Licea chelonoides 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 : 106-107

8. Licea chelonoides Nann. - Bremek., Acta Bot. Neerl. 14: 136 (1965) Figs. 8A–J

Sporophores sporocarpic, dispersed or grouped, sessile. Sporocarps subglobose to subhemisphaerical, variable in size, height up to 0.5 mm × 0.8 mm diameter, dull black. Peridium thick, double, layers adhering ( Fig. 8 I ), outer layer granular, with minute ridges, inner layer orange to burnt sienna by TL ( Fig. 8 E ); dehiscence along preformed lines edged with rows of interlacing outgrowths. Spores free, dark brown in mass ( Fig. 8 D ), rosy brown by TL, with a pale area for germination, globose, (14–)15–18(–19) µm diam., densely unevenly warted. By SEM the inner peridium is minutely densely warted and the platelet margins have larger outgrowths; the epispore is densely covered with flattened verrucae.

Material examined: Isotypus. NETHERLANDS. Doorwerth, on decaying pine wood, 9-I-1964, NENB 5620 ( BR 5020057361348)! .

Habitat: on decaying pine wood, also on bark of living and dead trees.

Distribution: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Russian Federation, Japan .

Icon.: Nannenga-Bremekamp (1965: 137, Figs. 5 A – D ), Yamamoto (2006: 17, Figs. 6 A – C ; 2021: 142, Figs. A – C).

Notes. This species has dark sporocarps similar to L. minima Fr. , but they are dull black in reflected light ( Figs. 8 C – D ) and it has larger spores that are dark brown in mass, not reddish. In addition L. minima has more prominently ornamented spores by TL. In the description of L. chelonoides the author suggests the warts on the spores rub off, but in this was not observed in the type examined.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Licea capacia. A–I (12486.Oltra, AH 42711, Holotype).A. Herbarium box. B–D. Sessile sporocarps. E. Peridial platelets by TL. F. Angular spores by TL. G. Peridial platelet margins by SEM showing double peridium (arrow) and no outgrowths. H–I. Spores by SEM. Scale bars: B–D = 0.1 mm, E–F = 10 µm, G–I = 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 8. Licea chelonoides. A–J (NENB 5620, BR5020057361348, Isotype). A–B. Herbarium box. C–D. Sessile sporocarps. E. Peridial platelet and spores by TL. F. Spores by TL. G. Dehisced sporocarp base by SEM. H. Platelet outer surface by SEM. Whole platelet showing well-defined edges. I. Edge of a platelet by SEM showing double peridium and no outgrowths on the edge. J. Spore by SEM. Scale bars: C–D = 0.1 mm, E–F, H = 10 µm, G = 50 µm, I–J = 5 µm.