Licea eremophila D. Wrigley, Lado & Estrada, 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 : 108

11. Licea eremophila D. Wrigley, Lado & Estrada, Mycologia 102(5): 1186 (2010) Figs. 9A–L

Sporophores sporocarpic, dispersed or grouped. Sporocarps stipitate, occasionally subsessile, 0.1–0.35 mm high. Stalk cylindrical, dark brown to black, sometimes very short, 0.03–0.18 mm or absent. Sporotheca subglobose, angular where the peridial platelets meet 0.07–0.2 mm diam., angular, strong yellowish brown ( Figs. 9 B – E ). Peridium single, light brown by TL, with refuse deposits like dark spots sometimes on the outer surface, inner surface smooth, entirely made up of platelets; dehiscence by 10–15 polygonal platelets ( Fig. 9 G ). Spores free, strong yellow in mass, yellow by TL, often angular, (9–)10–12(–13) μm diam., roughened by TL ( Figs. 9 H – I ). Protoplasmodium colourless, becoming milky then yellow. By SEM the inner peridium is smooth except for the margins of the platelets that have a line of warts; the epispore densely warted, except along slightly raised bands ( Figs. 9 K – L ) with fewer or no warts (like a tennis ball).

Material examined: Holotypus. ARGENTINA. La Rioja, Independencia, Talampaya National Park, km 99 RN-26, 30º07’42’’S 67º44’19’’W, 1378 m, on dead leaf bases of Puya sp. in moist chamber culture, 12-III-2007, dwb 2826 (MA-Fungi 79158)! . Catamarca, Tinogasta, 28º23’12’’S 67º39’44’’W, 1647 m, on epidermis and internal tissue of Trichocereus sp. 15-I-2008, dwb 3002 . CHILE. III Region, Atacama: Chañaral, Pan de Azúcar National Park, mirador Pan de Azúcar, 26º06’40’’S 70º38’54’’W, 313 m, on dead leaf base of Puya sp. , 6-VIII-2008, dwb 3092 .

Habitat: on dead leaf base of the bromeliad Puya spp. and on dead remains of the cacti Trichocereus sp. and Miqueliopuntia miqueli .

Distribution: Peru, Argentina, Chile, Namibia.

Icon.: Wrigley de Basanta et al. (2010: 1187–1188, Figs. 1 –22), Stephenson et al. (2019: 407, Figs 3 B – C ).

Notes. This species is included in this study because its sporocarps dehisce into platelets and, it sometimes has very short stalks, and may appear sessile. The species was published after our study of the stalked Licea (Wrigley de Basanta & Lado 2005) and therefore was not included there. The strong yellow-brown, subglobose sporotheca, the peridium that fragments into defined polygonal platelets, and the angular spores, distinguish even the sessile sporocarps of this species from others in the group. The closest species to L. eremophila is L. verrucispora D. Wrigley & Lado , but in the latter species the peridium dehisces into irregular fragments, not defined platelets, it has globose spores, not angular ones, and a densely warted inner surface to the peridium.

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 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.

FIGURE 9. Licea eremophila. A–C, F–J, L (dwb 2826, MA-Fungi 79158, Holotype); D–E, K (dwb 3002). A. Herbarium box. B–C. Stipitate sporocarps. D. Sporocarps. F. Whole sporocarp and spores by TL. G. Platelets by TL with lighter edges (arrow). H–I. Polygonal spores by TL. J. Platelets by SEM showing well-defined margins. K. Spore by SEM. L. Spore by SEM. Scale bars: B–E = 0.1 mm, F = 20 µm, G–J = 10 µm, K–L = 5 µm.