Termitomyces fragilis
Pileus (1.2–)2.2–4.5(–5.4) cm, cuspidate, conical becoming applanate when mature, with small and obtusely pointed perforatorium; surface brownish gray (9D2) or grayish brown (5D3) at center; mid of center is darker: brownish gray (9E2) or gray (7E1); reddish gray (9B2), brownish-gray (6C2), grayish-white (1B1), light gray (1C1) elsewhere and mixed with tiny white filamentous striate (1A1); glabrous and smooth, paling toward margin, radially striate; margin straight, splitting when mature. Lamellae free, (1.0)2.0–4.0(5.0) mm wide, white (1A1) when young and becoming pinkish white (7A2) when mature, crowed, with lamellulae. Stipe (2.7) 4.5–7.0(7.5) × (0.1)0.2–0.4(0.5) cm, central, cylindrical, equal; the base of stipe abrupt or form[1]ing a root-like terminal of (1.5–)2.7–4.5(–7.2) × (0.05–)0.15–0.25(–0.4) cm size underground level, in contact with termites’ fungi-garden and mixed substrates such as wood, soil and litter; surface white(1A1), smooth and glabrous, longitudinally striate, fibrous and fistulose to broadly fistulose, frangible, of longitudinally parallel hyphae, thin-walled and hyaline, 2.0–7.0(10) μm diam. Context narrow, fle[1]shy, white (1A1), (0.5–)1–2.5(–4) mm wide, of inflating hyphae, thin-walled and hyaline, normal hyphae 2.5–7.5 μm diam. Basidiospore colorless, ovoid to ellipsoid, [100/7/4] 9.0–10.0(–10.5) × 5.5–6.5(–7.5) μm, Q= 1.0–2.0, Qm =1.2 ± 0.2; thin[1]walled and subhyaline. Basidia 20–35 × 7.0–10.0 μm, clavate, bearing four sterigmata, thin-walled, subhyaline. Cheilocystidia 40–80 × 12–31 μm, clavate to pyriform, thin-walled and hyaline. Pleurocystidia 47–75(–80) × 14–32 μm, similar to cheilocystidia. Pileipellis comprising 2 layers, lower layer cells are much bigger than upper layer, hyphae 2–5 μm diam in upper layer, in lower layer, hyphae 10–35 μm diam, radial hyphae, ovoid, a repent epicutis of narrow, repent, thin-walled. (Figs. 1–2)
Index Fungorum no: IF552544, FoF number: 02690
Etymology: the etymology refers to the fragile stipe of the new species.
Holotype: China. Yunnan Province: Xishuangbanna, Mengsong Village, 21.49894°N, 100.49433°E, alt. 1656 m, August 14 2012, Lei Ye (HKAS88912).
Diagnosis: The new species is characterized by small basidiocarps, with a hollow and fragile stipe. It grows in shallow soils that are rich in organic matter, and is associated with termites. Micro-morphologically, it is characterized by larger basidia (20–35 × 7.0–10.0 μm) and cystidia (Cheilocystidia 40–80 × 12–31 μm; Pleurocystidia 47–75 (–80) × 14–32 μm), relative to other members of the genus Termitomyces.
Habitat and Distribution: Usually scattered (few solitary) on soil with decaying litter under which termites have built their nests, associated with Camellia sinensis and Castanopsis calathiformis trees, Yunnan Province, China.
Material examined: CHINA. Yunnan Province: Xishuangbanna, Mengsong Village, 21.49894°N, 100.49433°E, alt. 1656 m, August 14 2012, Lei Ye (HKAS88912, holotype, Accession KY214475); Ibid., Mengsong Village, September 20 2012, Lei Ye (HKAS88909, paratype, Accession KY214476); Ibid. Mengsong Village, June 23 2013, Lei Ye (HKAS88906, paratype, Accession KY214477); Ibid. Mengsong Village, August 14 2012, Lei Ye (HKAS88913, paratype); Ibid.
Fig. 1 Termitomyces fragilis. A–C Mature basidiocarps in the field (A: HKAS88912, B: HKAS88909, C: HKAS88906); D Young basidiocarps in the field (HKAS88913), Scale bars: Lengths of each bar are A= 5 cm, B= 2 cm, C= 2.5 cm, D= 0.5 cm.
Fig. 2 Termitomyces fragilis A Basidospores (Bar = 5 μm); B Basidia (Bar = 10 μm); C Cheilocystidia (Bar = 10 μm); D Pleurcystidia (Bar= 10 μm); E Pileipellis (Bar = 10 μm).
Reference
Ye, L., Karunarathna, S. C., Li, H., Xu, J., Hyde, K. D., & Mortimer, P. E. 2019–A survey of Termitomyces (Lyophyllaceae, Agaricales), including a new species, from a subtropical forest in Xishuangbanna, China. Mycobiology, 47(4), 391-400.
Recent News
Nutritional analysis of cultivated Pleurotus giganteus in agricultural waste as possible alternative substratesutilization notes of the edibility, economic and medicinal value and if the mushroom is cultivated
The genus Lentinus in Thailand: taxonomy, cultivation tests, nutritional analysis and screening for the biological activity of wild strains
Recent Genus
TricholomopsisErythrophylloporus
Boletinellus
Recent Species
Lactarius lavandulusRussula zonaria
Russula sribuabanensis