Tulostoma eckbladii Jeppson, Altes , G. Moreno & E. Larss.

Jeppson, Mikael, Altes, Alberto, Moreno, Gabriel, Nilsson, R. Henrik, Yolanda Loarce,, Bustos, Alfredo de & Larsson, Ellen, 2017, Unexpected high species diversity among European stalked puffballs - a contribution to the phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Tulostoma (Agaricales), MycoKeys 21, pp. 33-88 : 49

Tulostoma eckbladii Jeppson, Altes, G. Moreno & E. Larss. sp. nov. Figure 6

Holotype.

Norway, Nordland, Saltdal, Junkerdalsura, på sten blandt mos, 4 Sept. 1957, I. Jørstad (O F-58850!).

Etymology.

Named in honour of the Norwegian mycologist Finn-Egil Eckblad (1923-2000).

Description.

Spore-sac subglobose to onion-shaped, 6-8 mm in diameter. Exoperidium not observed. Endoperidium smooth, initially brownish, later ochraceous white. Mouth circular, shortly tubular, with a more or less brown peristome. Socket inconspicuous. Stem stout, 25-30 x 3-4 mm, flattened, light brown, somewhat longitudinally furrowed, almost smooth to finely appressed scaly, attenuated towards the base, with whitish basal rhizomorphs attached to moss rhizomes (Figure 6d). Mature gleba ochraceous-ferrugineous. Capillitium 4-6 µm with rather thick walls, with scattered septa that are slightly widened (Figure 6b). Spores subglobose, 4.5-5.5 µm (av. 4.9 µm) ornamentation excluded, coarsely but not very densely verrucose. SEM photos show isolated, irregular verrucae with broad bases (Figure 6 e–g).

Habitat and distribution.

Tulostoma eckbladii is so far only known from two findings in northern Norway, in both cases growing among mosses on calcareous boulders.

Notes.

The species reminds of T. niveum in its choice of habitat on moss-covered rocks. It can, however, be distinguished by its stouter basidiomata and the presence of a brown peristome. Whether or not the flattened stipe is a constant species character cannot be decided from the available material. The spores are similar, as observed from SEM photos (Figure 2j, 6e-g). It is distinguished from T. brumale by the presence of a stout stipe, the less widened capillitial septa, and the larger spores. Also T. simulans is morphologically similar but is recognized by its more slender basidiomata and different habitat and distribution. The two findings of T. eckbladii constitute northern extremities in the distribution of the genus Tulostoma . It has previously been reported and discussed by Brochmann et al. (1981) as Tulostoma sp.

Other specimens examined.

NORWAY, Finnmark: Porsanger, Hestnes, 17 Jul. 1993, B. Jonsell (as T. kotlabae , TRH 9565)*.