nothomitra is proposed as a new genus to accomodate N. cinnamomea, a new species. 1 Leotia is here conventionally enumeratedalong with the two geoglossaceous genera, but I agree with Korf that it is better at home in the Helotiaceae, compare p. 86. Early in 1963, Mr. J. T. Palmer, Woodley (near Stockport), sent me two collec-tions of a geoglossaceous fungus. The specimens had been collected in Austria and showed colourless spores and a positive iodinereaction of the ascus pore. According to Nannfeldt's key (1942), these characters are common to three generaof Geoglos-saceae: Corynetes, Microglossum, and Mitrula. Corynetes was immediately ruled out, as the Austrian material was not black and the fertile head differently shaped, but it was impossible to decide in favour of either of the two remaining genera. The speci-mens resembled Mitrula as to the shape of the fertile head, but the spores were rather those ofa Microglossum. It was decided to search for other criteria by which it would be possible to distinguish the two genera without ambiguity. This led to some unexpected results. It was found that (i) there existed no generally agreed opinion on the generic limits between Corynetes, Microglossum, and Mitrula; (ii) the generic name Corynetes, although universally used, was not the correct name; (iii) Mitrula as understood in Europe and North America proved most heterogeneous; (iv) the Austrian material did not fitany described genus; (v) the structure of the stipe proved a useful additional character in the distinction of genera. To facilitate the identificationof the genera treated, the following key is proposed, but the reader is advised that it does not include Cudonia Fr., Leotia Pers. ex S. F.
Author: R.A. Maas Geesteranus
Language: English
Topic: Lichen and fungal ecology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1623712866