Marie L. Farr

Badhamia decipiens reinstated in Physarum

Summary and ConclusionsA total of 100 specimens ofBadhamia decipiens, Physarum auriscalpium, andP. serpula were studied in an attempt to determine their taxonomic relationship.The study points to the following conclusions: 1)Badhamia decipiens, because of its entirely physaroid character, should be returned to its original position inPhysarum. The correct name of the species is thereforePhysarum decipiens Curtis. 2) P.decipiens appears to be closely related to and to hold a position somewhere betweenP. auriscalpium andP. serpula. It possesses a greater resemblance to the latter and may possibly be an environmental variant of it, but unless and until this can be proved experimentally, it seems preferable to retainP. decipiens as a distinct species.

NOTES ON COLORADO FUNGI V: PHYSARUM ALPESTRE, A NEW SPECIES

An examination of numerous collections (including type material) of Physarum alpinum (Myxo? mycetes or Mycetozoa) showed that this taxon, as currently circumscribed, encompasses two distinct entities. One of these is segregated and described here as a new species, P. alpestre. The two species are described, illustrated, compared, and contrasted.

The Genus Akaropeltis Bat. & Bez.

The ascomycete genus Akaropeltis Bat. & Bez. (Micropeltaceae) is shown to be heterogeneous and is reduced to its original monotypic state. Since the generic name is an orthographic variant and later homonym of Acaropeltis Petr., the new name Akaropeltella and the new combination A. kielmeyerae are proposed for the genus and its type species, respectively. The other three species are treated as follows: Akaropeltis andina (Petr.) Arx is transferred to Stomiopeltis Theiss.; A. sydowii (Petr.) Arx, a chaetothyriaceous fungus, may belong in Microcallis Syd.; the correct name for A. oleae (Hansf.) Arx is Fraseria oleae (Hansf.) Bat. The two imperfect states associated with A. kielmeyerae are named Sporidesmium kielmeyerae and Septonema kielmeyerae, respectively.

THE GENUS ASTERINEMA (ASCOMYCETES, MICROTHYRIACEAE)

The genus Asterinema is revised to include only the type species, A. caseariae, and a newly described variety, A. caseariae var. amazonensis. Asterinema glabratum is reduced to synonymy under A. caseariae, A. glabratum var. roupalae is recognized as Calothyriopsis roupalae, as recombined by Arx; A. jahnii is reduced to synonymy under Echidnodella miconiae, and A. philippinense is regarded as a nomen confusum. Eriothyrium miconiae is newly described as the anamorph of Echidnodella miconiae.

The Nomenclatural Status and Synonymy of Phyllachora Bambusina, Lateropeltis Bambusarum, and Their Conidial Stages

Phyllachora ? bambusina Speg., Schisothyrilum bambusellumn Rehm, and Kiehlia obscura Viegas are shown to represent one pyrenomycete species, which is named Kiehlia bambusina (Speg.) Farr var. bambusina. Lateropeltis bambusarium Shanor differs from Kiehlia bambusina only in certain measurements and is, therefore, renamed K. banbusina var. bambusarum (Shanor) Farr. The conidial stage of the latter variety is S.tanoria bambusacearumn (Sacc. & Syd.) Cicc. var. bambusacearum; tl-e conidial stage of the typical variety is named Shanoria bambusacearum var. baimbusae (Bat.) Farr. The nomenclatural and taxonomic justifications for these changes are presented.

A New Species of Calomyxa from the Andes

turbinate, olivaceous sporangia and free, delicately reticulate spores. The habit and the striking shiny, bright yellow color of T. conglobata at first glance suggest the yellow phase of T. lutescens (A. Lister) A. Lister, but the clustered spores, as well as the larger sporangia and stouter elaters with long-tapered tips, distinguish T. conglobata from that species. Trichia synsporum, the other species with conglobate spores, has larger, tan sporangia, tan, narrow elaters with two spirals and blunt apices, and smaller spore clusters. The disparity between the two species with clustered spores was confirmed by D. T. Kowalski (private communication), who examined the type of T. conglobata.

A new species of actinopelte from Brazil

A collection of Byrsonima leaves, recently received from Brazil, displays conspicuous spots that appear black on the upper side of the leaf and orange-brown on the lower, and are caused by an undetermined, internal pyrenomycete. On close examination some of the spots prove to be covered on the orange-brown surface with minute, flat, dark, fruiting bodies belonging to the fungus here described as a new species of Actinopelte. According to AI~SWOtCTH (1961) only two other species of this genus are recognized at present.

The didymosporous dimeriaceous fungi reported on leaves of Rubiaceae

The didymosporous dimeriaceous fungi reported from Rubiaceae are described and discussed. Eumela is compared with Eudimeriolum, Lasiostemma, and Episphaerella. Dimerosporium pannosum is transferred to Eumela. Dimerosporium psilostomatis and D. subpilosum are recombined in Balladyna. Dimerosporium crustaceum and Balladyna chiococcae are merged with Balladyna subpilosa. A few other species are mentioned briefly. Zukalia inermis, a hyperparasite, has two-celled ascospores and is transferred to Dimerium. Earlier papers treating didymosporous dimeriaceous taxa on Pinaceae, Poaceae, and Asteraceae are updated. The Dimerosporium tsugae species complex is transferred to Eudimeriolum. Di? merosporium saxegotheae is recombined as Phaeocryptopus saxegotheae. Epipolaeum sydowii, Dimerosporina arundinariae, D. dinochloae, and Dimeriella dendrocalami on Poaceae are treated briefly. Additional synonyms are listed for Lasiostemma melioloides on Astera? ceae.

A New Species of Eudimeriolum from Georgia

An inconspicuous pyrenomycete collected on living birch leaves in Georgia in June 1978 discharged ascospores that germinated and produced colonies on agar media. The fungus was determined to be an undescribed species of Eudimeriolumt (Dimeriaceae). In addition to being new, it is of special interest because we know of only a single previous published report (Luttrell and Barr, 1978) mentioning the laboratory culture of a dimeriaceous fungus.

A Second Species of Trichia With Clustered Spores

Recently, Kowalski (1974) described Trichia synsporum as the first known species of Trichia Haller characterized by clustered spores. Now, a second species showing this character has come to light. The type and only existing specimen of this new species is part of a large collection of Myxomycetes made in the Venezuelan Andes by B. and F. Oberwinkler. It is interesting (although not necessarily significant) that both species are montane, and also that the type locality of the Andean species is the same as that of Calomyxa synspora Farr & Kowalski (1974), another recently described taxon of the Trichiales with clustered spores.