Licea pusilla Schrad., 2023

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 : 116-118

19. Licea pusilla Schrad. , Nov. gen. pl. 19 (1797) Figs. 16A–P

Sporophores sporocarpic, gregarious, sessile. Sporocarp globose-pulvinate, 0.2–1.5 mm diam., ridged, purplish brown to blackish. Peridium double, outer layer gelatinous, dull, inner layer thin, translucent, shiny, the inner surface smooth; dehiscence into few lobes leaving a cup continuous at the base. Spores free, black to dark olive in mass, light olive brown by TL, with a paler area, globose, 15–17(–20) µm diam., densely warted. By SEM the inner peridium surface is densely and evenly warted ( Figs. 16M–O ), right up to the platelet margins, with prominent outgrowths ( Fig. 16 O ) mostly in a single row, but several deep in places; the epispore is densely covered with bacula ( Figs. 16 N, P ).

Material examined: Lectotype (designated here). Illustration of the Tab. 6, f.4 of the Schrader, Nova genera plantarum 19 (1797)!. Mycobank: MBT 10016510 .

Epitype (designated here). SPAIN. Madrid, Puerto de Canencia, km 9,700, 30TVL3425, tronco de Pinus sylvestris , 26-VII-1980, leg. C. Lado, 331 Lado, MA-Fungi 20548!. Rev. NENB 13127 ( BR5020065643719 , Isoepitype). Mycobank: MBT 10016508 .

Habitat: on bark of living and dead trees, trunks and stumps of angiosperms and gymnosperms.

Distribution: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Ukraine, Turkey, Kazakhstan, India, Japan, Congo Democratic Republic, Canada, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica, Colombia, Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand.

Icon.: Schrader (1797: pl. VI: 4), Lister (1925: Pl. 149a–c), Nannenga-Bremekamp (1965: 139, Figs. 6 A – B ; 140, Fig. 7 A ; 1975: 65; 1991: 44), Martin & Alexopoulos (1969: 481, Figs. 12a–d ), Neubert et al. (1993: 283, Fig. VI: 6), Mazelaitis (1995: 19, Figs. C 1–2 ), Eliasson & Gilert (1982: 253, Figs. 4 A – F ), Gilert (1996: 517, Figs. 3–4 ; 519, Figs. 9–10 ; 520, Figs. 13 , 15–16 ), Lado & Pando (1997: 129: Figs. 36a–b), Yamamoto (1998: 133, Figs. A – B; 2002c: 22, Figs. 3 A – C ; 2021: 147, Figs. A – C), Härkönen & Sivonen (2011: 56, Fig. 72), Poulain et al. (2011: 69), Härkönen & Varis (2012: 150, Fig. 223), Ronikier et al. (2017: 253, Figs. 4 A – F ), Bortnikov et al. (2022: 37, Figs. 14a–k ).

Notes. No type collection was mentioned in the original description. The illustration by Schrader (1797, Tab. 6, f.4) reproduced here Fig. 16A is the primary type of L. pusilla , and is selected as the lectotype. In addition, as no specimen exists, an epitype has been selected to facilitate future study and comparisons. We selected material from MA-Fungi and used it for the other images by TL and by SEM. On p. VIII of the book preface, Schrader states that the material sketched and described originated “in the lands near Goettinga, especially in Hercynia and some forests of the Duchy of Brunswick, well known by the names of Hils and Sollingerwald”. Licea pusilla is a common species and is the type of the genus Licea .

In the SEM micrographs of the epitype, the inner surface of the peridial platelets are densely but evenly warted, not smooth as they have been described by other authors ( Nannenga-Bremekamp 2022).

Ing (1982) raised Meylan’s var. pygmaea Meyl. to the specific rank [see below L. pygmaea (Meyl.) Ing ], but some authors still consider the differences between L. pusilla and L. pygmaea are insufficient to consider them as different species. Bortnikov et al. (2022) provided a detailed comparison of specimens collected by them of what they considered to be both L. pusilla and L. pygmaea and concluded that there is an overlap in the characters but stated the need for further study. We maintain these two taxa as separate species, pending further investigation, since the size and colour of the spores, as well as markings of the surface and margins of the inner peridium differ between specimens included in this study.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Licea alpina. A–F (AH 28531, Holotype).A. Herbarium boxes and slides. B–D. Stalked and subsessile sporocarps. E. Spores and peridial platelets by TL. F. Spores by TL. Scale bars: B–D = 0.1 mm, E–F = 10 µm.

FIGURE 2. Licea ampulliformis. A–H, K–M (dwb 1988, MA-Fungi 98835, Holotype), I–J (dwb 2535).A. Herbarium box. B–D. Sessile sporocarps. E. Spores and peridial platelets by TL showing clear margins to the platelets (arrows). F–H. Spores by TL. I. detail of platelet margin showing clear area by SEM (arrow). J. Inner surface of a platelet showing warted surface. K–L Detail of open sporocarp showing platelets and spore by SEM. M. Spores by SEM. Scale bars: B–D = 0.1 mm, E = 20 µm, F–H, L = 10 µm, I–J, M = 5 µm, K = 50 µm.

FIGURE 3. Licea aurea. A–G. (dwb 3815, MA-Fungi 91750, Holotype), H–J. (dwb 3533). A. Herbarium box. B–D. Sporocarps. E. Whole sporocarp and spores by TL. F. Fragment of the inner surface of the peridium and spores. G. Spores by TL with thick walls and thinner germination area. H. Whole open sporocarp showing spores by SEM. I. Group of spores by SEM. J. Spore by SEM. Scale bars: B–D = 0.1 mm, E–G, I = 10 µm, H = 50 µm, J = 5 µm.

FIGURE 4. Licea belmontiana. A–J (NENB-5879, BR-MYC 5020057898868, Holotype). A. Herbarium box. B–C. Sessile sporocarps. D. Peridial platelets by TL. E. Spores by TL. F. Dehisced sporocarp by SEM. G–H. Peridial platelets by SEM showing margins without outgrowths (arrows). I–J. Warted spores by SEM. Scale bars: B–C = 0.1 mm, D–G = 10 µm, H–J = 5 µm.

FIGURE 6. Licea castanea. A (BM 3025, BM001089212, Lectotype); B–G (MA-Fungi 16013); H, J (MA-Fungi 29564); I (MA-Fungi 15932); K–S (Holotype of L. bryocorticola, HK 201113-07a, M-0313079). A. Herbarium box. B–D. Sessile sporocarps. E. Spores and peridial platelets by TL showing outgrowths on the edges. F–G. Spores by TL. H. Spore by SEM. I. Peridial platelets by SEM, showing outgrowths along the margins. J. Spore by SEM. K. Herbarium specimen. L–N sessile sporocarps. O–Q. Peridial platelets by TL showing outgrowths on the edges. R–S. Spores by TL. Scale bars: B–D, L–N = 0.1 mm, E–G, P–S = 10 µm, H–J = 5 µm, O = 20 µm.

FIGURE 7. Licea castaneoides. A–I (NENB 16135, ex Y.Y. 6407, BR5020070191601, Holotype). A. Herbarium box. B–C. Sessile sporocarps. D. Peridial platelet and spores by TL. E. Spores by TL. F. Dehisced sporocarp by SEM. G. Platelet by SEM showing double peridium with no outgrowths on the edge. H–I. Spores by SEM. Scale bars: B–C = 0.1 mm, D–F = 10 µm, G–I = 5 µm.

FIGURE 9. Licea eremophila. A–C, F–J, L (dwb 2826, MA-Fungi 79158, Holotype); D–E, K (dwb 3002). A. Herbarium box. B–C. Stipitate sporocarps. D. Sporocarps. F. Whole sporocarp and spores by TL. G. Platelets by TL with lighter edges (arrow). H–I. Polygonal spores by TL. J. Platelets by SEM showing well-defined margins. K. Spore by SEM. L. Spore by SEM. Scale bars: B–E = 0.1 mm, F = 20 µm, G–J = 10 µm, K–L = 5 µm.

FIGURE 10. Licea lignicola. A–I (HK 200820-27a, M-0313080, Holotype). A. Herbarium specimen. B–C. Open sessile sporocarps. D. Peridial platelet by TL. E. Spores by TL. F. Dehisced sporocarp by SEM. G. Platelet margin by SEM showing lines of concentrated warts. H. Group of spores by SEM. I. Spore by SEM. Scale bars: B–C = 0.1 mm, D–E = 10 µm, F = 50 µm, G–H = 10 µm, I = 5 µm.

FIGURE 12. Licea mínima.A–B, E. G, I–K (MA-Fungi 23775, Neotype); C–D, F, H (MA-Fungi 17214).A. Herbarium box. B–D. Sessile sporocarps. E–F. Peridial platelets by TL. G–H. Spores by TL. I–J. Detail of inner peridium surface and platelet edges by SEM. K. Spore by SEM. Scale bars: B–D = 0.1 mm, E, I = 20 µm, F–H, J = 10 µm, K = 5 µm.

FIGURE 13. Licea morchelloides. A–D (NENB 13887, BR5020071552630, Isotype). A. Slide. B–D. platelets and spores by TL. Scale bars: B–D = 10 µm.

FIGURE 14. Licea nannengae. A–I (246 Pando, MA-Fungi 16056, Holotype). A. Herbarium box with holotype indicated with arrow. B–C. Sessile sporocarps. D–E. Peridial platelets by TL. F. spore by TL. G. Dehisced sporocarp by SEM. H. Detail of inner peridium surface at platelet edges by SEM. I. Spore by SEM. Scale bars: B–C = 0.1 mm, D–F, H = 10 µm, G = 50 µm, I = 5 µm.

FIGURE 15. Licea nigromarginata.A–D (NENB 13886, BR5020071551626, Isotype).A.Isotype slide.B–D. Spores and peridial platelets by TL. Scale bars: B–C = 50 µm, D = 10 µm.

FIGURE 16. Licea pusilla. A–C. Original illustration of the Lectotype. D–P (MA-Fungi 20548, Epitype). D–G. Dehiscing sessile sporocarps. H–I peridial platelet showing ornamented margins by TL. J–K. Spores by TL. L. dehisced sporocarp by SEM. M. Peridial platelet by SEM. O. Detail of peridial ornamentation by SEM. N, P. Spores by SEM. Scale bars: D–G = 0.1 mm, H = 20 µm, I–K, O = 10 µm, L–M = 50 µm, N, P = 5 µm.