Podoserpula pusio var. tristisBiostatusPresent in region - Indigenous. Endemic
Images (click to enlarge) Caption: Fig. 1. Spores from the type collection of Podoserpula pusio var. tristis. x 866. | Caption: Fig. 2. Podoserpula pusio var. tristis, habit sketch of the type collection. x 1. |
Article: Reid, D.A. (1963). Fungi venezuelani: VI. (New or interesting records of Australasian basidiomycetes: IV). Podoserpula Reid: a new genus based on Craterellus pusio Berk. (C. multiplex Cooke & Massee). Kew Bulletin 16(3): 437-445. Description: Sporophores 6-8 cm. high consisting of a main axis, which may fork near the apex, bearing a
number of superimposed pilei in tiers. There may be up to eight or possibly more of these
pilei which tend to decrease in size toward the top of the stipe. The pilei themselves appear to
be pierced by the stem either centrally or excentrically. In the former instance the pilei may
form flat spreading brackets causing the sporophore to resemble a cake-stand or they may
grow upward and outward to form a series of funnel-shaped structures each with its narrow
base fitting into the flaring mouth of the one below. When the pileus appears to be penetrated
excentrically its free margin is often reduced to little more than a rather distinct rim on one
side of the main axis. The sporophore then seems to consist of a series of somewhat swollen
nodes each bearing a horizontal bracket, arranged one above the other on the same side of the
stem. Pilei when fresh are very pale fawn, becoming buff in the herbarium. Hymenial surface
shell-pink, changing to pinkish-brown in dried material. The hymenium is densely wrinkled
or puckered over most of its surface but the wrinkles or folds are often branched and very
irregular. Nevertheless there is a tendency for them to show a basically radial orientation.
Stipe varying in colour from silky white to fawn. Hyphal structure as in the type variety, but
the hyphae, which are up to 10 µ in diam., have more highly refractive and distinct walls.
Basidia 23.4-28-6 x 3-4.5 µ, clavate, 4-spored. Spores: 3-3.5(-4) x 2-2.75(-3.2) µ, as in the
type variety. Distribution: DISTRIBUTION: NEW ZEALAND: known only from the type locality. Notes: This variety would seem to differ from var. pusio in its dull coloration and also in the manner
in which the pilei are borne on the stem. However, it is as yet by no means certain that these
two characters are strictly cor-related. The type gathering consists of about ten sporophores
all of which conform to the above description, but it is nevertheless possible that they
represent an extreme growth form of var. tristis. Some support for this view can be found
from an examination of two additional New Zealand collections (Lake Rotoiti, 8 April 1949,
A. Crawford 716; & Pinehaven, 24 June 1950, Tui McCutcheon 776) for these have the
typical appearance of var. pusio. Furthermore Mrs. Cone [Miss G. Stevenson], who has
collected for many years in New Zealand, is of the opinion that the fungus in that country is
constantly of a pale fawn colour irrespective of growth form. However, since there are no
field notes with the two collections referred to above I am inclined to regard them as
belonging to the var. pusio, at least until further information is available as to the variability
of the P. pusio complex in New Zealand.
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