Clavariadelphus yunnanensis Methven, Mem. New York Bot. Garden 49: 156 1989

Huang, Hong-Yan, Zhao, Jie, Zhang, Ping, Ge, Zai-Wei, Li, Xian & Tang, Li-Ping, 2020, The genus Clavariadelphus (Clavariadelphaceae, Gomphales) in China, MycoKeys 70, pp. 89-121 : 89

9. Clavariadelphus yunnanensis Methven, Mem. New York Bot. Garden 49: 156 1989 Figs 2j-l , 3i , 4h , 5h , 14a, b

Note.

The following taxonomic description is mainly drawn from Methven (1989). Field notes including macro-morphology, growth habit, distribution and host plants, SEM characteristics and chemical tests are from this study.

Description.

Basidiomes up to 20 cm high, 0.5 cm diam. basally, enlarged upwards 2 cm diam., simple, initially cylindrical to subcylindrical, then narrowly clavate, subolanceolate; hymenium initially smooth, longitudinally rugose to rugulose in age, light brown to cinnamon at maturity; apex obtuse, smooth to rugose, concolorous with the hymenium; surface slowly staining, russet to umber; base terete, smooth, pale cinnamon or pale ochraceous-buff; mycelial hyphae white; flesh initially solid, becoming soft and spongy upwards as the apex enlarges, white to pinkish-buff. Odour not distinctive. Taste slightly bitter. Spore deposit white.

Hymenium extending over the apex of the basidiomata, composed of basidia and leptocystidia. Basidia 70-80 × 8-9 μm, clavate, hyaline, thin-walled, (2-) 4-spored, sterigmata 7-10 μm in length. Basidiospores [40/2/2] (8.8-) 9.0-11.0 × 4.6-6.4 (-7.4) μm, Q = (1.29-) 1.32-1.72 (-1.76), Q m = 1.56 ± 0.11, ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, ovate or amygdaliform, smooth. Leptocystidia 40-60 × 2.5-3.5 μm, scattered amongst and scarcely projecting beyond the basidia, cylindrical to narrowly clavate, thin-walled, smooth, hyaline, non-pigmented, clamped, inflated apically at maturity, at times with apical or subapical branches. Mycelial hyphae 2-4 μm diam., parallel, interwoven or aggregated into rhizomorphic strands, branched, clamped; walls thin or irregularly slightly thickened, the hyphal walls echinulate with light microscopy, covered with massive nipple-shaped protuberances and lacking crystals with SEM.

Chemical reactions.

(dried basidiomes): KOH = positive, golden-yellow; FeCl3 = positive, green-yellow; NH4OH = positive, golden-rod or vivid yellow; phenol = positive, light yellow; ethanol, FeSO4 and Melzer’s reagent = negative.

Known distribution and ecology.

SW China and northern India ( Methven 1989). Either solitary, scattered or gregarious habit on the ground in mixed deciduous-coniferous forests in association with several genera (e.g. Abies , Berberis , Picea , Pinus , Quercus , Rosa and Salix ) at elevations ranging from 2200-3600 m.

Materials examined.

China. Sichuan Province: Hongyuan Prefecture, Shuajing Temple, Picea , alt. 3400 m, 3 August 1996, M.S. Yuan 2375 (HKAS 30752); Kangding Prefecture, Liuba, alt. 3500 m, 9 September 1996, M.S. Yuan 2686 (HKAS 31136); Kangding Prefecture, Zheduo Mountains, shrubs dominated by Berberis , Quercus , Rosa , Salix , alt. 3585 m, 14 August 2008, Z.W. Ge 903 (HKAS 49398). Yunnan Province: Shangri-La Prefecture, 19 August 2008, 28°18.00'N, 98°33.00'E, alt. 3100 m, T.Z. Wei 270 (HMAS 250510); Deqing Prefecture, Xiaruo, 18 September 2010, HBB2010-D15 (HKAS 62644); Jianchuan Prefecture, Shibao Mountains, 14 August 2003, Z.W. Ge 4 (HKAS 43816); same location, 30 August 2009, G. Wu 199 (HKAS 57731); Kunming City, Yeya Lake, alt. 2200 m, 22 September 2012, Z.L. Yang 5629 (HKAS 77288); Shangri-La Prefecture, Haba Mountains, 13 August 2008, L.P. Tang 618 (HKAS 54849); Shangri-La Prefecture, 16 August 2008, T.Z. Wei 271 (HMAS 250466); Shangri-La Prefecture, Bita Lake, 24 August 2009, Q. Cai 122 (HKAS 58789); same location and date, G. Wu 127 (HKAS 57659); Weixi Prefecture, Qizong, 19 September 2010, HBB2010-W21 (HKAS 61417); Yulong Prefecture, Yulong Snow Mountains, Sandaowan, under Abies spp., alt. 3200 m, 1 August 1995, M. Zang 12514 (HKAS 30038); Yulong Prefecture, Lizui Village, 20 August 2008, Q. Zhao 8262 (HKAS 55244); Yulong Prefecture, Jiuhe, 20 August 2010, G. Wu 327 (HKAS 63558); Yulong Prefecture, Yulong Snow Mountains, Ganhaizi, under Picea spp., alt. 3100 m, 3 September 1986, M. Zang 10739 (HKAS 17788); Yulong Prefecture, Yulong Snow Mountains, Yu Lake, Abies forests, alt. 3000 m, 1 August 1985, M. Zang 10220 (HKAS 15063); Yulong Prefecture, Yulong Snow Mountains, 6 September 1986, R.H. Petersen s. n. (HKAS 20067); same location and date, R.H. Petersen s. n. (HKAS 20068); Yulong Prefecture, Wenhai, 17 September 2012, G. Wu 1054 (HKAS 77226).

Comments.

Clavariadelphus yunnanensis is quite common in SW China where it was previously reported as C. ligula or C. pistillaris ( Mao et al. 1993; Yuan and Sun 1995; Zang 1996; Mao 2009). It is well characterised by its cinnamon buff, large basidiomes, broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, hyphae of the basal mycelium covered with nipple-shaped protuberances and occurrence at high elevation forests. This taxon is also similar to C. ligula and C. sachalinensis , but differs microscopically in the size and shape of the basidiospores (see the comments under C. ligula ). Immature fruit bodies of C. yunnanensis are similar to C. griseoclavus . However, the latter can be distinguished from smaller basidiomata (less than 13 cm high), narrower apex (less than 1.5 cm diam.) and narrower basidiospores (Q m 1.89) ( Lu and Li 2020). Although C. yunnanensis might be confused with the Asian taxon C. mirus , the latter is distinct by its slender cylindrical, light brown basidiomes and broader basidiospores ( Methven 1990). The presence of C. mirus in China needs to be ascertained. In the phylogenetic analyses, C. yunnanensis has a joint relationship with C. elongatus , C. pistillaris and the sequence of " C. occidentalis " from Tunisia, but the sister relationship cannot be resolved (Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Phylogenetic tree of Clavariadelphus based on ITS sequence data. RAxML BP values (≥ 50 %) are shown above branches, Bayesian posterior probabilities (≥ 0.90) are shown above branches; new taxa are marked in red.

Figure 2. Clavariadelphus species in China. a C. alpinus (HKAS 57396, holotype) b, c C. amplus (HKAS 54876, holotype) d, e C. elongatus (d from HKAS 50742 e from HKAS 76589) f C. gansuensis (HKAS 76487, holotype) g C. himalayensis (HKAS 58811) h, i C. khinganensis (h from MHHNU 7789, holotype i from MHKMU H. Y. Huang 368) j C. sachalinensis (MHHNU 7816) k, l C. yunnanensis (k from HKAS 49398 l from HKAS 58789).

Figure 3. Basidiospores of Clavariadelphus under light microscope. a C. alpinus (HKAS 57396, holotype) b C. amplus (HKAS 54876, holotype) c C. elongatus (HKAS 76589) d C. gansuensis (HKAS 76487, holotype) e C. himalayensis (HKAS 58811) f C. khinganensis (MHHNU 7789, holotype) g C. ligula (HKAS 35954) h C. sachalinensis (MHHNU 7816) i C. yunnanensis (HKAS 57659).

Figure 4. Basidiospores of Clavariadelphus under SEM. a C. alpinus (HKAS 57396, holotype) b C. amplus (HKAS 54876, holotype) c C. elongatus (HKAS 76589) d C. gansuensis (HKAS 76487, holotype); e, f C. himalayensis (HKAS 58811) g C. khinganensis (MHHNU 7789, holotype) h C. yunnanensis (HKAS 57659).

Figure 5. Hyphae of basal mycelium from Clavariadelphus under SEM. a C. alpinus (HKAS 57396, holotype) b C. amplus (HKAS 54876, holotype) c C. elongatus (HKAS 76589) d C. gansuensis (HKAS 76487, holotype) e C. himalayensis (HKAS 58811) f, g C. sachalinensis (f from HKAS 33844; g from MHHNU 7816) h C. yunnanensis (HKAS 57659).

Figure 14. Microscopic features of Clavariadelphus yunnanensis (HKAS 57731). a Leptocystidia and immature basidia b Basidia.