Corresponding author: Victor M. Bandala (
Academic editor: S. Redhead
A new species of
César E, Bandala VM, Montoya L, Ramos A (2018) A new
The Santuario de Bosque de Niebla (SBN) is a secondary-growth subtropical cloud forest, persisting as the main peri-urban natural forested area (ca. 30 ha) at southwest Xalapa City, Veracruz (east coast of Mexico). Part of it was a shade-grown coffee plantation abandoned several years ago and nowadays, the SBN (formerly called Parque Ecológico Francisco Javier Clavijero) is a forest ecosystem whose canopy is dominated mostly by trees of
In the present study, specimens of a marasmioid species producing small basidiomata and abundant black, wiry rhizomorphs were found growing scattered on fallen twigs of
A phylogeny, based on
Between May 2016 and June 2017, weekly explorations were conducted in the Santuario del Bosque de Niebla, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., at Xalapa. Fresh basidiomata and their rhizomorphs were gathered on fallen twigs of
The extraction of genomic DNA of basidiomes and rhizomorphs was performed using the DNA kit extraction Exgene Plant SV mini (GeneAll Biotechnology, Co). PCR was performed to amplify the
Phylogenetic relationships within
A dataset, using PhyDE v.0.9971 (
We recovered four fresh collections of basidiomata from which four
MEXICO. Veracruz: Municipality of Xalapa, Santuario del Bosque de Niebla, Instituto de Ecología A.C., 1343 m a.s.l., gregarious, on fallen twigs of
Pileus pale brown to brown. Lamellae adnexed, distant, very pale brown. Basidiospores ellipsoid to subcylindrical. Basidia 2–4-spored, narrowly clavate. Cheilocystidia 20–39 × 3–8 µm, irregularly cylindrical, with constrictions and small lateral appendages. Pileipellis hyphae with colourless incrustations; terminal elements appendiculate. Pileus and lamellar tissues clampless.
MH560576 (
Referring to the use of rhizomorphs as nesting material by birds.
In subtropical cloud forest, scattered or gregarious on fallen twigs of
MEXICO. Veracruz, Municipality of Xalapa, Santuario del Bosque de Niebla, Instituto de Ecología A.C., 1343 m a.s.l., 18 May 2006, Bandala 4052; 7 July 2016, César 41; 10 Aug 2016, Ramos 682 (all at XAL).
Amongst the species that produce tiny, marcescent basidiomes and long, black, wiry rhizomorphs,
The new species is macro-morphologically similar to
Results of the phylogenetic analysis (Fig.
Syn.:
=
Not
Reports of marasmioid fungi as nesting material for
All the basidiomes collected in the present study were found on fallen twigs in the low canopy level but it is possible that fructifications occur also on rhizomorphs at the top of the trees, where these latter are found and used by birds. Previous reports have suggested that bird efforts of picking this inconspicuous material is rewarded with the high tensile strength, reduced water uptake and antimicrobial properties of the rhizomorphs, which consequently protect the offspring (
We recognise the support given by the strategic project INECOL-20035-30890 to study the macrofungi in the Santuario del Bosque de Niebla. E. César is grateful for the scholarship grant from CONACYT (261249). Thanks are given to Dr. P.B. Matheny and TENN Staff, University of Tennessee, as well as Dr. M.E. Smith and FLAS Staff, Florida Museum of Natural History, for the microscopic re-examination of herbarium specimens of