Licea mariae Bortnikov, 2022

Basanta, Diana Wrigley De, Mier, Carlos De & Lado, Carlos, 2023, A taxonomic revision of the species of Licea subg. Licea (Myxomycetes), Phytotaxa 629 (2), pp. 95-128 : 111

14. Licea mariae Bortnikov , in Bortnikov, Gmoshinskiy & Novozhilov, Phytotaxa 541(1): 29 (2022) Figs. 11A–H

Sporophores sporocarpic, scattered or in small groups, sessile. Sporocarps subhemisphaeric to pulvinate, 0.42 × 0.3 mm diam., black. Peridium double, outer layer opaque, containing granular refuse material, ridged, marked with concolorous dehiscence lines, inner surface of inner layer smooth and glossy by TL; dehiscence along preformed lines, into 4–8 platelets, platelet margins with a clearly visible row of conical outgrowths ( Figs. 11 E – F arrow) that can make the edges appear dark. Spores free, brilliant yellow in mass, almost colourless by TL, thinner on one side, globose, (13–)14.5–16.5(–17.5) µm diam., smooth. By SEM the inner peridium is fibrous, roughened in a finely reticulate pattern; the platelet margins with conical outgrowths opposite each other on the junction of platelets like the teeth of a zip; the epispore is smooth.

Material examined: Holotypus. RUSSIAN FEDERATION. KPSNBR [Kedrovaya Pad State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Far East, Russia], 43°06’45.0’’N 131°26’48.9’’E, coniferous forest, on the bark of living Abies holophylla , in mcc, pH=5.31, bark sampling 13 August 2017, mcc starting 09 February 2018, sporocarps sampling 27 April 2018, leg. F.M. Bortnikov, MYX 11149! .

Habitat: on bark of living trees ( Quercus mongolica , Abies holophylla ) and rotten wood (in oak forest).

Distribution: Known only from type territory (Russia).

Icon.: Bortnikov et al. (2022: 30, Figs. 8a–k ).

Notes. This species is somewhat similar to L. chelonoides Nann. -Bremek., but has smooth spores not covered with flattened warts as in the latter. In addition, the platelet margins are black in L. mariae , not concolorous with the rest of the platelet as in L. chelonoides , and the spores in mass are bright yellow, not dark brown. The material we received for the study was a fragment of the holotype and we repeated light micrographs of it ( Figs. 11 B – H ) to compare the colours with the other species, using the same instruments. However, in the case of SEM, the clear micrographs in the original paper obviated the need for repetition.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Licea chelonoides. A–J (NENB 5620, BR5020057361348, Isotype). A–B. Herbarium box. C–D. Sessile sporocarps. E. Peridial platelet and spores by TL. F. Spores by TL. G. Dehisced sporocarp base by SEM. H. Platelet outer surface by SEM. Whole platelet showing well-defined edges. I. Edge of a platelet by SEM showing double peridium and no outgrowths on the edge. J. Spore by SEM. Scale bars: C–D = 0.1 mm, E–F, H = 10 µm, G = 50 µm, I–J = 5 µm.

FIGURE 11. Licea mariae. A–H (MYX 11149, Holotype).A. Herbarium fragment. B–C. Sessile sporocarps. D. Peridial platelets by TL. E–F. Peridial platelets with row of conical outgrowths (arrows). G–H. Spores by TL. Scale bars: B–C = 0.1 mm, D–H = 10 µm.