Licea castaneoides Y. Yamam. & 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 : 105-106

7. Licea castaneoides Y. Yamam. & Nann. -Bremek., in Nannenga-Bremekamp & Yamamoto, Proc. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wetensch., C. 93(3): 269 (1990) Figs. 7A–I

Sporophores sporocarpic, dispersed or grouped, sessile. Sporocarps subglobose to pulvinate, 0.03–0.1mm diam., shiny, olivaceous. Peridium double ( Fig. 7 G ), outer layer with minutely roughened outer surface, thin gelatinous with included particles, inner layer membranous, no preformed lines; dehiscence irregular from above. Spores free, olivaceous brown in mass, pale brown by TL, with a thinner paler area, subglobose, 9–10.5 µm diam., minutely warted. By SEM the inner surface of the inner peridium is smooth with a few scattered warts at high magnification (3000×) ( Figs. 7 F – G ), the margins of the irregular peridial pieces are totally smooth to the edge with no larger outgrowths; the epispore is evenly covered with pila ( Figs. 7 H – I ).

Material examined: Isotypus. JAPAN. Donari-cho, Tokushima Pref., bark of living tree in moist chamber, 3-VI-1988, NENB 16.135 (ex Y.Y. 6407) ( BR 5020070191601)! .

Habitat: bark of living trees.

Distribution: Known only from type territory (Japan).

Icon.: Nannenga-Bremekamp & Yamamoto (1990: 270, Figs. 4 A – C ), Yamamoto (2021: 159, Figs. A – C).

Notes. This species does not have true defined peridial platelets and fits better into the subgenus Pleiomorpha , as Yamamoto comments (Yamamoto 2021), but it is included here since the wrinkled peridium can be interpreted as platelets, and macroscopically this species could be confused with a small L. castanea . The spore colour, dehiscence and spore ornamentation however all differ from L. castanea (see above).

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 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.