Three New Ramaria species from central Mexican oak forests

Tres nuevas especies de Ramaria de los bosques de encino del centro de México

Efrén Cázares¹, Gonzalo Guevara², Jesús García², Arturo Estrada³, James M. Trappe¹

¹ Oregon State University, Department of Forest Ecosystem and Society, Corvallis, Oregon 97331–5752, USA.

³ Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Apdo. Postal 183. Tlaxcala 90000, México.

Autor para correspondencia:
Efren Cazares
mycoroots@comcast.net

Received 8 November 2010;
accepted 29 March 2011.

Las especies de Ramaria son ecológica y económicamente importantes, sin embargo, los estudios sobre este género son muy escasos en México. Debido a ésto, se llevó a cabo un estudio taxonómico sobre este género. Se describen tres nuevas especies de Ramaria del subgénero Laeticolora de los bosques de encino del centro de México. R. persicina es reconocida por su color rosa a rosa anaranjado, contexto inamiloide y ornamentación verrucosa lobada y dispersa. R. suaveolens es reconocida por su color amarillo pálido, hifas dendrofisoides en el contexto del estípite, con esporas lisas y en asociación con Quercus, y R. radicans es reconocida por su color amarillo pálido, estípite radicante, esporas largas y lisas, e hifas dendrofisoides en el contexto del estípite.

Palabras clave: hongos coraloides, hongos micorrícicos, Quercus.

Abstract

The species of Ramaria are ecologically and economically important, however, studies on this genus are very scarce in México. Due to this, a taxonomic study on this taxon was performed. Three new Ramaria spp. in the subgenus Laeticolora are described from oak dominated forests of central Mexico: R. persicina is recognized by its pink to pinkish orange color, nonamyloid context and spore ornamentation of scattered, lobed warts. R. suaveolens is recognized by its pale yellow color, sweet odor, dendrophysoid hyphae in the stipe context, mostly smooth spores, and association with Quercus, and R. radicans is recognized by its pale yellow color, rooting stipe, long smooth spores and dendrophysoid hyphae in the stipe context.

Keywords: coral fungi, mycorrhizal fungi, Quercus.

Introduction

Ramaria was initially treated as a subgenus within Clavaria until Corner (1970) elevated it to genus rank. The genus Ramaria along with Clavariadelphus, Gautieria, Gomphus and Kavinia belong to the family Clavariaceae within Order Gomphales. About 500 species are known in the world, and the wet, temperate rain forest of western North America is considered the global center of species diversity (Exeter et al., 2006). Very little is known about the ecology of Ramaria, however, most species are associated with conifer forest and few with hardwood and tropical forest. In Mexico, few taxonomic and ecological studies have been performed. The species of Ramaria known from México and its reference can be seen in Table 1. Recent exploration to central Mexican oak forest has yield three new species. This research is a contribution to the knowledge of the North American mycoflora.

Materials and methods

Methods of collecting and macroscopic and microscopic study were generally those of Exeter et al. (2006). Colors of fresh specimens are in general terms. Hand–cut sections of dried material were mounted in 5% KOH (Potassium hydroxide) and cotton blue for standard microscopy. Measurements of structures are from mature specimens. Twenty spores were measured to estimate range and average size. Whenever length/height and width measurements are given, length/height comes first. Photomicrographs are from material mounted in 5% KOH. We also examined specimens of similar species for comparisons. All specimens are deposited in the Mycological Herbaria of (TLXM) and Oregon State University (OSC).

Ramaria persicina Cázares sp. nov. Figures 1–2.

Basidiomata 4–10 x 5–10 cm. Stipes singularis vel compositus, basi albidus, supra basin persicinus; contextus albus, nonamyloideus. Rami superi et apices ramorum juventute rosei, maturitate persicini. juventute laete rosei, maturitate persicini. Basidiosporae 9–13 x 4–5 µm, subcylindricae, verrucis dispersis, parvis, lobatis ornatae. Fibulae absentes. Typus hic designatus: Trappe 32456 (TLXM, isotypus OSC).

Basidiomata 4–10 x 5–10 cm. Stipe single to compound with abortive branchlets, whitish at base, pinkish orange above; context white, solid, fleshy–fibrous when fresh but soft and brittle when dried; context chemical reactions: Ferric sulfate and Melzer's reagent negative. Upper branches and branch apices bright pink when young to pinkish orange when mature; context white, solid and fleshy–fibrous when fresh but soft and brittle when dried.

Basidia 40–60 x 5–10 µm, hyaline, clavate, 4–spored, bases lacking clamp connections. Context and tramal hyphae hyaline, 3–15 µm broad, lacking clamp connections.

Basidiospores 9–13 x 4–5 µm, subcylindrical, hyaline, ornamented with scattered, small, lobed warts, noncyanophilous.

Habitat: Terrestrial in Quercus forests (Quercus rugosa, Q. crassifolia and others) at elev. 2600 m.

Collections examined: HOLOTYPE: MEXICO: Tlaxcala, Municipality Panotla, 1 km E of San Francisco, Temezontla, lat. N 19°20'76", long. W 98°16'42" E. Cázares, Trappe 32456, 20 Sep 2007 (TLXM, isotype OSC). PARATYPE: As above, Trappe 32457 (TLXM, isotype OSC).

Discussion: R. persicina is recognized by its pink to pinkish orange color, nonamyloid context and spore ornamentation of scattered, lobed warts. In color it resembles R. araiospora, R. cyaneigranosa and R. stuntzii (Marr and Stuntz, 1973). However, the spore width of up to 5 µm and ornamentation distinguished it from R. araiospora and R. cyaneigranosa, and the nonamyloid context and long spores of up to 13 µm separate it from R. stuntzii. The Quercus forest habitat separates R. persicina from other pink species. The similar pink Ramaria species mentioned above are associated with temperate rain forests of western north America. Ramaria rosella is a similar pink species described from North Carolina and Tennessee, USA. However, this species is characterize by its gracile stature when mature and rich pink pigmentation is lacking when young (Petersen 1985).

Ramaria suaveolens Cázares sp. nov. Figures 3–4.

Basidiomata 5–15 x 5–12 cm. Stipites singulares sed basi caespitosis, 2–5 cm lati, basi albi, supra basin albidi, contusis brunneolescentes, mycelio albo basali; contextus albus, nonamyloideus. Rami superi et apices maturitate luteoli vel cremei. Hyphae dendrophysoideae praesentes. Basidia sine fibulis, hyphae contextae fibulis. Odor suaveolens. Basidiosporae 11–13 x 4–5 µm, subcylindricae, laeves vel aliquot subtiliter verruculosae. Typus hic designatus: Trappe 32458 (TLXM, isotypus OSC).

Basidiomata 5–15 x 5–12 cm. Stipe single but fused at the base, with few abortive branchlets, 2–5 cm broad, rooting to a depth of 2 cm, white at base, whitish above, with white basal mycelium; bruises brownish; context white, solid, fleshy–fibrous when fresh but soft and brittle when dried; context chemical reactions: FSW and Melzer's reagent negative. Upper branches and branch apices pale yellow to cream colored at maturity, bruising brownish; context white, solid and fleshy–fibrous when fresh but soft and brittle when dried. Odor fragrant, sweet.

Basidia 40–60 x 5–8 µm, hyaline, clavate, 4–spored, bases lacking clamp connections. Context and tramal hyphae hyaline, 3–15 µm broad, with clamp connections; dendrophysoid hyphae present in the outer layer of stipe context.

Basidiospores 11–13 x 4–5 µm, subcylindrical, smooth or a few finely warted, hyaline, noncyanophilous.

Habitat: Terrestrial in Quercus rugosa forest at elev. 2500 m.

Collections examined: HOLOTYPE: MEXICO: Tlaxcala, Municipality Huexoyucan. lat. N 19° 23' 9", long. W 98° 18' 19", E. Cázares, Trappe 32458, 20 September 2007. (TLXM, isotype OSC).

Discussion: R. suaveolens is recognized by its pale yellow color, sweet odor, dendrophysoid hyphae in the stipe context, mostly smooth spores, and association with Quercus. In color it closely resembles R. cystidiophora and its varieties, but that species has a fabaceous odor, its spores are distinctly warty, and it is associated with Pinaceae. R. flavobrunnescens var. aromatica and R. rasilispora and its varieties are also yellow but lack dendrophysoid hyphae in the stipe context (Marr and Stuntz, 1973). R. radicans (see below) is yellow with perfumy odor but has much longer spores than R. suaveolens.

Ramaria radicans Cázares & G. Guevara sp. nov. Figures. 5–7 (6).

Basidiomata 12–17 x 10–15 cm. Stipes singularis vel compositus, basin versus decrescens, in profunditem 7 cm radicans, basi albidus vel cremeus, supra basin cremeus, contusis brunneolescentes, mycelio albo basali; contextus albus, nonamyloideus. Rami superi maturitate luteoli, creme vel erubescentes. Apices ramorum lutioli. Hyphae gleoplerae, dendrophysoideae praesentes. Basidia et hyphae contextae fibulis. Odor valde fragrans. Basidiosporae 13–20 x 3–5 µm, subcylindricae, laeves vel obscure rugulosae. Typus hic designatus: G. Guevara 920 (ITCV, isotypus OSC).

Basidiomata 12–17 x 10–15 cm. Stipe single to compound, tapering toward the base, with abortive branchlets, rooting to a depth of 7 cm, whitish to cream colored at base, cream colored above, with white basal mycelium; bruises brownish; context white, solid, fleshy–fibrous when fresh but hard when dried; context chemical reactions: FSW and Melzer's reagent negative. Upper branches cream colored to pale yellow with pale pink tones at maturity, bruising brownish; context white, solid and fleshy–fibrous when fresh but hard when dried. Branch apices pale yellow at maturity Odor strong, perfumy.

Basidia 30–60 x 5–10 µm, hyaline, cyanophilous, clavate, 4–spored, bases with clamp connections. Context and tramal hyphae hyaline, thin–walled, 3–15 µm broad, with clamp connections; gleoplerous hyphae present; dendrophysoid hyphae present in the outer layer of stipe context, cyanophilous.

Basidiospores 13–20 x 3–5 µm (= 16.6 x 4.0 µm), subcylindrical, smooth to obscurely wrinkled, hyaline, with amorphous inclusions and guttules, noncyanophilous.

Habitat: Terrestrial in mixed Quercus–Pinus forest at elev. 2500m.

Collection examined: HOLOTYPE: MEXICO, México State, Municipality de Villa del Carbón, Cerro El Rincón, Monte de Peña, G. Guevara 920, 25 Jul 2007 (ITCV, isotype OSC).

Discussion: R. radicans is recognized by its pale yellow color, rooting stipe, long smooth spores and dendrophysoid hyphae in the stipe context. In color it closely resembles R. fragrans, R. flavobrunnescens var. aromatica, R. rasilispora var. rasilispora, and R. cystidiophora and its varieties (Marr and Stuntz, 1973). R. fragrans has smaller basidiomata and smooth to slightly warted spores = 13 µm long. R. flavobrunnescens var. aromatica lacks dendrophysoid hyphae in its stipe. R. rasilispora and its varieties have smooth spores = 12 um long and lack dendrophysoid hyphae in the stipe. The presence of dendrophysoid hyphae in the peripheral context of the stipe unites R. radicans with R. cystidiophora and its varieties. R. cystidiophora var. cystidiophora has small spores, range 7–9 x 3–4 um. R. cystidiophora var. citronella its bright yellow and spores range 9–13 x 3.5–5 um. R. cystidiophora var. fabiolens has small spores, range 8–11 x 3.5–5 um and fabaceous odor. R. cystidiophora var. maculans has spores 10–14 x 3.5–5 um and its stipe stains reddish brown. R. cystidiophora var. anisata has small spores, 7.7–8.6 x 3.2–3.9 um. Except for R. fragrans, these other species are known only from forests of Pinaceae in temperate rain forest of western North America. (Marr and Stuntz, 1973).

Ramaria radicans is known as "patitas de pájaro", commonly eaten and sold in markets of the region.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the DGEST (Dirección General de Educación Superior Tecnológica) and SES–PROMEP for the economic support to perform this research.

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