Penttilamyces ginnsii Watling & M.P.Martin, 2024

Watling, Roy, Ortiz-Rivero, J. & Martin, Maria-Paz, 2024, R. K. GREVILLE’S FUNGUS NAMED “ ORANGE SCLEROTIUM ” IS SHOWN TO BE A MEMBER OF THE BOLETALES (FUNGI: BASIDIOMYCOTINA), Edinburgh Journal of Botany 81 (1894), pp. 1-9 : 7

Penttilamyces ginnsii Watling & M.P.Martin , sp. nov.

This new species differs from all those so far known in Penttilamyces , except P. lichenicola , by its distinctive bright-orange colour, and from the similarly coloured P. lichenicola in its preference for growing with bryophytes and not lichenised fungi. – Type: Scotland, Dawyck Botanic Garden, 24 ix 2006, Watling Wat. 30231 (holotype E [barcode E01043381]; MycoBank no. MB840588; GenBank no. [ITS1] MZ648130).

Loosely aggregated or single individual sclerotia, 1–4 mm long, more commonly the latter with some joined, often slightly convoluted, although ranging to entirely smooth in outline, brightly coloured – intense orange, buried among bryopsid mosses, for example Hylocomium , Racomitrium . The intense colour is confined to the outermost layers, with a uniform, non-distinctive, yellowish white medulla, composed of interlocking, short hyphae giving a mosaic pattern in section; the colour darkens more with age. There are no rhizoids and there appear to be few hyphal connections to the surrounding substrate, although a few may be found among the clusters of sclerotia.

Distribution. Apparently widespread and found from alpine localities with a continental climate.

Habitat and ecology. Possibly always in moss cushions.

Etymology. The specific epithet ginnsii acknowledges the monographic work on the merulioid fungi carried out by James Herbert Ginns.

Additional specimens examined (all in E). ScOTLAND. Argyllshire: Mull, East Ebudes , Loch na Keal , 7 ix 1968, Henderson 9150 (barcode E01043365 ). Midlothian: Edinburgh, “Near Newhaven spring 1822”, Greville s.n. (barcode E01043366 ) [ Greville (1824a): “Between New Haven and Caroline Park near Edinburgh, on ‘ Hypnum squarrosum ’ Autumn ”]. Peebleshire : Dawyck , Botanic Garden , Rhododendron Walk , 1 x 2006, Watling Wat. 30232 ( E E01043589 ). Perth and Kinross: Cross Crags, Rannoch Moor, 11 x 1980, P.D. Orton s.n. (barcode E01234623 ). West Lothian: Muiriston, Livingston, 18 ix 2004, Watling Wat. 28576 (barcode E00186878 ). Wester Ross: Applecross, Beinn Bhann, ± 800 m altitude, 11 x 1969, Henderson 9450 (barcode E01043364 ) .

ENGLAND. Cambridgeshire: Cambridge , 17 iv 1982, J. Rishbeth s.n. (barcode E01234625 ) . Yorkshire: Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge , 11 iv 1956, Watling Wat. 17c (barcode E01234626 ) and Watling Wat. 667 (barcode E01234627 ) .