Seven species of Mycena are reported as luminescent, representing specimens collected in Belize, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Japan (Bonin Islands), Malaysia (Borneo) and Puerto Rico. Four ...

Originally described from Japan by Sanshi Imai in 1933, the hypogeous ascomycete Terfezia gigantea was subsequently discovered in the Appalachian Mountains of the USA. Morphological, electron microscopic, and phylogenetic studies of specimens collected in both regions revealed that, despite this huge geographic disjunction, (1) the Japanese and Appalachian specimens are remarkably similar both in morphology and the sampled rDNA sequences, (2) the species unambiguously falls into the Morchellaceae and is separated from the genus Terfezia in the Pezizaceae, (3) its spores are much larger than those of Terfezia spp. and are enclosed in a unique, electron-semitransparent, amorphous epispore that appears to be permeated with minute, meandering strands or canals. In addition to the molecular phylogenetic results, the numerous nuclei in ascospores, the dome shaped, striate ascus septal plugs and the long cylindric Woronin bodies also strengthen the family assignment to the Morchellaceae. Moreover, the species occurs in moist, temperate forests as opposed to the xeric to arid habitats of other Terfezia spp. We propose the new, monotypic genus Imaia to accommodate the species.

Using a combination of morphological and molecular data, the genus Micropsalliota is shown to represent a monophyletic lineage in the Agaricaceae sister to Hymenagaricus. Features that distinguish the genus from Agaricus and allied genera include usually small, gracile basidiomes with a membranous partial veil, dextrinoid basidiospores with an apically thickened endosporium and lack of a germ pore, capitate or subcapitate, conspicuous cheilocystidia, and incrusted pileipellis hyphae that turn green in ammonia solution. We provide a monographic treatment of 23 taxa of Micropsalliota from Northern Thailand, of which 13 taxa represent new distribution reports for Thailand and 10 represent new taxa, including M. allantoidea, M. bifida, M. furfuracea, M. lateritia var. vinaceipes, M. megarubescens, M. megaspora, M. pusillissima, M. rubrobrunnescens var. rubrobrunnescens, M. rubrobrunnescens var. tibiicystis, and M. suthepensis. Included in this monograph are comprehensive descriptions, illustrations of micromorphological features, photographs of basidiomes, comparisons with allied species, phylogenetic trees inferring relationships amongst Thai species based on nrITS and nrLSU sequence datasets, and a key to aid in diagnosis.

Seven species of bioluminescent fungi are recorded from the cloud forests in Mexico. Six represent new species belonging to the genus Mycena, whereas Mycena globulispora is a new distribution record for the country. Descriptions, illustrations, photographs, and an identification key to bioluminescent fungi species from Mexico are provided. Sequences of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) region were generated for barcoding purposes and comparisons with similar species.

V. ill. 23 cm.Also available through BioOne: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.2984/65.4.477QuarterlyAn updated, annotated list of earthstars found in the Hawaiian Islands is presented that includes 19 species of Geastrum and Myriostoma coliforme. Favored habitats for these gasteroid fungi include periodically wet windward coastal Casuarina groves, windward Leucaena thickets, and leeward coastal Prosopis groves. In contrast to these nonnative vegetation zones, earthstars such as Geastrum minimum, G. campestre, and G. corollinum are found also in largely native leeward montane Sophora/Myoporum forests, whereas Geastrum velutinum and G. reticulatum appear in montane native Acacia koa/Metrosideros forests. Eighty-two percent of the collections were made between September and February, although Geastrum triplex may be found earlier during the summer months. Two species, Geastrum litchiforme Desjardin & Hemmes and Geastrum reticulatum Desjardin & Hemmes, are described as new, accompanied by illustrations and comparisons with allied taxa. Geastrum xerophilum, originally published without Latin diagnosis, is formally validated. Specific collections are documented and island distribution and preferred habitats of the various species are listed. An artificial dichotomous key to aid in identification is provided