Bryoperdon acuminatum (Bosc) Vizzini, 2017

Vizzini, Alfredo & Ercole, Enrico, 2017, Detecting the phylogenetic position of Bovista acuminata (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) by an ITS-LSU combined analysis: the new genus Bryoperdon and revisitation of Lycoperdon subgen. Apioperdon, Phytotaxa 299 (1), pp. 77-86 : 80

Bryoperdon acuminatum (Bosc) Vizzini , comb. nov. ( Fig. 2 )

MycoBank MB 819912

Basionym: Lycoperdon acuminatum Bosc , in Fries, Nov. Symb. Myc.: 134 (1851)

≡ Lycoperdon acuminatum var. seurati Pat., Bull. Soc. mycol. Fr. 20: 135 (1904)

≡ Lycoperdon pyriforme var. acuminatum (Bosc) F. Šmarda, Fl. ČSR , B-1, Gasteromycetes: 341 (1958) ≡ Bovista acuminata (Bosc) Kreisel, Feddes Repert. 69: 201 (1964)

= Lycoperdon calyptriforme Berk., Grevillea 2(no. 16): 50 (1873)

= Lycoperdon leprosum Berk. & Ravenel, Trans. Albany Inst. 9: 313 (1879)

Selected descriptions:— Kreisel (1967: 84–87, as B. acuminata ); Kreisel & Karasch (2005: 10–12, as B. acuminata ); Sarasini (2005: 126–128, as B. acuminata ); Poumarat (2007: 54–59, as B. acuminata ).

Selected iconography:— Coker & Couch (1928, Pl. 49); Kreisel & Karasch (2005: Abb. 2); Sarasini (2005: 127, 128); Poumarat (2007: 56); Pérez-De-Gregorio (2014: 1608).

Description (based on the two Italian collections)

basidiomes 6–15 mm high and 4–10 mm broad, ovoid, obovoid, typically pointed at apex and rounded at base ( Fig. 2a, b ), with 1–2 white rhizomorphic cords rooting into the moss cushion, at first yellowish-white, pale ochraceous, hazelnut, then pinkish-brown. Exoperidium consisting of small, up to 0.2 mm high, quite persistent pyramidal spines, singly or more frequently arranged in groups of 2–3(–4), with convergent, connected apices ( Fig. 2c, d ). Endoperidium very thin, papery, at first whitish, then ochre-brown to dark brown, sometimes with violaceous hues. Stoma apical, irregularly elliptic, up to 20–30 mm long. Gleba yellowish-green, tobacco-brown when mature. Pseudocolumella indistinct. Subgleba absent. Spores globose, (3.0–) 3.7–4.0 (–4.3) μm in diam. [2/2/60], yellowish-brown in LM, almost completely smooth to only finely warted (A–B in the sense of Demoulin 1971, 1972); no debris of broken pedicels observed. Paracapillitium absent. Capillitium of the Lycoperdon - type (in the sense of Kreisel 1962, 1967), yellowish-pale brown in LM, 3–6 μm broad, with very rare, scattered septa and abundant small pits. Spines of the exoperidium consisting of chains of short, inflated, up to 20 μm in diam., clavate to subglobose elements.

Habit and habitat:— gregarious on moss cushions covering logs and rocks, in autumn.

Material examined: — ITALY. Piedmont, Torino, Valle di Susa, Loc. Mattie, Castanea sativa wood, in a cushion of Hypnum cupressiforme Hedwig mixed with Hedwigia stellata Hedenäs on a siliceous boulder on the ground, 730 m a.s.l., 19 October 2016, A. Vizzini and Mattie Elementary School pupils, TO HG191016 (TO!); ibidem, in a cushion of Hypnum cupressiforme covering a chestnut log, 20 October 2016, A. Vizzini, TO HG201016 (TO!).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Bryoperdon acuminatum. Fresh basidiomes (TO HG191016). a in field; b in studio; c particular of the exoperidium; d particular of the exoperidium and ellipsoid-lacerate stoma. Scale bars: a, b = 10 mm; c = 5 mm; d = 2 mm. Pictures by A. Vizzini.