106. * Perichaena megaspora A. Ronikier, Lado & D. Wrigley, Mycologia 105(4): 939 (2013)

Specimens examined. PERU. Ancash: Bolognesi, Pachapaqui, Abra Yanashalla, route PE-3N, km 60, 4696 m, 9º51′36.2”S, 77º04′40.4”W, 23 Apr 2013, leaves of Senecio comosus, Lado 23124 (MA-Fungi 95281). Huallanca, Chiquian, route AN-1263 towards Huallanca, km 28, Abra Cuncush, 4580 m, 10º05′45”S, 76º56′29”W, 15 May 2018, leaves and stems of Lupinus sp., Lado 26728 (MA-Fungi 97498, USM), Lado 26729 (MA-Fungi 97499, USM), Lado 26731 (MA-Fungi 97501), leaves of Senecio candollei, Lado 26735 (MA-Fungi 97505, USM), Lado 26737 (MAFungi 97507), Lado 26738 (MA-Fungi 97508), Lado 26740 (MA-Fungi 97510), Lado 26741 (MA-Fungi 97511), Lado 26743 (MA-Fungi 97512), Lado 26744 (MA-Fungi 97513). Huasta, Chiquian, route AN-1263 towards Huallanca, km 31, 3 km south of Abra Cuncush, 4320 m, 10º07′03”S, 76º56′09”W, 15 May 2018, stems of Senecio rudbeckiaefolius, Lado 26754 (MA-Fungi 97523), Lado 26761 (MA-Fungi 97530). Huallanca, Abra Yanashaya, route AN-1279, km 60, 4677 m, 9º51′31”S, 77º04′44”W, 16 May 2018, leaves of Senecio bolivarianus, Lado 26836 (MA-Fungi 97603), Lado 26838 (MA-Fungi 97605, USM). Huallanca, towards Antamina, route AN-1279, km. 77, 4378 m, 9º49′23”S, 77º02′24”W, 16 May 2018, stem and leaf litter of Lupinus sp., Lado 26867 (MA-Fungi 97630). Huari, Chavín de Huantar, route AN-110, km 39, 4306 m, 9º41′26”S, 77º14′39”W, 11 May 2018, leaves and woody debris of Buddleja coriacea, Lado 26361 (MA-Fungi 97151). Recuay, Catac, Pachacoto, route AN- 1251, 10 km east of Pachacoto and 4 km west of National Park entrance, 4112 m, 9º53′14”S, 77º19′53”W, 14 May 2018, inflorescence of Puya raimondii, Lado 26685 (MA-Fungi 97459) . Ayacucho: Huamanga, Chiara, route PE-3S, km 424, Abra Toccto, 4171 m, 13º20′59”S, 74º11′03”W, 21 Apr 2017, stems of Senecio sp., Lado 24964 (MA-Fungi 96161, USM), Lado 24966 (MA-Fungi 96163, USM) . Cusco: Canchis, Checacupe, Sicuani, Santa Bárbara, route to Sibinacocha lagoon, Km 48, 4908 m, 14º00′41”S, 71º03′52”W, 14 Apr 2016, leaf of Senecio canescens, Lado 24264 (MA-Fungi 95608, USM), Lado 24265 (MA-Fungi 95609). Pitumarca, Sicuani, Santa Bárbara, route to Sibinacocha lagoon, Km 51,600, 4920 m, 13º59′23”S, 71º04′45”W, 14 Apr 2016, stem of Senecio rubeckiaefolius, Lado 24272 (MA-Fungi 95616) . Huancavelica: Hauytara, Pilpichaca, route PE-3A, km 109, Santa Ines, Choclococha lagoon, 4575 m, 13º12′13”S, 75º05′34”W, 23 Apr 2017, branches of Senecio sp., Lado 25127 (MA-Fungi 96313), Lado 25128b (MA-Fungi 96315, USM), Lado 25129b (MA-Fungi 96317, USM), Lado 25132 (MA-Fungi 96319), Lado 25133 (MA-Fungi 96320), Lado 25136 (MA-Fungi 96323), Lado 25137a (MA-Fungi 96324), Lado 25141 (MA-Fungi 96328) . Junin: Tarma, La Unión, route PE-3N, km 30, Palcamayo, 4050 m, 11º20′07”S, 75º53′17”W, 30 Apr 2017, twigs and leaves of Senecio sp., Lado 25619 (MA-Fungi 96774). Yauli, Morococha, Morococha, route PE-22, km 149, 4230 m, 11º35′31”S, 76º03′23”W, 1 May 2017, leaves of Buddleja incana, Lado 25717 (MA-Fungi 96870), Lado 25718 (MA-Fungi 96871) . Lima: Huarochiri, Chicla, Casapalca, Abra Anticona, route PE-22, km 130, 4761 m, 11º36′19”S, 76º11′42”W, 1 May 2017, twigs of Senecio sp., Lado 25731 (MA-Fungi 96886, USM). Chicla, Morococha, Abra Anticona, route PE-22, km 131, 4805 m, 11º35′55”S, 76º11′35”W, 1 May 2017, leaves of Senecio comosus, Lado 25744 (MA-Fungi 96895), Lado 25747 (MA-Fungi 96898, USM) . Pasco: Daniel Alcides Carrión, Yanahuanca, Uchumarca, route PA-100, km 42, 4158 m, 10º39′22”S, 76º29′43”W, 19 May 2018, grasses, Lado 27079 (MA-Fungi 97831). Yanahuanca, Abra Ucchuchacua, route PE-18, km 169, 4723 m, 10º36′35”S, 76º40′42”W, 19 May 2018, leaves and stems of Senecio comosus, Lado 27093 (MA-Fungi 97845, USM), Lado 27095b (MA-Fungi 97848), Lado 27097 (MA-Fungi 97851). Pasco, Ninacaca, route PE-3N km 99, Carhuamayo-Oxapampa, 4092 m, 10º50′59”S, 76º09′53”W, 19 May 2018, living twigs of Senecio sp., Lado 25636b (MA-Fungi 96791, USM). Huayllay, Abra La Cruzada, route PE-20A, km 207, 4615 m, 11º02′23”S, 76º23′34”W, 20 May 2018, stems and leaves of Senecio sp., Lado 27138 (MA-Fungi 97888) .

Notes. Perichaena megaspora differs from other Perichaena species by the larger spores, 15–20 µm in diameter, ornamented with prominent warts. Macroscopically, it may be confused with P. vermicularis (Schwein.) Rostaf., but this species has smaller spores (11–14 µm in diameter) and less prominent ornamentation.