Clavariadelphus elongatus J. Khan, Sher & Khalid, Phytotaxa 365: 184, 2018

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

3. Clavariadelphus elongatus J. Khan, Sher & Khalid, Phytotaxa 365: 184, 2018 Figs 2d , 2e , 3c , 4c , 5c , 8a , 8b

Note.

The following description is taken from Sher et al. (2018), field notes of the Chinese material including macro-morphology, growth habit, distribution, host plants and our examination of the specimens.

Description.

Basidiomes up to 28 cm high, 0.5-1.0 cm diam. basally, enlarged upwards to 1.5 cm diam., subcylindrical to fusiform, simple or occasionally branched, laterally compressed in age; hymenium longitudinally rugose, plum colour (13C2-4) or light purple to greyish-purple (14C2-3) or dull-lilac (15D2-3); apex tapered, subacute to obtuse, initially smooth, rugulose in age, caramel-brown to sandy-brown or sienna (6C5-6); base terete, smooth, white; mycelial hyphae scant, white; flesh initially solid, then soft and spongy in age. Odour and taste not recorded.

Hymenium extending over the apex of the basidiomata, composed of basidia and leptocystidia. Basidia 75-95 × 6-10 μm, clavate, hyaline, thin-walled, 4-spored, sterigmata 7-10 μm in length. Basidiospores [40/2/2] (8.3-) 9.0-11.0 (-12.0) × (5.5-) 5.7-7.4 μm, Q = (1.43-) 1.44-2.04 (-2.31), Q m = 1.71 ± 0.16, narrowly ellipsoid to ellipsoid, ovate or amygdaliform, with a small apiculus, inamyloid, thin-walled, hyaline in KOH, smooth. Leptocystidia 70-75 × 3.5-4.5 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 2-3 or 6-8 μm diam., interwoven or aggregated into rhizomorphic strands, branched, clamped; the hyphal walls echinulate with light microscopy, encrusted with massive triangular or irregular, flaky crystals up 1 μm high, which are insoluble in KOH.

Chemical reactions.

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

Known distribution and ecology.

NW and SW China (in this study), Pakistan ( Sher et al. 2018). Solitary to scattered on the ground in coniferous woods ( Abies spp. and Picea spp.) or mixed with broad-leaved trees ( Quercus spp., Rhododendron spp. and Salix spp.) at elevations ranging from 3000-4350 m.

Materials examined.

China. Gansu Province: Zhouqu Prefecture, Shatan National Forest Park, Abies spp. woods, 16 August 2012, X.T Zhu 740 (HKAS 76589). Sichuan Province: Litang Prefecture, Gaowa, Kobresia-Bistorta meadows with extensive areas of dwarf Rhododendron and Salix scrub with Picea spp., 30°10.10'N, 100°35.12'E, alt. 4300-4350 m, 8 August 2006, Z.W. Ge 1221 (HKAS 50801); Yajiang Prefecture, meadows with shrub thickets and Picea spp. forests, 30°2.67'N, 101°18.48'E, alt. 3850-3870 m, 4 August 2006, Z.W. Ge 1162 (HKAS 50742). Yunnan Province: Yulong Prefecture, Lizui Village, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests of Picea spp. and Quercus spp., alt. 3000 m, 23 August 2007, Y. Zhang 36 (HKAS 52425); Shangri-La Prefecture, 27°29.00'N, 99°25.00'E, alt. 3600 m, 13 August 2008, T.Z. Wei 150 (HMAS 260746).

Comments.

Clavariadelphus elongatus was originally described from Pakistan ( Sher et al. 2018). In this study, it was found in NW and SW China. This species is unique in its greyish-purple basidiomes with acute to subacute, non-enlarged apex, hyphae of the basal mycelium encrusted with massive, flaky crystals and basidiomes having a light yellow reaction to KOH. Clavariadelphus himalayensis , another Asian taxon, might be confused with C. elongatus since both have a tinge of grey-purple when young. However, C. himalayensis is distinct in having smaller basidiomes, pastel-red colouration at maturation, shorter basidiospores (8.2-9.4 × 5.0-5.5 μm), hyphae of the basal mycelium covered nipple-shaped protuberances without crystals and basidiomes having a brown-yellow reaction to KOH.

Phylogenetically, C. elongatus is related to C. pistillaris and the sequence of " C. occidentalis " from GenBank with weak support (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 8. Microscopic features of Clavariadelphus elongatus (HKAS 76589). a Leptocystidia and immature basidia b Basidia.