Perichaena megaspora A. Ronikier, Lado & D. Wrigley, Mycologia

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 : 53-54

106. * Perichaena megaspora A. Ronikier, Lado & D. Wrigley, Mycologia 105(4): 939 (2013)

Specimens examined. PERU. Ancash: Bolognesi, Pachapaqui, Abra Yanashalla, route PE-3N, km 60, 4696 m, 9º51′36.2”S, 77º04′40.4”W, 23 Apr 2013, leaves of Senecio comosus, Lado 23124 (MA-Fungi 95281). Huallanca, Chiquian, route AN-1263 towards Huallanca, km 28, Abra Cuncush, 4580 m, 10º05′45”S, 76º56′29”W, 15 May 2018, leaves and stems of Lupinus sp. , Lado 26728 (MA-Fungi 97498, USM), Lado 26729 (MA-Fungi 97499, USM), Lado 26731 (MA-Fungi 97501), leaves of Senecio candollei, Lado 26735 (MA-Fungi 97505, USM), Lado 26737 (MAFungi 97507), Lado 26738 (MA-Fungi 97508), Lado 26740 (MA-Fungi 97510), Lado 26741 (MA-Fungi 97511), Lado 26743 (MA-Fungi 97512), Lado 26744 (MA-Fungi 97513). Huasta, Chiquian, route AN-1263 towards Huallanca, km 31, 3 km south of Abra Cuncush, 4320 m, 10º07′03”S, 76º56′09”W, 15 May 2018, stems of Senecio rudbeckiaefolius, Lado 26754 (MA-Fungi 97523), Lado 26761 (MA-Fungi 97530). Huallanca, Abra Yanashaya, route AN-1279, km 60, 4677 m, 9º51′31”S, 77º04′44”W, 16 May 2018, leaves of Senecio bolivarianus, Lado 26836 (MA-Fungi 97603), Lado 26838 (MA-Fungi 97605, USM). Huallanca, towards Antamina, route AN-1279, km. 77, 4378 m, 9º49′23”S, 77º02′24”W, 16 May 2018, stem and leaf litter of Lupinus sp. , Lado 26867 (MA-Fungi 97630). Huari, Chavín de Huantar, route AN-110, km 39, 4306 m, 9º41′26”S, 77º14′39”W, 11 May 2018, leaves and woody debris of Buddleja coriacea, Lado 26361 (MA-Fungi 97151). Recuay, Catac, Pachacoto, route AN- 1251, 10 km east of Pachacoto and 4 km west of National Park entrance, 4112 m, 9º53′14”S, 77º19′53”W, 14 May 2018, inflorescence of Puya raimondii, Lado 26685 (MA-Fungi 97459) . Ayacucho: Huamanga, Chiara, route PE-3S, km 424, Abra Toccto, 4171 m, 13º20′59”S, 74º11′03”W, 21 Apr 2017, stems of Senecio sp. , Lado 24964 (MA-Fungi 96161, USM), Lado 24966 (MA-Fungi 96163, USM) . Cusco: Canchis, Checacupe, Sicuani, Santa Bárbara, route to Sibinacocha lagoon, Km 48, 4908 m, 14º00′41”S, 71º03′52”W, 14 Apr 2016, leaf of Senecio canescens, Lado 24264 (MA-Fungi 95608, USM), Lado 24265 (MA-Fungi 95609). Pitumarca, Sicuani, Santa Bárbara, route to Sibinacocha lagoon, Km 51,600, 4920 m, 13º59′23”S, 71º04′45”W, 14 Apr 2016, stem of Senecio rubeckiaefolius, Lado 24272 (MA-Fungi 95616) . Huancavelica: Hauytara, Pilpichaca, route PE-3A, km 109, Santa Ines, Choclococha lagoon, 4575 m, 13º12′13”S, 75º05′34”W, 23 Apr 2017, branches of Senecio sp. , Lado 25127 (MA-Fungi 96313), Lado 25128b (MA-Fungi 96315, USM), Lado 25129b (MA-Fungi 96317, USM), Lado 25132 (MA-Fungi 96319), Lado 25133 (MA-Fungi 96320), Lado 25136 (MA-Fungi 96323), Lado 25137a (MA-Fungi 96324), Lado 25141 (MA-Fungi 96328) . Junin: Tarma, La Unión, route PE-3N, km 30, Palcamayo, 4050 m, 11º20′07”S, 75º53′17”W, 30 Apr 2017, twigs and leaves of Senecio sp. , Lado 25619 (MA-Fungi 96774). Yauli, Morococha, Morococha, route PE-22, km 149, 4230 m, 11º35′31”S, 76º03′23”W, 1 May 2017, leaves of Buddleja incana, Lado 25717 (MA-Fungi 96870), Lado 25718 (MA-Fungi 96871) . Lima: Huarochiri, Chicla, Casapalca, Abra Anticona, route PE-22, km 130, 4761 m, 11º36′19”S, 76º11′42”W, 1 May 2017, twigs of Senecio sp. , Lado 25731 (MA-Fungi 96886, USM). Chicla, Morococha, Abra Anticona, route PE-22, km 131, 4805 m, 11º35′55”S, 76º11′35”W, 1 May 2017, leaves of Senecio comosus, Lado 25744 (MA-Fungi 96895), Lado 25747 (MA-Fungi 96898, USM) . Pasco: Daniel Alcides Carrión, Yanahuanca, Uchumarca, route PA-100, km 42, 4158 m, 10º39′22”S, 76º29′43”W, 19 May 2018, grasses, Lado 27079 (MA-Fungi 97831). Yanahuanca, Abra Ucchuchacua, route PE-18, km 169, 4723 m, 10º36′35”S, 76º40′42”W, 19 May 2018, leaves and stems of Senecio comosus, Lado 27093 (MA-Fungi 97845, USM), Lado 27095b (MA-Fungi 97848), Lado 27097 (MA-Fungi 97851). Pasco, Ninacaca, route PE-3N km 99, Carhuamayo-Oxapampa, 4092 m, 10º50′59”S, 76º09′53”W, 19 May 2018, living twigs of Senecio sp. , Lado 25636b (MA-Fungi 96791, USM). Huayllay, Abra La Cruzada , route PE-20A, km 207, 4615 m, 11º02′23”S, 76º23′34”W, 20 May 2018, stems and leaves of Senecio sp. , Lado 27138 (MA-Fungi 97888) .

Notes. Perichaena megaspora differs from other Perichaena species by the larger spores, 15–20 µm in diameter, ornamented with prominent warts. Macroscopically, it may be confused with P. vermicularis (Schwein.) Rostaf. , but this species has smaller spores (11–14 µm in diameter) and less prominent ornamentation.