Didymium ilicinum Ing, Field Mycology

Treviño-Zevallos, Italo, García-Cunchillos, Iván, Basanta, Diana Wrigley De & Lado, Carlos, 2023, Diversity of Myxomycetes from Peru Part III: The high Andes and the altiplano, Phytotaxa 624 (1), pp. 1-92 : 33-34

68. º Didymium ilicinum Ing, Field Mycology 21(4): 129 (2020)

Specimens examined. PERU. Ancash: Huari, Huari, Challhuyacu , Huamantanga , 7 km south of Huamparán , 3238 m, 9º18′13”S, 77º10′16”W, 12 May 2018 , stems of Rubus sp. , Lado 26471 (MA-Fungi 97256), leaf litter, Lado 26484 (MA-Fungi 97269). Huantar , Anyanga , 7 km north of Huantar , 3035 m, 9º25′43”S, 77º11′17”W, 13 May 2018, leaves of Alnus acuminata, Lado 26550 (MA-Fungi 97328) , leaf litter and woody debris, Lado 26556 (MA-Fungi 97332), Lado 26558 (MA-Fungi 97334). Chavín de Huantar, Tambillos, route AN-110, km 46, 3986 m, 9º40′37”S, 77º13′10”W, 14 May 2018, leaves of Nordenstamia sp. , Lado 26619 (MA-Fungi 97396, USM). Apurimac: Abancay, Tamburco, Abancay, Ampay National Sanctuary, canal dam, 3124 m, 13º35′56”S, 72º52′44”W, 20 Apr 2016, leaves, Lado 24556 (MA-Fungi 95834), twigs, Lado 24557 (MA-Fungi 95835, USM), straws, Lado 24564 (MA-Fungi 95841), leaves in decomposition, Lado 24569 (MA-Fungi 95846), Lado 24570 (MA-Fungi 95847), Lado 24571 (MAFungi 95848, USM), twigs alive, Lado 24580 (MA-Fungi 95857), twigs, Lado 24584 (MA-Fungi 95861) . Ayacucho: Huamanga, Chiara, route PE-3S, km 424, Abra Toccto, 4171 m, 13º20′59”S, 74º11′03”W, 21 Apr 2017, bryophytes on oozing slope, Lado 24968a (MA-Fungi 96165, USM) . Huanuco: Dos de Mayo, Shunqui, La Unión, Chalcan, route PE-3N, km. 362, 3150 m, 9º46′43”S, 76º48′20”W, 16 May 2018, leaves of Solanum sp. , Lado 26900b (MA-Fungi 97659) . Huánuco, Margas, Yacus, route HU-111, km. 26,500, 3199 m, 9º59′07”S, 76º29′59”W, 17 May 2018, stems and leaves of Solanum sp. , Lado 26927 (MA-Fungi 97682, USM) . Junin: Huancayo, Huancayo, route 108, km 15, 3 km southwest of Acopalca , 3719 m, 12º00′20”S, 75º07′23”W, 27 Apr 2017, leaves and catkins of Alnus acuminata, Lado 25409 (MA-Fungi 96567), Lado 25411 (MA-Fungi 96569), Lado 25412 (MA-Fungi 96570), Lado 25413 (MAFungi 96571) . Pasco: Pasco, Huariaca, Batanchaca, route PE-3N, km. 163, 3053 m, 10º28′34”S, 76º10′49”W, 18 May 2018, leaf litter and woody debris, Lado 26941 (MA-Fungi 97693), Lado 26943 (MA-Fungi 97695, USM) . Yanacancha, La Quinua, route PE-3N, km. 144,5, 3642 m, 10º37′28”S, 76º10′28”W, 18 May 2018, bark and leaf litter of Polylepis sp. , Lado 26961 (MA-Fungi 97712, USM), woody debris and bark of Polylepis sp. , Lado 26975 (MAFungi 97727), bark of Polylepis sp. , Lado 26976 (MA-Fungi 97728), bryophytes, Lado 26990 (MA-Fungi 97742). Yanacancha, Pariamarca, route PE-3N, km 141, 3701 m, 10º38′46”S, 76º10′06”W, 18 May 2018, bark and woody debris of Polylepis sp. , Lado 27002 (MA-Fungi 97755), woody debris, Lado 27010 (MA-Fungi 97762).

Notes. Species segregated from D. squamulosum due to its peridium, covered with scattered lime crystals forming aggregates, and spores ornamented with spinules forming a reticulate pattern ( Ing 2020). The Peruvian material matched this description but lacks the reticulate pattern; only the prominent spinules are perceptible.

A widely distributed species, but forming part of the D. squamulosum complex. It was first recorded in the Neotropics. In Peru, it seems frequent since it was found in the departments of Ancash, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Huánuco, Junin and Pasco, living in the Polylepis forests, the relict coniferous forest, the high Andean scrub, and the vegetation associated with crops.