Craterellus connatus G.P. Zhao, J.J. Hu, B. Zhang & Y. Li, 2022

Zhao, Gui-Ping, Hu, Jia-Jun, Tuo, Yong-Lan, Li, Yu & Zhang, Bo, 2022, Two new species of Craterellus (Cantharellales, Hydnaceae) with veined hymenophore from north-eastern China, MycoKeys 91, pp. 97-111 : 97

Craterellus connatus G.P. Zhao, J.J. Hu, B. Zhang & Y. Li sp. nov.

Figs 2 , 3

Holotype.

China. Jilin Province, Jilin City, Jiaohe County, Lafashan National Forest Part, Red Leaves Canyon, alt. 802.5 m, 43.75°N, 127.10°E, 5 September 2018, Bo Zhang HMJAU 61462, GenBank Acc. nos.: nr LSU = OM509448, tef -1α = ON125915, ON125916).

Etymology.

Connatus : referring to several stipes grown together from the base upwards.

Diagnosis.

Differs from other Craterellus species by its greyish-brown and smooth pileus with an off-white margin, hymenophore with a strongly anastomosing vein and the colouration turning khaki upon drying.

Description.

Pileus 18-30 mm in diam., infundibuliform, deeply depressed at the centre, perforated continuously to the base of the stipe; margin inrolled when young, then expand upwards, becoming upturned finally, broadly wavy; surface greyish-brown in the centre, the marginal edge dirty white, smooth. Hymenophore consists of longitudinal, anastomosing veined, off-white, turning khaki when drying and decurrent. Stipe 25-30 × 3 mm, equal to subcylindrical, hollow, central, smooth, greyish-brown. Text fleshy, greyish-brown. Odour light. Taste unknown. Spore print not obtained.

Basidiospores 6.1-6.9-7.8(8.1) × 4.8-5.3-5.9 μm, Q = (1.16)1.20-1.32-1.45(1.56), Qm = 1.32 ± 0.09, broad ellipsoid to ellipsoid, smooth, thin-walled, pale yellow in 5% aqueous KOH, inamyloid. Basidia (40)50-72.5(75) × (6)7.5-8(10) μm, clavate, sterigmata (2)4-6. Cystidia absent. Hymenium in transverse section 125-175 μm thick, yellowish-brown in 5% aqueous KOH. Pileipellis scarcely differentiated from the trama, a cutis of vastly inflated hyphae, yellowish-brown in 5% aqueous KOH; individual hyphae (22)27-63(64) × 6-15 μm, thin-walled, branched occasionally, secondary septation absent, hyaline in 5% aqueous KOH. Pileus trama up to 500 μm thick, subparallel, yellowish-brown in 5% aqueous KOH; individual hyphae (29)33-60(125) × (4)5-12(13) μm, cylindrical, thin-walled, branching frequently, secondary septation absent. Subhymenium up to 10 μm thick. Stipitipellis composed of a tightly packed mass of subparallel, narrow, cylindrical hyphae, yellowish-brown in 5% aqueous KOH; individual hyphae (33)37-79(102) × 4-13(16) μm, thin-walled, hyaline to pale yellow in 5% aqueous KOH, branched frequently, secondary septation absent. Clamp connections absent.

Habitat.

Scattered or gregarious in small clusters on the ground in coniferous and angiosperm mixed forests.

Figures

Figure 2. Craterellus connatus (HMJAU 60411, holotype) A fresh basidiocarps B connate stipes C margin of pileus D hymenophore. Scale bars: 1 cm (A, B)

Figure 3. Microscopic characteristics of Craterellus connatus (HMJAU 60411) A basidiospores B basidia C pileipellis. Scale bars: 5 μm (A); 10 μm (B); 20 μm (C).