Perichaena depressa Lib., Pl.

Treviño-Zevallos, Italo, García-Cunchillos, Iván, Basanta, Diana Wrigley De & Lado, Carlos, 2023, Diversity of Myxomycetes from Peru Part III: The high Andes and the altiplano, Phytotaxa 624 (1), pp. 1-92 : 53

105. Perichaena depressa Lib., Pl. crypt. Arduenna 378 (1837)

Specimens examined. PERU. Ancash: Bolognesi, trail to Pampam town, Aynin bridge, route PE-3N, km 459, 3089 m, 10º07′30”S, 77º09′28”W, 20 May 2014, leaf of Agave americana, Lado 23662 (MA-Fungi 95337). Huaraz, Independencia, route AN-14, km 133, 5 km from Huaraz, 3473 m, 9º32′33”S, 77º33′19”W, 9 May 2018, leaves of Agave americana, Lado 26133 (MA-Fungi 96937). Huari, Huari, Challhuyacu, Huamantanga, 7 km south of Huamparán , 3238 m, 9º18′13”S, 77º10′16”W, 12 May 2018, woody debris, Lado 26476 (MA-Fungi 97261). Huantar, 3292 m, 9º26′48”S, 77º11′00”W, 13 May 2018, leaves of Agave americana, Lado 26512 (MA-Fungi 97294), woody debris, Lado 26534 (MA-Fungi 97315). Huantar, Succha, route PE-14A towards Huantar, 3 km from the junction to route AN- 110, 3064 m, 9°27′01”S, 77°11′03”W, 13 May 2018, on rhytidome of Polylepis sp. (mc, 15 Dec 2018, pH 5.62), Treviño Myx 639 (HSP), Treviño Myx 640 (HSP) . Huancavelica: Angaraes, Julcamarca, route PE-26B, km 146, Julcamarca , 3400 m, 13º01′52”S, 74º25′56”W, 22 Apr 2017, inflorescence of Tillandsia sp. (mc, pH 6.2), Lado 25005 (MA-Fungi 96199, USM). Julcamarca, Julcamarca, route PE-26B, km 150, 3400 m, 13°01′52”S, 74°25′56”W, 22 Apr 2017, on leaf litter of Puya sp. (mc, 28 May 2020, pH 6.51), Treviño Myx 631 (HSP). Tayacaja, Acostambo, route. PE-3A, km 173, 3333 m, 12º23′12.8”S, 75º03′41.2”W, 24 Sep 2012, leaves of Agave americana, Lado 21779 (MA-Fungi 94544, USM, sls), Lado 21780 (MA-Fungi 94545, sls) . Huanuco: Huánuco, Margas , route HU-111, km. 31, 3574 m, 9º59′59”S, 76º31′23”W, 17 May 2018, leaf of Agave americana, Lado 26914 (MA-Fungi 97671), Lado 26915 (MA-Fungi 97672), Lado 26917 (MA-Fungi 97673), Lado 26918 (MA-Fungi 97674), Lado 26919 (MA-Fungi 97675), Lado 26920 (MA-Fungi 97676) . Junin: Huancayo, Cullhuas, route PE-3A, km 142, 3450 m, 12º11′59.6”S, 75º10′47.8”W, 24 Sep 2012, debris of Austro cylindropuntia pachypus, Lado 21770b (MA-Fungi 94534, USM), Lado 21771 (MA-Fungi 94535). Yauli, Chacapalpa, route PE-3S, km 35, Chacapalca, 3623 m, 11º43′37”S, 75º45′18”W, 29 Apr 2017, leaves of Agave americana, Lado 25551 (MA-Fungi 96707, USM), Lado 25555b (MA-Fungi 96711), Lado 25556 (MA-Fungi 96712), Lado 25558b (MA-Fungi 96714, USM). Paccha, La Oroya, route PE-3N, km 6, 6 km north of La Oroya , 3706 m, 11º29′29”S, 75º56′36”W, 1 May 2017, leaves and bark Polylepis racemosa and grasses, Lado 25668b (MA-Fungi 96826, USM) . Moquegua: Mariscal Nieto, Torata, Pontón Cuellar , route PE-34D, km 69, 3815 m, 16º59′54.8”S, 70º41′54.7”W, 7 Oct 2012, twigs and leaf litter of Baccharis glutinosa, Lado 22172b (MA-Fungi 94724, USM) . Puno: San Román, Cabanilla, route PE-34A, km 253, 15 km east of Santa Lucía , 3950 m, 15°39′55” S, 70°28′43” W, 8 Oct 2012, Azorella diapensioides leaf bases, (mc, 10 Jan 2013, pH 6.09), dwb 3542. Cabanilla, ctra. PE-34A, km 253, 15 km east of Santa Lucía , 8 Oct 2012, Azorella diapensioides leaf bases, (mc, 22 Jan 2013, pH 6.04), dwb 3547 .

Notes. It isn’t easy to distinguish from Perichaena quadrata T. Macbr. , especially in the intermediate forms. To identify the material collected, we followed Keller & Eliasson (1992), who differentiated the species by the sporotheca shape, remarkably flattened in P. depressa vs depressed, pulvinate, or globoid in P. quadrata , and the peridium after dehiscence, remaining as a lid in P. depressa , or evanescent and revealing the spores in P. quadrata . In addition, the capillitium in P. quadrata has the surface marked with an irregular reticulum and septa into the lumen.