Licea hepatica Kowalski, Mycologia

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 : 109

12. Licea hepatica Kowalski, Mycologia 64(2): 359 (1972)

Sporophores sporocarpic, scattered, pulvinate to hemispherical, 100–120 µm diam. tan, copper coloured or bronze. Peridium thin, fragile, transparent iridescent, dehiscence into lobes or platelets along indistinct ridges. Spores shiny golden brown in mass, light brown by TL., globose, 8–9 µm diam., minutely ornamented but often appearing smooth.

Type: DTK 10910 .

Habitat: in wet seepage areas on leafy liverworts growing over decorticated logs. Most frequently associated with Anastrophyllum michaxii .

Distribution: Known only from type territory (Washington, USA).

Icon: Kowalski (1972: 360, Figs. 1–3 ).

Notes. We were unable to study the type material, which was requested, but not sent to us. However the original description of Kowalski (1972) is detailed and we base our comments on that in order to compare it with the other species.

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.