Cantharellus alliodorus Mont. 1835., Prodro. Juan Fernandez : Ann. Sci. Nat., ser. 2, 3: 349

Petersen, Ronald H. & Hughes, Karen W., 2017, An investigation on Mycetinis (Euagarics, Basidiomycota), MycoKeys 24, pp. 1-138 : 64

Cantharellus alliodorus Mont. 1835., Prodro. Juan Fernandez : Ann. Sci. Nat., ser. 2, 3: 349

Marasmius alliodorus ≡ (Bertero ex Mont.) Fries 1838 Epicrisis 384. ≡ Marasmiellus alliodorus (Bertero ex Montagne) Singer 1955. Sydowia 9: 381 [see Index of Fungi 2: 277 as “alllodorus” not validly published]. ≡ Marasmiellus alliodorus (Mont.) Singer, Ark. Bot. ser. 2, 4(9): 381. 1959.

Commentary.

In spite of an extensive literature ( Singer 1955, 1959, 1965, 1969, 1973, 1975), two questionable illustrations ( Singer 1973, fig. 96; Singer 1959 Pl. 1, fig. 1) and Singer’s report on the type specimen ( Singer 1955), the affiliation of this organism remains in doubt. Some literature is arcane and/or imprecise and authentic herbarium material unavailable. Two detailed but almost identical descriptions (including but not limited to authentic and type specimens; Singer 1955, 1959) can be dissected, but Singer (1959, 1965) indicated a wide variation in macromorphological appearance (referring to four “forms,” although without formally proposing them).

Two characters give cause to consider the fungus as belonging in Mycetinis : 1) [ Singer 1969: "The carpophores as well as the mycelium have a strong smell of garlic (which, in our region, they have in common only with Marasmius aporpohyphes ), so that it is often smelled before it is seen"]; and 2) structure of pileipellis, described and illustrated as composed of swollen hyphal termini, often with diverticula plus diverticulate broom cell-like termini, all in an "epicutis of pileus with a distinct Ramealis -structure" ( Singer 1955).

If eventually found to belong in Mycetinis , Ma. alliodorus would join the group of species with diminutive basidiomata, My. yunnanensis , My. olidus , My. cinnamomeus , etc.

Bullach’s (2003) report of Ma. alliodorus from eastern Russia is doubtful, equally so with reference to My. yunnanensis , known only from the other end of China. Another species of Mycetinis is to be expected.

Based on Singer’s protologue, illustration and reference ( Singer 1969: 73) there is a slight possibility that M. aporpohyphes Singer could also be a Mycetinis . If so, it would be the only clampless taxon in the genus.