Mycol. Res. 99 (12): 1521-1524 (1995) 1521 Printed in Great Britain Notes on British species of Lamprospora and Ramsboffomia Y.-J. YA0 1 ,2 AND B. M. SPOONER1 1 2 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, u.K. School of Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK British records of species of Lamprospora and Ramsbottomia have been examined and distinguishing characters of these two genera investigated. Nine species of Lamprospora and three species of Ramsbottomia are recognized from Great Britain in this study. Lamprospora De Not. and Ramsbotfomia W. D, Buckley both have globose to subglobose ascospores and are closely related to Octospora Hedw. The morphological differences between Octospora, Lamprospora and Ramsboftomia are not well defined. The important distinguishing characters between Ramsboftomia and Lamprospora (Benkert & Schumacher, 1985) involve ecology, structure of the excipulum and apothecial margin, and presence or not on the receptacle of hyphoid hairs. Further study is required to confirm the value of these characters at the generic level. In this paper we follow the treatment of these genera by Benkert & Schumacher (1985) and Benkert (1987), who maintain them as distinct. Wang & Kimbrough (1992), in contrast. prefer to treat Lamprospora as a synonym of Octospora, although these authors maintain Ramsboftomia as a distinct genus, Only those synonyms appearing in the British literature are listed here. For full synonymy of Lamprospora species see Benkert (1987), and of Ramsboftomia species see Benkert & Schumacher (1985). Material and methods follow those outlined in Yao & Spooner (1995 a), LAMPROSPORA Nine species are recognized from Britain in this study: I. annulata Seaver, I. campylopodis W, D, Buckley, I. carbonicola Boud., I. dicranellae Benkert, I. dictydiola Boud., I. faroensis Benkert. I. miniata De Not., I. seaveri Benkert and I. wrightii (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) Seaver. Two of them (I. dicranellae and I. faroensis) were communicated by Benkert (1993, in litt.) and are not otherwise formally published from Great Britain. No material of I. dicranellae has been seen by the authors. The morphological differences between members of some groups of species, notably I. campylopodis, I. faroensis, and I. miniata, and between I. dictydiola and I. carbonicola, are difficult to determine. The host moss therefore becomes crucial for species identification. However, it is not uncommon to find several different mosses growing together, which hinders identification of the fungal species. Furthermore, the nature of the relationship between the fungus and the mosses is in most cases unclear and the genus requires careful revision in order to clarify the problem. Records of species listed in Cannon et al. (1985) and some additional species are considered here based on examination of the British herbarium collections. Several species are shown to be doubtfully British and two of them should be removed from the British list. Lamprospora amethystina (Quel.) Seaver in Mycologia 6: 16 (1914) Humaria persoonii var. amethystina Que!. in Fr. Acad. Sci. 14: 451 (1886) Pulparia amethystina (Quel.) Nemlich & Aviz.-Hersh in Israel fl. Bot. 243: 193 (1975) Moravec (1987) stated that the type of Humaria persoonii var. amethystina did not exist and that the identity of the species cannot be determined. He cited Pulparia amethystina (Quel.) Nemlich & Aviz.-Hersh. sensu Svrcek pro parte in Ces, Mykol. 35: 75 (1981) as a synonym of Marcelleina georgii (Svrcek) J. Moravec (syn, Lamprospora georgii Svrcek. Ces. Mykol. 12: 229 (1958)). The specimen cited in Cannon et al. (1985) in Herb. Graddon (K), the basis of the British record, is a Marcelleina, referable to either M. georgii or M. rickii according to the revision of this genus by Moravec (1987). The distinction between these two species is critical, involving only minor differences in ascospore ornamentation which are difficult to observe and assess. However, there seems no reason to prefer identification of this collection with M. georgii, which has not previously been reported from Britain. Lamprospora astroidea (Hazsl.) Boud., Hist. Classific. Discomyc. Europe.: 68 (1907) Barlaea astroidea Hazsl. in Cooke in Grevillea 4: 41 (1875) There are three British collections preserved under this name in K. One of them (Barlaea asteroidea [sic] on mossy wall, Eiland Wood, 13 Feb. 1899, in Herb. Crossland) no longer contains Notes on British Lamprospora and Ramsbottomia apothecia, another (Barlaea asteroidea [sic], on mossy wall, nr. Bolton Abbey, 13 March 1898, in Herb. Crossland) is evidently referable to L. miniata and the last (Barlaea asteroidea [sic], among moss, Stamfield, Par. of Halifax, 24 March 1897, in Herb. Crossland) is L. dictydiola. It is not clear on what material the short comment on this species by Dennis (1978) was based. However, there appears to be no evidence for the presence of this species in Great Britain. Lamprospora campylopodis W. D. Buckley in Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 9: 44 (1923) The type of this species has been lost. Benkert (1987) selected a part of Cooke Fungi Britannici exsiccati No. 285 (Ascot Heath, Berkshire, Nov. 1863, C. E. Broome) as neotype. This collection was cited by Cooke (1864, 1875) when proposing the new name Ascobolus crouani Cook (syn. Lamprospora milliata De Not.) for Ascobolus miniatus P. Crouan & H. Crouan. Examination of this collection shows it to be morphologically indistinguishable from L. miniata. Lamprospora campylopodis was described as distinct from L. miniata in its consistently smaller apothecia, in apothecial colour and the finer and more regular network on the spores (Buckley, 1923). The moss with which the fungus is associated in the type collected from Dunoon is Campylopus fragilis whilst at least the majority of the moss of the neotype is Dicranum scoparium (det. C. Townsend). It appears that the neotype requires further study and the selection of another neotype which agrees with the protologue may be necessary. Lamprospora crec'hqueraultii (P. Crouan & H. Crouan) Boud., Icon. Mycol., Liste prelim.: (3) [without pagination] (1904) Ascobolus crec'hqueraultii P. Crouan & H. Crouan in Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., ser. IV, 10: 194 (1858) The species has been combined in Ramsbottomia by Benkert & Schumacher (1985). See the following discussion under that genus. Lamprospora crec'hquerauItii var. macracantha Boud., Icon. Mycol., ser. 3, Livr. 12: 10 (1907) Benkert & Schumacher (1985) combined this taxon in Ramsbottomia at species level. See also the discussion under that genus below. Lamprospora crec'hquerauItii var. paludosa Dennis in K.ew Bull. 1955: 572 (1956) Benkert & Schumacher (1985) listed this species as 'doubtful'. The type of this species is well preserved in K. Examination of this material shows that it has several unique characters and does not belong to Lamprospora. A new genus to accommodate it is to be proposed in a separate paper. Lamprospora crouani (Cooke) Seaver in Mycologia 6: 8 (1914) Ascobolus crouani Cooke in]. Bot. 2: 151 (1864) (nom. nov.) Peziza crouani (Cooke) Cooke in Grevillea 3: 31 (1874) Benkert (1987) listed the species as a synonym of L. miniata. For priority of these two names see under that species. Lamprospora dicranellae Benkert in Z. Mykol. 53, 217 (1987) Reported by Benkert (1993, in litt.) from Buttermere, Lake District National Park, Cumbria, during the XI European Mycologists Conference, Sept. 1992. Unfortunately, no 1522 apothecia were found during our examination of this collection, and the presence of this species in Great Britain requires confirmation. However, in view of the forthcoming publication of this material by Benkert, the species will be included as British. Lamprospora faroensis Benkert in Z. Mykol. 53: 222 (1987) First reported from Great Britain by Benkert (1993, in litt.) based on material from Nibthwaite, Lake District National Park, Cumbria, Sept. 1992. We have examined this specimen and agree with the determination. Lamprospora miniata De Not. in Comm. Soc. Crift. Ital. 1: 388 (1864) Ascobolus miniatus P. Crouan & H. Crouan in Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. IV, 10: 197 (1858); non Preuss in Linnaea 24: 147 (1851) Ascobolus crouani Cooke in]. Bot. 2: 151 (1864) Peziza crouani (Cooke) Cooke in Grevillea 3: 31 (1874) Barlaea miniata (P. Crouan & H. Crouan) Sacc., Syll. Fung. S, III (1889) Barlaea crouani (Cooke) Massee, Brit. Fun.-Fl. 4: 395 (1895) Lamprospora crouani (Cooke) Seaver, Mycologia 6, 8 (1914) The priority of epithet for this species is uncertain, as both Cooke's and De Notaris' names were published in 1864. Ascobolus crouani was introduced as a new name for A. miniatus P. Crouan & H. Crouan, a later homonym of A. miniatus Preuss, and published on 1 May 1864. Lamprospora miniata was introduced as an independent taxon by De Notaris (loc. cit.) in Commentario della Societa Crittogamologica Italiana. The exact date of publication of his name is uncertain, but evidence from publication times of other issues of that journal suggests the likelihood of publication early in 1864, possibly in January, and almost certainly earlier than May. We, therefore, follow Rifai (1968) and Benkert (1987) and retain the epithet. Lamprospora miniata f. parvispora Benkert ad into Reported by Benkert (1993, in lift.) from Ruislip Woods, Middlesex, during the XI European Mycologists Conference, Sept. 1992 and published as 'a small-spored form, undescribed and new to the U.K.' by Hawksworth (1993). No material has been examined and the inclusion of this fungus in the British list awaits publication of the formal description. Lamprospora modesta (P. Kast.) Boud., Hist. Classific. Discomyc. Europe.: 69 (1907) Peziza modesta P. Karst. in Not. Siillsk. Fauna Fl. Fenn. Forh. 10: 122 (1869) Gamundi (1975) reduced the species as a variety of L. crec'hqueraultii. Benkert & Schumacher (1985) listed it as a synonym of Ramsbottomia asperior (Nyl.) Benkert & T. Schumach. For notes on British collections referred here see under R. asperior. Lamprospora polytrichi (Schumach.: Fr.) Le Gal in Bull. Soc. Mycol. France 56, 39 (1940) Peziza polytrichi Schumach., Enum. Plant. Saell.: 423 (1803); Fr., Syst. Mycol. 2: 70 (1822) The specimens preserved under this name in K can be referred, variously, to L. carbonicola, L. miniata or L. dictydiola, or are in too poor a condition for positive determination. Y-I. Yao and B. M. Spooner 1523 The original concept of Peziza polytrichi is unclear, and the name has been variously interpreted. Benkert (1987) listed L. polytrichi (Schumach.: Fr.) Le Gal sensu Le Gal as a synonym of L. carbonicola. Neottiella polytrichi (Schumach.: Fr.) Massee sensu Massee (1895) is Octospora vivida (Nyl.) Dennis & Itzerott, which is considered to be a synonym of 0. rutilans (Fr.) Dennis & Itzerott (Yao & Spooner, 1995b). Lamprospora polytrichi should be deleted from the British list. were illustrated by Dennis (1956). This collection is redetermined as R. lamprosporoidea (see below). The true occurrence of R. asperior in the British Isles, therefore, requires confirmation; it is currently to be excluded from the British list. RAMSBOTTOMIA Lamprospora crec'hqueraultii (P. Crouan & H. Crouan) Boud., Icon. Myco/., Liste prelim.: (3) [without pagination] (1904) Ramsboftomia has not been widely recognized since it was introduced (Buckley, 1923). The genus was listed as a synonym of Lamprospora with a question mark by Rifai (1968), but was emended and retained as distinct genus by Benkert & Schumacher (1985), a decision upheld by Wang & Kimbrough (1992). The genus is accepted here as distinct from Lamprospora based on ecology (Le. non-bryophilous on bare soil), and on apothecial morphology (Le. undifferentiated excipulum and lack of a fimbriate margin). However, the delimitation of these genera requires further investigation. The presence of brown hyphoid hairs at the apothecial margin was employed as a diagnostic generic character by Benkert & Schumacher (1985), but such hairs are not present on all species currently placed in the genus. Three species are recognized here from British material: Ramsboftomia crec'hqueraultii (P. Crouan & H. Crouan) D. Benkert & T. Schumacher, R. lamprosporoidea W. D. Buckley, and R. macracantha (Boud.) D. Benkert & T. Schumacher. Notes of relevant taxa recorded in the British literature are presented as follows. Ramsbottomia asperior (Nyl.) Benkert & T. Schumach. in Agarica 6 (12): 35 (1985) Peziza asperior Nyl. in Not. Siillsk. Fauna Flor. Fenn. Forh. 10: 21 (1869) Sphaerospora asperior (Nyl.) Sacc., Syll. Fung. 8: 188 (1889) scutellinia asperior (Nyl.) Dennis in Kew Bull. 1955: 571 (1956) Ciliaria asperior (Nyl.) Boud., Hist. Classific. Discomyc. Europe.: 62 (1907) This species was listed under scutellinia (Cooke) Lambotte in Cannon et al. (1985), into which genus it was combined by Dennis (1956), probably based on Massee's (1895) concept that the apothecia are clothed with brown, septate, thickwalled, pointed hairs. However, Denison (1959) designated as lectotype of Peziza asperior Nyl. a collection having very few, colourless, thin-walled, flexuous hairs arising from the receptacle and referred the species to Lamprospora. Benkert & Schumacher (1985) and Schumacher (1988) supported Denison's (1959) observation and combined the species in RamsboUomia. British collections under this name in K involve several species with globose ascospores, most of which are referable to scutellinia. Two of them, for example, are S. citrina (Bull.) Lambotte and another two are S. trechispora (Berk. & Broome) Lambotte. The synonymy of Peziza modesta with R. asperior was suggested by Benkert & Schumacher (1985). Only one British collection (Graddon 658) named as Lamprospora modesta (syn. P. modesta) has been located in K, the ascospores of which Ramsbottomia crec'hqueraultii (P. Crouan & H. Crouan) Benkert & T. Schumach. in Agarica 6(12): 33 (1985) Ascobolus crec'hqueraultii P. Crouan & H. Crouan in Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., ser. IV, 10: 194 (1858) This is the best documented species of the genus in Great Britain. However, many specimens so named are, in fad, R. lamprosporoidea. These species differ most obviously in the presence of coloured hairs in the latter. Such hairs have not been reported for R. crec'hqueraultii (e.g. Rifai, 1968; Gamundi, 1975) which has apothecia with a smooth or minutely downy margin. Collections matching this concept are comparatively few, but do occur amongst those we have examined from Great Britain. However, it should be noted that Benkert & Schumacher (1985) combined this species in RamsboUomia despite including brown, hyphoid hairs amongst the diagnostic characters of that genus. RamsboUomia erec'hqueraultii is recognized by the globose, subglobose or broadly ellipsoid ascospores which are long, and by apothecia which ornamented with spines 3-5 ｾ ｭ lack brown hairs towards the margin. According to Rifai (1968), the fungus grows on the ground amongst mosses. This habitat was not mentioned in the protologue, although it is indicated in the illustration by Boudier (1907 a: Pl. 404). The fungus apparently grows on wet ground where mosses also occur sparsely, and not in direct association with those mosses. Ramsboftomia lamprosporoidea W. D. Buckley in Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 9: 44 (1923) The species was first described from Britain based on a specimen collected from Dunoon, Argyllshire, and typifies the genus RamsboUomia (Buckley, 1923). The type of this species cannot be located and a neotype was designated from a later collection of Buckley by Benkert & Schumacher (1985). Those authors consider this species to be synonymous with R. asperior; however, British colledions examined have Such ascospores ornamented with long spines (2-6 ｾｭＩＮ spines are not characteristic of R. asperior, which is described long (Benkert & as having spines only (1-) 2-2'5 (-3.5) ｾ ｭ Schumacher, 1985). One British collection (Graddon 658) was named by Dennis (1956) as Peziza modesta (syn. Lamprospora modesta), and illustrated as having ascospores with low, pointed warts high. Re-examination of this specimen shows about 1 ｾ that pale brown hyphoid hairs are present on the flanks of the apothecia near the margin. Most of the ascospores indeed have low warts or short spines, but they are not fully developed. Spines to 6 ｾｭ long have also been observed by the authors in some ascospores from the same apothecium. Dennis's (1956) determination was surely based on young ascospores and we consider this specimen to represent R. lamprosporoidea. Should it be demonstrated that 1524 Notes on British Lamprospora and Ramsbottomia the spore ornament described for R. asperior is similarly based on examination of young spores, then it may prove conspecific with R. lamprosporoidea. supported by N.E.R.C. grant no. GR3/8284 'The Ascomycete Flora of Great Britain and Ireland', which is gratefully acknowledged. Ramsbottomia macracantha (Boud.) Benket & T. Schumach. Agarica 6: 37 (1985) REFERENCES Lamprospora crec'hqueraultii var. macracantha Boud., Icon. Mycol., Ser. 3, Livr. 12: 10 (1907) [as' macrantha'J Barlaeina crec'hqueraultii var. macrantha (Boud.) SacCo & Trotter, Syll. Fung. 22: 621 (1913) Lamprospora macrantha (Boud.) Seaver, North Amer. Cup-fun. (Oper.): 63 (1928) Octospora macracantha (Boud.) Caillet & Moyne in Bull. Soc. Mycol. Fr. 96: 180 (1980) This taxon has been recognized at species level since the combination by Seaver (/oc. cit.). Both the spelling of the epithet and the first valid publication of this species are inconsistently cited in the literature (i.e. Saccardo & Trotter, 1913; Seaver, 1928; Dennis, 1978; Cannon et al., 1985; Benkert & Schumacher, 1985; Korf, 1985; Wang & Kimbrough, 1992). This taxon was published in two works almost simultaneously. In the final binding of the description volume, lcones Mycologicae, Tome IV, Boudier (1911) cited 'Hist. et class. Discomyc., p. 69', whilst in that work he cited 'Icon. Mycol. Tom. II, PI. 405'. In fact, the description of the new variety was first published in the preliminary Explication des Planches of lcones Mycologicae (Serie 3, Livraison 12, published on 12 March 1907; see Brummelen, 1985) and Plate 405 slightly later (Serie 3, Livraison 13, Provisional number 224, published on 14 May 1907; see Brummelen, 1985). In the preliminary text, Boudier provided a description of the fungus and also indicated the locality of the type specimen, thus the species should be considered as effectively published in that work. Brummelen (1985) stated that Boudier's Histoire et Classification des Discomycetes d' Europe appeared between 1 and 7 July 1907. However, it may be noted that a copy of this book was received in Kew on 29 June 1907. It was clearly Boudier's intention to use 'macracantha' rather than 'macrantha' as the epithet for this fungus because he corrected the spelling both in the 'Errata' appended to Histoire et Classification des Discomycetes d'Europe (unnumbered page after p. 221), and in the final binding of Icones Mycologicae, Tome IV, p. 230 (see also Korf, 1985). However, macrantha has been adopted by various authors (e.g. Saccardo & Trotter, 1913; Seaver, 1928; Dennis, 1978; Clark, 1980; Cannon et aI., 1985; Wang & Kimbrough, 1992). This species is characterized by ascospores with large spines (5'0-8'4 j..lm long and 2-4 j..lm across at the base). British material examined lacks coloured marginal hairs. It agrees with Boudier's concept of the species (Boudier, 1907 a, b, 1911) and with the description given by Caillet & Moyne (1980). However, it should be noted that this species was circumscribed by Benkert & Schumacher (1985) as having brown hairs. The authors wish to thank Dr Dieter Benkert for loan of material representing new British records. This study was (Accepted 9 April 1995) Benkert. D. (1987). Beitriige zur Taxonomie der Gattung Lamprospora (Pezizales). Zeitschrift fiir Mykologie 53. 195-272. Benkert, D. & Schumacher, T. (1985). Emendierung der Gattung Ramsboilomia (Pezizales). Agarica 6(12). 28-46. Boudier, E. (1907a). Icones Mycologicae. Ser. 3, Livr. 12-14. Paul Klincksieck: Paris. Boudier, E. (1907 b). Histoire et Classification des Discomycetes d'Europe. Paul Klincksieck: Paris. Boudier, E. (1911). Icones Mycologicae, Tome IV. Paul Klincksieck: Paris. Brummelen, j. van (1985). Introduction. In Icones Mycologicae. V. Liste Priliminaire & Explication des planches (ed. j. van Brummelen, R. P. Korf, H. Clemencon, W. jiilich & V. Demoulin). Editions Piantanida: Lausanne. Buckley, W. D. (1923). New British discomycetes. Transaelions of the British Mycological Society 9, 43-47. Caillet, M. & Moyne, G. (1980). Contribution 11 ['etude du genre Oelospora Hedw. ex S. F. Gray emend. Le Gal. Especes 11 spores omamentees, globuleuses ou subglobuleuses. Bulletin Trimestrial de la Societe Mycologique de France 96, 175-211. Cannon, P. F., Hawksworth, D. L. & Sherwood-Pike, M. A. (1985). The British Ascomycotina. An Annotated Checklist. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux: Slough. Clark, M. C. (1980). A Fungus Flora of Warwickshire. British Mycological Society: London. Cooke, M. C. (1864). The genus Ascobolus, with descriptions of the British species. Journal of Botany 2, 147-154. Cooke, M. C. (1875). Mycographia, seu Icones Fungorum, vol. 1. Williams and Norgate: London. Denison, W. C. (1959). Some species of the genus Scutellinia. Mycologia 51, 605-635. Dennis, R. W. G. (1956). A note on the spiny-spored species of Lamprospora. Kew Bulletin 1955, 571-572. Dennis, R. W. G. (1978). British Ascomycetes. j. Cramer: Vaduz. Gamundf, I. j. (1975). Fungi, ascomycetes. Pezizales. In Flora Criptogamica de Tierra del Fuego Tomo X, Fasiculo 3 (ed. S. A. Guarrera, I. Gamundi de Amos & D. Rabinovich de Halperin), pp. 1-184. Foudacion para Ie Educacion la Ciencia y la culture: Buenos Aires. Hawksworth, D. L. (1993). Fungi recorded in the Ruislip Woods. Journal of the Ruislip and Distriel Natural History Society 29, 3-26. Korf. R. P. (1985). Revision of species 194 to 600. In Icones Mycologicae. V. Liste Preliminaire & Explication des planches (ed. j. van Brummelen, R. P. Korf. H. Clemencon, W. jiilich & V. Demoulin), pp. 209-252. Editions Piantanida: Lausanne. Massee, G. (1895). British Fungus Flora. A Classified Text-book of Mycology, vol. 4. George Bell & Sons: London. Moravec, j. (1987). A taxonomic revision of the genus Marcelleina. Mycotaxon 30, 473-499. Rifai, M. A. (1968). The Australasian Peziwles in the herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Verhanderlingen der Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, Aid. Natuurkunde II, 57(3), 1-295. Saccardo, P. A. & Trotter, A. (1913). Sylloge Fungorum [Omnium Hucusque Cognitoruml, vol. 22. P. A. Saccardo: Patavia. Schumacher, T. (1988). The Scutellinia battle; the lost, missing and dead. Mycotaxon 33, 149-189. Seaver, F. j. (1928). The North American Cup-fungi (Operculates). Published by the Author: New York. Wang, Y-Z. & Kimbrough, j. W. (1992). Monographic Studies of North American Species of Octospora Previously Ascribed to Lamprospora (Pezizales, Ascomycetes). [Special Publication No.4, National Museum of Natural Science.] National Museum of Natural Science: Taichung. Yao, Y-j. & Spooner, B. M. (1995a). New combinations in Melastiw and Scutellinia (pezizales). Mycotaxon 53, 467-477. Yao, Y.-j. & Spooner, B. M. (1995 b). Notes on British species of Octospora. Mycological Research (in press).