Macowanites rubroluteus T. Lebel 2002
Details
Nomenclature
Classification
Descriptions
Macowanites rubroluteus T. Lebel 2002
ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet refers to colour of the basidiomata, from the Latin ruber meaning red, and luteus meaning yellow.
NOTES: Macowanites rubroluteus is one of two species of Macowanites with red tints or an overall red peridium to be described from New Zealand. Macowanites carmineus has a more robust stipe and the gleba is sublamellate rather than loculate as in M. rubroluteus. Microscopically, M. rubroluteus has a more organised trichodermial peridiopellis and subglobose spores ornamented with isolated spines, whereas M. carmineus has an unorganised trichodermial peridiopellis and broadly ellipsoid spores ornamented with aggregated warts forming an irregular partial reticulum. Macowanites rubroluteus may be differentiated from the other new species, M. tapawera, by the lack of olivaceous tints to the peridium or clavate peridial cystidia, and different spore ornamentation. Macowanites rubroluteus resembles G. fuscus as the peridium may also appear quite dark in M.rubroluteus, but a distinct stipe is always present in the former. Microscopically, M. rubroluteus has 4-spored rather than 2-spored basidia, and has large hymenial cystidia which G. fuscus lacks. M. rubroluteus also resembles Cystangium sessile from Australia, but the gleba is loculate rather than sublamellate, the peridium has at least some bright red tints, and the stipe is generally not as robust as in C. sessile (Lebel & Trappe 2000). Microscopically, the peridiopellis of C. sessile is composed of larger cells (11-25 µm diam. versus 5-7.5 x 6-12 µm) forming an epithelium, and the spore ornamentation is slightly less crowded than in M.rubroluteus.