Phallus dongsun T.H. Li, T. Li, Chun Y. Deng, W.Q. Deng & Zhu L. Yang, 2020

Li, Ting, Li, Taihui, Deng, Wangqiu, Song, Bin, Deng, Chunying & Yang, Zhu L., 2020, Phallus dongsun and P. lutescens, two new species of Phallaceae (Basidiomycota) from China, Phytotaxa 443 (1), pp. 19-37 : 29-30

Phallus dongsun T.H. Li, T. Li, Chun Y. Deng, W.Q. Deng & Zhu L. Yang , sp. nov. Figs. 4 , 7–8

MycoBank ID: MB833125

Diagnosis:— Phallus dongsun is morphologically similar to P. impudicus , but is different in stronger reticulation with ridges up to 8 mm deep on receptacle, and basidiospore size of 3.5–4.4 × 1.8–2.3 μm with length/width ratio of 1.88 ± 0.12; phylogenetically, its LSU and ITS sequences also form a distinct clade independent of that of European P. impudicus in the phylogenetic trees.

Etymology:— dongsun referring to the Chinese folk name “Dongsun” (dong-: winter; -sun: phalloid fungus; “Dongsun” means this phalloid fungus appears in the winter), a highly renowned edible Phallus fungus in Chinese folklore.

Typification:— CHINA. Guizhou Province, Guiyang City, Xifeng County, at 106°44′39′′ E, 27°05′51′′ N, 1100 m alt., 8 November 2018, cultivated, coll. by Chunying Deng (Holotype, GDGM 75402).

Description:— Immature basidiomata globose to subglobose, 45–60 × 45–50 mm, yellowish white (1A2) to pale yellow (2A3), slightly smooth with rimose-areolate pattern on the surface, attached to the substrate by yellowish white (1A2) rhizomorphs. Exoperidium membranous, endoperidium gelatinous, hyaline. Mature basidiomata 150–250 × 25–50 mm. Receptacle ovoid to bell-shape, dull white (1A1) to pale white (3A3), 48–60 mm high, 25–45 mm broad, surface strongly reticulated with irregularly ridges up to 8 mm deep, often covered with gleba; apex truncate, with or without a prominent white disc up to 11 mm in diam., and with a perforate pore 3–4 mm in diam. at the apex. Gleba olive brown (4E4-8, 4F3-8), mucilaginous. Pseudostipe cylindrical or fusiform, usually tapered at the apex and bottom, enlarged in the middle, 160–220 mm high, 6–12/17–45/ 5–15 mm thick (apex/middle/base), white (1A1) to yellowish white (1A2), spongiform, hollow; pseudostipe wall 6–9 mm thick, usually consisting of small irregular chambers, 1–3 mm in diam. Volva subglobose or slightly obovate, 50 mm high, 38 mm broad, smooth or slightly rugose, yellowish white (1A2–4A2). Rhizomorphs simple, white (1A1) to yellowish white (2A3), 1–2 mm thick, up to 32 mm long. Odour foetid (mainly from gleba). Taste mild.

Basidiospores cylindrical to long ellipsoid, [60/2/5] (3.5–)3.8–4.2(–4.4) × 1.8–2.3 μm, Q= (1.64–)1.78–1.96 (– 2.11), Qm = 1.88 ± 0.12, hyaline and light olivaceous in H 2 O and 5% KOH solution, inamyloid, thin-walled, usually with one or two droplets, smooth under the light microscope, truncate at one end under the SEM. Hyphae of receptacle and pseudostipe hyaline, thin-walled, pseudoparenchymatic, consisting of globose to subglobose or irregularly globose structures, up to 25 μm in diam. Hyphae of volva tubular and branched, 4–10 μm in diam., thin-walled, smooth, septate, with clamp-connections. Hyphae of rhizomorphs filamentous, up to 8.0 μm in diam., thin-walled, smooth, septate, rarely branched.

Known distribution:—Known from the subtropical regions of China, especially from Guizhou, Hunan and Zhejiang Provinces.

Habit and habitat:—Solitary or scattered on soil with decaying litter under the bamboo groves dominated by Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz. ; Season: October to December.

Additional specimens examined:— CHINA. Guizhou Province, Dafang County, at 105°36′56′′ E, 27°9′8′′ N, 1560 m alt., 23 October 2018, cultivated, coll. by Chunying Deng ( GDGM 75343 ) ; Zhejiang Province, Quzhou City, Liuchunhu Mountain , at 119°2′33′′ E, 28°47′58′′ N, 790 m alt., 22 Nov 2018, wild, coll. by Ting Li ( GDGM 75582 ) ; Jiangsu Province, Xuyi County, Tieshansi National Forest Park, at 118°28′44′′ E, 32°44′1′′ N, 64 m alt., 15 October 2011, wild, coll. by Yihua Yang, Ming Zhan g & Taihui Li ( GDGM 29086 ) ; Hunan Province, Tongdao County, Huangzhu Mountain , at 109°54′28′′ E, 26°17′02′′ N, 1680 m alt., 20 October 2018, wild, coll. by Ming Zhang ( GDGM 75346 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Basidiomata of Phallus dongsun. a–d: GDGM 75402 (holotype) and its sections. e–i: GDGM 75582. j: GDGM 75346. k: GDGM 75343. l: GDGM 75402 (dried specimen). Scale bars: a–l = 20 mm. Photos by Ting Li.

FIGURE 7. Microscopic features of Phallus dongsun (GDGM 75402, holotype), P. impudicus (GDGM 77656) and P. lutescens (GDGM 72218, holotype) under light microscope. a–c: Microscopic features of P. dongsun. d–f: Microscopic features of Phallus impudicus. g–i: Microscopic features of Phallus lutescens. a, d, g: Pseudoparenchymatous hyphae from the indusium. b, e, h: Basidiospores. c, f, i: Hyphae from the volva. Scale bars: a–i = 10 µm. Sections of structures a, c, d, f, g and i were mounted in Congo Red mixed with the 5% KOH. Photos by Ting Li.

FIGURE 8. Basidiospores under scanning electron microscope. a, b: Phallus dongsun (GDGM 75402, holotype). c, d: P. impudicus (GDGM 77656). e, f: P. lutescens (GDGM 72218, holotype). Scale bars: a, d, e = 5 µm, b = 2 µm, c = 20 µm, f = 3 µm. Photos by Ting Li.