Comatricha nigricapillitia (Nann. -Bremek. & Bozonnet) A. Castillo, G. Moreno & Illana, 1997

Ronikier, Anna, 2022, Revision of the Donald T. Kowalski’s collections of Lamproderma (Myxomycetes, Amoebozoa) reveals twice higher species diversity, Phytotaxa 531 (3), pp. 175-210 : 177-178

Comatricha nigricapillitia (Nann.-Bremek. & Bozonnet) A. Castillo, G. Moreno & Illana, in Castillo et al. (1997: 1331). Fig. 2

Sporocarps scattered, stipitate, total height 1.62–1.86 mm. Sporotheca globose, 0.72–0.86 mm high, 0.78–0.96 diam. Hypothallus dark brown, shining, discoid. Stalk long, 1/2 to 4/7 of the total sporocarp height, 0.90–1.06 mm long, black, shining ( Fig. 2A ). Peridium evanescent, observed only as a collar at sporotheca base ( Fig. 2A ). Columella reaching about one-half of the sporotheca height, slightly tapering towards apex. Capillitium dense, black when spores are blown out, branching from columella at an acute angle, uniformly dark brown in transmitted light, threads rough, nodulose and spiny ( Fig. 2B ). Spores colour in mass not observed, dark brown in transmitted light, slightly paler on one side, globose, 10.5–12 μm in total range, 11.23 ±0.5 μm on average ±SD (n = 15), minutely warted ( Figs 2C–D ).

Material examined:— USA. Tehama Co.: Well’s Cabin Campground, 6300 ft, on dead wood, 12 June 1966, DTK 3391, together with Meriderma sp. (as L. atrosporum, UC 1408219!).

Notes:— Comatricha nigricapillitia was unknown to Kowalski, since it was described in the genus Lamproderma later ( Nannenga-Bremekamp 1989). Due to evanescent peridium it is similar to the species from the genus Meriderma (= Lamproderma atrosporum agg.) and therefore it was identified by Kowalski (1970a) as L. atrosporum . The species is known from Europe ( Poulain et al. 2011) and it has recently also been found in South America ( Chile and Argentina) ( Lado et al. 2013, Ronikier & Lado 2015) and in North America based on the revision of material identified as Comatricha suksdorfii ( Moreno et al. 2004b) . All the collections revised by Moreno et al. (2004b) originate from Colorado. The Kowalski’s collection reported here extends the North American species distribution to the West (California).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Comatricha nigricapillitia (Nann.-Bremek. & Bozonnet) A. Castillo, G. Moreno & Illana. A. Sporocarps with visible collar at the base of sporotheca (note evanescent peridium), B. Details of capillitium (note dark brown colour and rough surface), C. Spores in transmitted light (edge view), D. Spores in transmitted light (top view). Bars: A = 1mm, B = 50 μm, C–D = 10 μm. A–D: coll. DTK 3391.