Calocybe betulicola J.J. Hu, A. Ma, B. Zhang & Y. Li

Ma, Ao, Hu, Jia-Jun, Chen, Yue-Qu, Wang, Xin, Tuo, Yong-Lan, Yue, Lei, Li, Xue-Fei, Dai, Dan, Wei, Yun-Hui, Zhang, Bo & Li, Yu, 2024, Multiple evidence reveals two new species and new distributions of Calocybe species (Lyophyllaceae) from northeastern China, MycoKeys 103, pp. 37-55 : 37

Calocybe betulicola J.J. Hu, A. Ma, B. Zhang & Y. Li

Figs 3 , 4D

Etymology.

" betulicola " refers to this species that grows on the leaf litter of Betula forests.

Diagnosis.

This species differs from other species by its grayish-purple pileus, grayish-brown to dark purple stipe, non-cellular pileipellis, and grows on the leaves’ litter of Betula forest.

Type.

China. Jilin Province, Changchun City , Jilin Agricultural University , 20 September 2021, Jia-Jun Hu and Gui-Ping Zhao, HMJAU48265 (Collection No.: Hu J.J. 1089) .

Description.

Basidiomata gregarious, small. Pileus convex with an umbo, 2.0-3.5 cm diameter, smooth, violet (18F6) entirely; margin entire, wavy, involute, or reflex occasionally. Lamellae subdecurrent, beige (4B5) to light yellow (30A4), entire, crowded, with 1-3 lamellulae. Stipe cylindrical or tapering downwards, 1.5-3.0 cm long and 0.5-0.8 cm wide, central, with longitudinal stripe, solid, smooth, grayish-brown (18F6) to dark purple (20F7). Context thin, concolor or paler with pileus, odorless.

Basidiospores (2.0)3.0-6.0 × (2.0)3.0-4.0 μm, Q = (1.25)1.33-2.35(2.50), Qm = 1.90, hyaline, oval, smooth, inamyloid, thin-walled. Basidia 10.0-19.0 × 4.0-6.0 μm, clavate, 2- or 4-spored, hyaline, thin-walled. Hymenophoral trama regular and hyphae arranged parallel, not pigmented, hyaline, thin-walled. Pileipellis hyphae 4.0-7.5 μm wide, smooth, hyaline, thin-walled. Stipitipellis hyphae 3.8-9.0 μm wide, hyaline, thin-walled, not pigmented. Clamp connections present.

Habitat.

Growing on the leaf litters in birch forests.

Additional specimens examined.

China. Jilin Province, Changchun City , Jilin Agricultural University , 18 September 2022, Jia-Jun Hu and Lei Yue, HMJAU48266 ; Jilin Province, Changchun City , Jilin Agricultural University , 27 September 2023, Lei Yue, HMJAU48267 .

Comments.

Calocybe betulicola is characterized by its grayish-purple pileus, grayish-brown to dark purple stipe, smaller basidiomata, non-cellular pileipellis, and its growth on the leaf litter in birch forests. According to these characteristics, C. betulicola is a member of Sect. Calocybe Carneoviolaceae . Sect. Calocybe Carneoviolaceae mainly includes four other species, viz. Calocybe decurrens J.Z. Xu & Yu Li, Calocybe fulvipes J.Z. Xu & Yu Li, Calocybe ionides (Bull.) Donk, and Calocybe coacta J.Z. Xu & Yu Li.

This species is macroscopically similar to C. ionides due to the purple basidiomata. However, C. betulicola differs from C. ionides in terms of its unique habitat, subdecurrent lamellae, and wider basidiospores. Calocybe decurrens has an intimate affinity in phylogenetic analysis. However, it differed from C. betulicola by the gradual fading from pinkish purple to brownish red to grayish brown stipe, carneous pileus, and larger basidiospores ((5.8) 6.0-8.5 (9.3) × (2.1) 2.7-3.8 (4.3) μm) ( Xu et al. 2021b). Calocybe fulvipes differs by its tone brown to dark violet stipe, and the changes it undergoes when injured, bigger Qm, and slightly longer sterigmata ( Xu et al. 2021a). Calocybe coacta can be distinguished from C. betulicola by its cream-gray pileus, the presence of hymenial cystidia, and larger basidiospores ( Xu et al. 2021a).

Figures

Figure 3. Microcharacteristics of Calocybe betulicola A basidiospores B basidia C pileipellis. Scale bars: (A) 5 μm; (B, C) 10 μm.

Figure 4. Habitat of Calocybe species in this study A Calocybe ionides B Calocybe decolorata C Calocybe cystidiosa D Calocybe betulicola. Scale bars: 1 cm (A-E).