Licea rufocuprea Nann.

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 : 118-119

21. Licea rufocuprea Nann. -Bremek. & Y. Yamam., Proc. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wetensch., C. 90(3): 325 (1987) Figs. 18A–K

Sporophores sporocarpic, scattered, sessile. Sporocarps subglosose to conical, up to 0.1 mm diam., red-coppery brown with a shiny circumcissile line near the base. Peridium double, the outer layer gelatinous, inner layer smooth with a minutely warted marginal area; dehiscence into irregularly sized lobes or platelets with a row of larger warts on the margins. Spores free, dark brown in mass, rosy brown by TL, globose, 9–11 µm diam., palely roughened. By SEM the inner peridium is minutely warted all over, with larger warts at the platelet margins; the epispore is densely covered with flat verrucae.

Material examined: Isotypus. JAPAN . Kochi Pref., Kitagowa-mura, Notomo, on bark from living Chamaecyparis obtusa in moist chamber culture, 22-XII-1984, NENB 14668 ( BR 5020067531199)! . MADAGASCAR. Fianarantsoa (Haute Matsiatra), Ambalavao, Andringitra NP, edge of the park, northern fringe of the Andringitra ridge, 22°07′36″S 46°53′35″E, 1622 m, on Eucalyptus sp. bark, in moist chamber culture, 3-V-2010, dwb 3291 .

Habitat: on the bark of living and dead trees

Distribution: Japan, Singapore (?), La Réunion (?), Madagascar, USA, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Paraguay, Australia.

Icon.: Nannenga-Bremekamp & Y. Yamamoto (1987: 325, Figs. 10 A – D ), Yamamoto (1998: 134, Figs. A – B; 2021: 149, Figs. A – B), Wrigley de Basanta et al. (2013: 68, Figs. 31–36), Lima & Cavalcanti (2017: 284, Fig. 4 E ).

Notes. The species is easily recognisable by its coppery, conical sporocarps with a basal circumcissile ring. The whole peridium sometimes dehisces along this ring (Wrigley de Basanta et al. 2013, Figs. 26–32), but then it breaks up into irregular smaller platelets ( Fig. 18 H ). For this reason Nannenga-Bremekamp & Yamamoto (1987) assigned the species to the subgenus Licea . Although apparently quite rare, the species has a wide distribution, since it is known from Japan ( Nannenga-Bremekamp & Yamamoto 1987), Madagascar (Wrigley de Basanta et al. 2013), USA, Puerto Rico and Australia ( GBIF), and Paraguay (as Licea sp. , see McHugh 2009). There are also unconfirmed reports from La Réunion ( Adamonyte et al. 2011) and Singapore (Rosing et al. 2011).

Figures

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 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 18. Licea rufocuprea.A–H, J (NENB 14668, BR5020067531199, Isotype); I, K. (dwb 3291). A–C. Herbarium box and labels. D–E. Sessile sporocarps. F. Peridial platelet by TL. G. Spores by TL. H. Peridial platelet by SEM. I. Detail of platelet margin by SEM. J–K. Spores by SEM. Scale bars: B–C = 0.1 mm, D–F, H = 10 µm, G = 50 µm, I = 5 µm.