Species of Sowerbyella in the British Isles, with validation of Pseudombrophila sect. Nannfeldtiella (Pezizales)

Abstract

Yao, Y.-J. and Spooner, B.M. (2006). Species of Sowerbyella in the British Isles, with validation of Pseudombrophila sect. Nannfeldtiella (Pezizales). Fungal Diversity 22: 267-279. Notes on the nomenclature and taxonomy of British taxa of Sowerbyella are presented, together with the description of a new variety, S. radiculata var. kewensis, and a new combination, S. radiculata var. petaloidea. Three varieties of S. radiculata are recognised from the British Isles. In addition, current status of the known taxa of Sowerbyella is summarised and a key for their identification provided. A new section in the genus Pseudombrophila, P. sect. Nannfeldtiella, is also validated and a lectotype for Geopyxis cookei designated.

Full text

Fungal Diversity
Species of Sowerbyella in the British Isles, with validation of
Pseudombrophila sect. Nannfeldtiella (Pezizales)
Yi-Jian Yao
1,2,*
and Brian M. Spooner
2
1
Key laboratory of Systematic Mycology and Lichenology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100080, PR China
2
Mycology Section, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK
Yao, Y.-J. and Spooner, B.M. (2006). Species of Sowerbyella in the British Isles, with
validation of Pseudombrophila sect. Nannfeldtiella (Pezizales). Fungal Diversity 22: 267-279.
Notes on the nomenclature and taxonomy of British taxa of Sowerbyella are presented,
together with the description of a new variety, S. radiculata var. kewensis, and a new
combination, S. radiculata var. petaloidea. Three varieties of S. radiculata are recognised from
the British Isles. In addition, current status of the known taxa of Sowerbyella is summarised
and a key for their identification provided. A new section in the genus Pseudombrophila, P.
sect. Nannfeldtiella, is also validated and a lectotype for Geopyxis cookei designated.
Key words: Nannfeldtiella, nomenclature, Pseudombrophila sect. Sowerbyella, taxonomy
Introduction
Sowerbyella Nannf. was erected with two species (Nannfeldt, 1938), S.
radiculata
(Sowerby) Nannf. (≡ Peziza radiculata Sowerby, type species) and
S. unicolor (Gillet) Nannf. (≡ Aleuria unicolor Gillet). More than 30 years
later, the latter was shown by Korf (1971) to be a synonym of
S. imperialis
(Peck) Korf (≡ Peziza imperialis Peck), and a new species, S. fagicola J.
Moravec (Moravec, 1973), was described. Further species of
Sowerbyella have
been published since (e.g. Harmaja, 1984; Moravec, 1985a,b, 1986, 1988a,
1994; Häffner, 1993) and, currently, 17 species and one variety are referred to
the genus. In the British Ascomycetes check-list (Cannon
et al., 1985), only
one species,
S. radiculata, was listed. However, Moravec (1985a) cited a
British specimen (Graddon 1691, K(M) 30424)
as one of the paratypes of S.
crassisculpturata
J. Moravec. Furthermore, an additional species, listed by
Cannon
et al. (1985) as Svrcekomyces pallidus Spooner, was also combined in
Sowerbyella by Moravec (1985b).
During the project ‘Ascomycetes of Great Britain and Ireland’, the type
specimen of
Peziza petaloidea Cooke & W. Phillips, recorded as Aleuria
*Corresponding author: Y.-J. Yao; e-mail: yaoyj@sun.im.ac.cn
267

petaloidea (Cooke & W. Phillips) Boud. in Cannon et al. (1985), was
examined and shown to be a member of
Sowerbyella (Spoon
eziza petaloidea is here considered as a variety of S. rad
er and Yao, 1995).
iculata with a new
ombination proposed below. A new variety of
S. radiculata was also revealed
om recent collections made at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England
nd elsewhere) and is described in this paper. Notes on the other names of the
Current status of the known taxa of
owerbyella is summarised and a key for their identification is also provided.
lectotype for
Geopyxis
ke) Harmaja is
oravec
1985a) revealed no significant character to distinguish it from other specimens
S.
d on spore ornamentation which in ‘a certain number of mature
subreticulate, but in the majority of ascospores is verrucose’
(Mora
its similarity with the type species of that genus, S. guldeniae (Svrček) J.
P
c
fr
(a
genus reported from Britain are provided.
S
In addition, a new section under the genus
Pseudombrophila Boud., originally
proposed by van Brummelen (1995), is validated, and a
cookei Massee is designated. Sowerbyella bauerana (Coo
confirmed as a synonym of
S. radiculata, and S. parvispora (Trigaux) J.
Moravec is established as a further synonym of this species.
Taxonomy
Sowerbyella crassisculpturata J. Moravec in
Mycotaxon 23: 492 (1985).
= Sowerbyella radiculata (Sowerby: Fr.) Nannf. in Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 32: 119 (1938).
Examination of the British specimen (Graddon, 1691) cited by M
(
of typical
S. radiculata. Sowerbyella crassisculpturata was separated from
radiculata
base
scospores is a
vec, 1985a). Ascospores from the British specimen cited by Moravec
(1985a) as one of the paratypes for
S. crassisculpturata measure 13.5-15 × 7.5-
9 µm, and are ornamented with irregularly branched, sometimes anastomosing
ridges. They are very similar to those of typical
S. radiculata. The characters
emphasised by Moravec (1985a) are considered here not to warrant recognition
of
S. crassisculpturata as a separate species from S. radiculata. They are,
therefore, treated here as synonyms.
It may be noted that there are two parts of Graddon 1691 housed at the
Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K). The full information for this
collection is: England, Herefordshire, Llangrove, Ross-on-Wye, in a loamy
hedgebank, 30 Nov. 1964, W.G. Graddon 1691, K(M)30424a & b.
Sowerbyella pallida
(Spooner) J. Moravec in Mycologia Helvetica 1: 431
(1985, as
S. pallidus).
≡ Svrcekomyces pallidus Spooner in Trans. Brit. mycol. Soc. 76: 298 (1981).
≡ Leucoscypha pallidus (Spooner) Brumm. in Libri Botanici 14: 87 (1995).
This species was originally placed in Svrcekomyces J. Moravec based on
268

Fungal Diversity
Moravec (≡
Pseudombrophila guldeniae Svrček), viz. large, fleshy, white
apothecia; hyaline, ellipsoid ascospores with strong cyanophilic ornament;
iodine-negative asci and distinctive ectal excipulum comprising an outermost
hyphal layer overlying a zone of large, thin-walled subglobose cells (Spooner,
1981). However, Moravec (1985b) considered the ascospore ornamentation,
shape of apothecia and habitat of this species to be characteristic of
Sowerbyella. Recently, van Brummelen (1995) transferred the species to
Leucoscypha Boud., emphasising ‘the habitat, the shape and colour of the
apothecia, the structures of excipulum, asci, and spores fit very well with the
genus’ as well as the similarity of its hairs with
L. rozei Boud.
The type species of Svrcekomyces, S. guldeniae, was considered by
Moravec (1976) as ‘rather similar’ and ‘congeneric or even identical’ with
Nannfeldtiella aggregata Eckblad, the type species of Nannfeldtiella Eckblad.
vrček (1981) synonymised
Svrcekomyces with Nannfeldtiella, making the
Nannfeldtiella guldeniae (Svrček) Svrček, but Moravec (1985b)
onfirmed
P. guldeniae to be conspecific with N. aggregata. It has become
as ‘no
short stalked), various colours of disc (e.g.
white
ylindrical-
ellipsoid to globose) and ornament (smooth, finely warted, striate or
s). Despite this broad generic concept, van Brummelen
(1995
sed on
habita
S
combination
c
clear, therefore, that
Svrcekomyces and Nannfeldtiella are synonyms.
The ascospore ornamentation of
Nannfeldtiella aggregata was described
n callose-petic’ (cyanophobic) by Eckblad (1968) but, in contrast, was
reported as cyanophilic by Korf (1972). Korf also regarded the apothecia of
that species as not hairy, again in contrast to Eckblad (1968), speculating that
Eckblad had lost the outermost layer of the excipulum in his apothecial
sections. Harmaja (1979) transferred the species to
Pseudombrophila and
reduced
Nannfeldtiella as a synonym of the former. At the same time, Harmaja
also suggested
Fimaria Velen. would prove to be a further synonym. In his
monograph of
Pseudombrophila, van Brummelen (1995) included Fimaria,
Nannfeldtiella
and Svrcekomyces in the list of generic synonyms, thus broadly
expanding the generic concept of Pseudombrophila. Twenty-eight species were
recognised by van Brummelen (1995), exhibiting various forms of apothecia
(e.g. 0.5-28 mm diam. and sessile or
, to reddish or purplish-brown), hairs scarce to abundant, various
structures of excipulum (e.g.
textura globulosa, t. angularis or t. intricata),
greatly varying ascus length (ranging from 100-300 µm) and variable number
of spores per ascus (4- to 8-spored), various ascospore forms (c
subreticulate), and a wide range of habitat (fimicolous, foliicolous, lignicolous,
terrestrial or pyrophilou
) excluded
Svrcekomyces pallidus from Pseudombrophila ba
t (on wet bare soil amongst hepatics), large apothecia (up to 20 mm
diam.) with short stipe and smooth margin, colour of receptacle and disc (white
269

without amorphous reddish-brown pigment), surface hairs and cell structure of
the excipulum (thick layer of hyaline hyphoid hairs and a textura prorrecta near
the margin), length of asci (280-315 µm), and ascospores (biguttulate and with
isolated warts).
The genus
Leucoscypha was introduced by Boudier (1885) for two
species, Peziza leucotricha Alb. & Schwein. (≡ L. Ieucotricha (Alb. &
Schwein.: Fr.) Boud., the combination not made at the time of publication of
the genus), and
L. rozei. Three more species were later referred to the genus by
Boudier (1907). However, Le Gal (1957) recognised only
L. leucotricha and L.
erminea
(E. Bommer & M. Rousseau) Boud. in the genus, and considered L.
rozei a member of Melastiza, for which a combination was made by Yao and
Spooner (1995).
position
in
Le
In assessing an appropriate generic position for Svrcekomyces pallidus, it
has been found in the present study that most of the characters of this species
fall within the broad concept of
Pseudombrophila as circumscribed by van
Brummelen (1995). Although the combination of white disc and warty spores
makes it difficult to place it in either of the two sections he proposed, a
ucoscypha as circumscribed by Le Gal (1957), a concept largely accepted
by the present authors (Yao and Spooner, 1995), is also inappropriate for
Svrcekomyces pallidus as proposed by van Brummelen (1995). The generic
position for this species remains unclear, but species closely related to it have
been included in
Pseudombrophila by van Brummelen (1995). It may be
necessary to introduce a new combination in that genus for
Svrcekomyces
pallidus
, pending further investigation of British Pseudombrophila.
In his monograph of
Pseudombrophila, van Brummelen (1995)
recognised two sections within the genus,
P. sect. Pseudombrophila and P.
sect. Nannfeldtiella¸ for which neither author nor basionym were directly
indicated. Under each section name, only the phrase ‘For synonymy see under
generic name’ was used. It is not clear what was intended by this phrase,
although a list of generic synonyms of
Pseudombrophila with publication
reference and type species was provided. As van Brummelen (1995) complied
with the rules of ICBN for other new taxa and new combinations made in the
monograph, it seems that the appropriate requirements for the new section
combination were accidentally omitted. In order to make the section name
available for use, it is validated here:
Pseudombrophila
Boud. sect. Nannfeldtiella (Eckblad) Brumm. ex Y.J. Yao &
Spooner, comb. nov.
≡ Nannfeldtiella Eckblad in Nytt Mag. Bot. 15: 116 (1968).
= Pseudombrophila Boud. sect. Nannfeldtiella (Eckblad) Brumm. in Libri Botanici 14:
65 (1995). nom. invalid, ICBN Art. 33.3.
270

Fungal Diversity
MycoBank number: MB500917.
Type species: Nannfeldtiella aggregata Eckblad 1968 (= Pseudombrophila guldeniae
Svrček 1966).
Sowerbyella radiculata (Sowerby: Fr.) Nannf. in
Svensk Bot. Tidskr. 32: 119
(1938). (Figs. 1A, B and D)
≡ Peziza radiculata Sowerby, Eng. Fung. Pl. 114 (1797): Fr., Syst. Mycol. 2: 81 (1822).
≡ Lachnea radiculata (Sowerby: Fr.) W. Phillips, Man. Br. Discomyc.: 202 (1887).
≡ Geopyxis radiculata (Sowerby: Fr.) Massee, Br. Fung. Fl. 4: 379 (1895).
≡ Pseudotis radiculata (Sowerby: Fr.) Boud., Hist. Classific. Discomyc. Europe: 52
(1907).
= Peziza bauerana Cooke, Mycographia 1: 129 (1876).
≡ Sowerbyella bauerana (Cooke) Harmaja in Karstenia 24: 29 (1984).
= Peziza radiculata var. percevalii W. Phillips in Cooke, Mycographia 1: 178 (1877).
ke (from Germany, detail see also below)
rved amongst British
collec
new. Few collections of these taxa have yet
≡ Lachnea radiculata var. percevalii (W. Phillips) W. Phillips, Man. Br. Discomyc.: 203
(1887).
≡ Geopyxis cookei var. percevalii (W. Phillips) Massee, Br. Fung. Fl. 4: 379 (1895).
= Sowerbyella crassisculpturata J. Moravec in Mycotaxon 23: 492 (1985).
= Discina parvispora Trigaux in Doc. Mycol. 16(61): 13 (1985).
≡ Sowerbyella parvispora (Trigaux) J. Moravec in Mycologia Helvetica 2: 95 (1986).
[Although the pagination of the whole publication was cited in the reference to the basionym,
this combination is acceptable because only one species was discussed in the original paper,
the whole pagination therefore being coextensive with that of the protologue (see ICBN Art.
33.3 Note 1)]
Sowerby’s type material (ex Herb. Berkeley, K(M) 30427) for this name
has been well preserved at K. Examination of this material shows mature
ascospores 14-16.5 × 7.5-9 µm, with irregular, branched anatomising ridges
often forming an incomplete, rarely complete reticulum. Many other specimens
display similar spore characters, e.g. the paratype of
S. crassisculpturata
mentioned above, the type of material of Peziza radiculata var. percevalii
(West Sussex, Stopham, Oct. 1876, H.S. Perceval, ex Herb. Cooke, K(M)
30425 (isotype) and ex Herb. Phillips, K(M) 30426 (holotype); ascospores 14-
16 × 7.5-8.5 µm, Fig. 1B), an early collection (Buckinghamshire, Dropmore,
30 Oct. 1867, ex Herb. Broome, K(M) 121062; ascospores 14.5-16.5 × 8-9
µm) and a recent collection (Berkshire, Silchester, near Reading, Jan. 2004, A.
Merrick, K(M) 121060; ascospores 13.5-15 × 7.5-8 µm). The type of
Discina
parvispora
Trigaux 1985 (from France, see below) also has similar spores and
the name is here determined as a synonym of
S. radiculata. Examination of the
ype material of
Peziza bauerana Coo
t
also confirmed the synonymy of this name with
S. radiculata. However,
several collections with characters differing consistently (mainly in spore size
and form) from those given above have been obse
tions of
Sowerbyella and are here recognised at varietal level. One of
these varieties is described here as
271

been ive examination of the British collections
under
elow.
irst
recogn
stipem, pallidum, pubentem,
margin pulum e textura
intrica .
Ascosp
sc
conca
ith a long
stipe, paler than disc, surface downy and binding debris, margin incurved.
Ectal
ullary excipulum a textura intricata, up to 800 µm thick, hyphae
5.0-1
identified, but more extens
S. radiculata in K may reveal further material. These varieties are
onsidered bc
Sowerbyella radiculata (Sowerby: Fr.) Nannf. var. kewensis Y.J. Yao &
Spooner, var. nov. (Fig. 1C)
MycoBank number: MB500918.
ty was fEtym.: named after Kew, referring to the location from which the varie
ised.
Apothecia dispersa vel gregaria vel caespitosa, 20-55 mm diam. Discus concavus vel
planus, flavus vel ochraceus. Receptaculum cupulatum,
atum incurvum. Ectal excipulum e textura angularis. Medullary exci
ts. Asci operculati, jodo non caerulescenti, cylindrici, 180-210 × 9-10 µm, 8 spori
orae unicellulares, hyalinae, ellipsoideae, 12-13 (-14) × 6.5-8 µm, verrucis vel cristis
vel reticulis ornatae. Paraphyses filiformes, septatae.
Apothecia scattered to gregarious or caespitose, 20-55 mm diam. Di
ve to flat, yellow to ochraceous.
Receptacle cupulate, often w
excipulum a textura angularis, 80-100 µm thick, composed of a layer of
irregular, angular, thin-walled, colourless cells, 10-32 × 8-26 µm, overlain by a
layer of woven, thin-walled, septate, colourless or pale yellowish-brown
hyphae.
Med
0.0 (-12.0) µm diam., thin-walled, septate, colourless, loosely to densely
woven.
Asci operculate, I-, narrowly cylindric or cylindric, tapering to the base,
180-210 × 9-10 µm, uniseriately 8-spored.
Ascospores unicellular, colourless,
ellipsoid, 12-13 (-14) × 6.5-8 µm, ornamented with irregular warts and ridges,
often anastomosing and forming a complete or incomplete reticulum.
Paraphyses
filiform, septate, straight or curved but not hooked, occasionally
forked near the apex, slightly enlarged to 3-5.5 µm diam.
Specimens examined: England: Surrey, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 4 Jan. 1985, E.W.
Brown, K(M) 78446; in mulched flowerbed, 5 Nov. 1985, E.W. Brown, K(M) 30429,
Holotype; 3 Jan. 1986, R.W.G. Dennis, K(M) 78450; 9 Oct. 1986, J. Pitt; K(M) 78452; on soil
(mulched), under Camellia sp., 27 Nov. 2003, E.W. Brown, K(M) 120948. Hampshire,
Northington, The Grange, among Urtica, 18 Oct. 1998, G. Mattock, K(M) 59438. Kent,
Swanscombe, Darenth Wood, in litter, under Corylus and Carpinus, 12 Oct. 1993, S. Lines,
K(M) 24480. Norfolk, in clusters on soil under Castanea, 12 Dec. 1993, comm. M. Jordan,
K(M) 25162. Sussex, East Grinstead, Dec. 1945, F.L. B-B., K(M) 120950.
The smaller, ellipsoid ascospores of this variety, compared with
cylindric-ellipsoid ascospores measuring (13.5-) 14-15.5 (-16.5) × 7.5-9 µm in
the typical variety of S. radiculata, were initially noticed from collections
made at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. A number of other collections from
various parts of England were found to exhibit the same spore characters.
Although hitherto found mainly in South-east England,
S. radiculata var.
272

Fungal Diversity
Fig. 1. Line drawings of ascospores in Sowerbyella radiculata. A. Sowerbyella radiculata var.
radiculata, K(M) 30427, holotype. B. Sowerbyella radiculata var. radiculata, K(M) 30425,
isotype of Peziza radiculata var. percevalii. C. Sowerbyella radiculata var. kewensis, K(M)
30429, holotype. D. Sowerbyella radiculata var. radiculata, K(M) 94359, isotype of Discina
parvispora. E. Sowerbyella radiculata var. petaloidea, K(M) 30430, type. F. Sowerbyella
radiculata var. petaloidea, K(M) 121073a, lectotype of Geopyxis cookei. Bar = 10 µm.
kewensis has also been found in Hampshire and Norfolk and may prove to be
more widespread as additional collections are examined. Some collections of
this variety may have been previously referred to typical S. radiculata.
During initial attempts to identify this taxon, those species of the genus
with potentially small ascospores were investigated, viz.
S. bauerana (Cooke)
Harmaja, S. brevispora Harmaja and S. parvispora. Peziza bauerana was
considered as a synonym of
S. radiculata by Nannfeldt (1938) and supported
by Moravec (1985a,b), but recombined in
Sowerbyella as an independent
species by Harmaja (1984), who also provided a spore measurement of 11-13 ×
6.5-7.2 µm. The spore size of
P. bauerana was given as 14 × 7.5 µm by Cooke
(1876). Examination of the type material of
P. bauerana (Germany, Darmstadt,
in sylvis, leg. Bauer, Rabenhorst Fungi Europaei 615, ex Herb. Cooke, K(M)
121165) shows ascospores to be scanty and mostly immature, measuring 13.0-
15 × 7.5-8.5 µm (another measurement by R.W.G. Dennis annotated in pencil
273

on the herbarium sheet shows 14-16 × 8 µm). It is, therefore, concluded that
P.
bauerana
Cooke is correctly interpreted as another synonym of S. radiculata
and that Harmaja’s (1984) material may represent another taxon.
Sowerbyella
brevispora
has ascospores 9-12 × 5-6.5 µm (Harmaja 1984), much smaller than
those found in British collections. The spore size of
S. parvispora was given as
(15-) 16 (-19.5) × (7.5-) 8 (-9.5) µm in the protologue, but as 11.5-13.5 (-14) ×
6.7-7.5 (-8.3) µm, reaching 15.5 × 8.5 µm in 1-2 spored asci, in Moravec
(1986) and as 10.5-13.5 (-14) × 6.2-7.5 (-8.3) µm in Moravec (1988b).
Examination of an isotype of
Discina parvispora (France, Champagne,
Montigny, Vesle, on cultivated soil, with
Quercus, Corylus, Populus etc., Feb
1984, G. Trigaux, K(M) 94359), kindly donated for study and for deposition at
K by Mme Trigaux, reveals ascospores 13.5-15 × 7.5-8.5 µm (Fig. 1D) with
ornamentation indistinguishable from that in other specimens of typical
S.
radiculata
. Therefore, S. parvispora is here recognised as a synonym of the
latter. It may be noted that Moravec’s (1986) interpretation of the species is
different from the protologue, especially with regard to stalk of apothecia and
to spore size.
Sowerbyella radiculata (Sowerby: Fr.) Nannf. var. petaloidea (Cooke & W.
Phillips) Y.J. Yao & Spooner, comb. nov
. (Figs. 1E and F)
≡ Peziza petaloidea Cooke & W. Phillips in Phillips, Man. Br. Discomyc.: 46 (1887).
≡ Geopyxis petaloidea (Cooke & W. Phillips) Sacc., Syll. Fung. 8: 67 (1889).
≡ Aleuria petaloidea (Cooke & W. Phillips) Boud., Hist. Classific. Discomyc. Europe:
47 (1907).
= Geopyxis cookei Massee, Br. Fung. Fl. 4: 378 (1895).
=Peziza radiculata β alutacea Broome, in sched.
MycoBank number: MB500919.
Apothecia scattered to gregarious, 10-25 mm diam. Disc concave to flat,
18 µm,
overla
yellow to ochraceous.
Receptacle cupulate, stipitate, pale than disc, margin
incurved. Ectal excipulum a textura angularis, 120-140 µm thick, composed of
a layer of irregular, angular, thin-walled, colourless cells, 12-23 × 10-
in by a layer of woven, thin-walled, septate, colourless or pale yellowish-
brown hyphae, 6.0-12 µm diam.
Medullary excipulum a tightly woven textura
intricata
, 500-800 µm thick, comprising thin-walled, septate, colourless
hyphae, 5-10 (-16) µm diam.
Asci operculate, I-, narrowly cylindric or
cylindric, tapering to the base, 200-250 × (9-) 10-14 µm, uniseriately 8-spored.
Ascospores unicellular, colourless, ellipsoid, (15-) 16-18 × 7.5-9 µm,
ornamented with irregular, mostly isolated warts and short ridges, rarely
anastomising.
Paraphyses filiform, septate, often curved above but not hooked,
apex 2.5-3.5 µm diam.
Specimens examined: England: Suffolk, East Bergholt, 2 Feb. 1852, K(M) 30430,
TYPE; Buckinghamshire, Dropmore, 24 Nov. 1876, ex Herb. Broome, K(M) 121063.
274

Fungal Diversity
Germany: Staurenberg prope Giessen, H. Hofmann, Rabenhorst Fungi Europaei, No. 618, ex
Herb Cooke, K(M) 121073a (Lectotype designated here for Geopyxis cookei Massee) and
K(M) 121073b.
This was considered a species of Aleuria Fuckel by Boudier (1907) and
remained in that genus until studied by Spooner and Yao (1995), who
determined it to be a member of
Sowerbyella. Ascospores from the type
material are closely ornamented with verruculae and short ridges which only
rarely anastomose. It apparently has close affinity with typical
S. radiculata.
However, the ascospores are consistently larger than those of the typical
variety. There appear to be no other distinguishing characters and, therefore,
the combination of this taxon in
Sowerbyella is treated at varietal rather than
species level.
Geopyxis cookei has been a forgotten name in British literature since it
was listed by Ramsbottom and Balfour-Browne (1951) as a tentative synonym
of
S. radiculata. It was described (Massee, 1895) based on material used by
Cooke (1874, 1876) for illustration of
S. radiculata. Collections from Great
Britain, France and Germany were mentioned by Cooke (1876). However, the
xsiccatum ‘Rae bh. F.E. 618’ was the only collection from which the drawing
house d
Germ and the
Britis
positively determined amongst collections at K. Examination of
Rabh he syntypes of this name,
show × 7.5-9.5 µm) and ornamentation (isolated
warts
e applied an unpublished name Peziza radiculata β
aluta
of an ascus, containing 8 warted spores, was prepared by Cooke (1874), cited
again for his Fig. 99 in Cooke (1876).
Two parts of Rabh. F.E. 618 are now
d in K and one of them marked as ‘Herb. Cooke’. The French an
an material used by Cooke (1874, 1876) cannot now be located
h material (as ‘communicated by C.E. Broome’ in Cooke (1876)) also
cannot be
. F.E. 618, which should be regarded as one of t
s similar spore size (15-18
and short ridges) to that of the type of
S. radiculata var. petaloidea,
confirming the larger, verruculose spores as mentioned by Massee (1895)
(although his comment on the ochraceous hymenium is no longer confirmable).
It is, therefore, concluded that G. cookei is synonymous with S. radiculata var.
petaloidea and, as the name was based on more than one specimen, the
collection Rabh. F.E. 618, ex Herb Cooke, K(M) 121073a, is here designated
as the lectotype of
G. cookei Massee 1895 (Fig. 1F).
It is interesting to note that the collection from Buckinghamshire,
Dropmore (K(M) 121063, cited above) was originally determined by C.E.
Broome as different from another collection from the same locality (K(M)
121062, Buckinghamshire, Dropmore, 30 Oct. 1867, ex Herb. Broome;
identified here
by the present authors as S. radiculata var. radiculata), and to
this former specimen h
cea.
275

Table 1. Current status of taxa referred to Sowerbyella.
Name Place of publication Notes on current status
S. angus
M
tispora J.Z. Cao & J.
oravec
Mycol. Helv. 3(1): 136 (1988). √
. bauerana (Cooke) Harmaja Karstenia 24 (1): 29 (1984) Syn. of S. radiculata (this
paper)
. brevispora Harmaja Karstenia 24 (1): 29 (1984) √
. crassisculpturata J. Moravec Mycotaxon 23: 492 (1985) Syn. of S. radiculata (this
paper)
. densireticulata J. Moravec Mycotaxon 23: 494 (1985) √
. fagicola J. Moravec Ceska Mykol. 27 (2): 66 (1973) √
. imperialis (Peck) Korf Phytologia 21 (4): 206 (1971) √
. kaush
S
S
S
S
S
S
S Mycol. Helv. 2 (1): 94 (1986) Syn. of Otideopsis
)
S a
S
S
H
S
S
S
&
S
&
S
S
H
S
S
S ,
alii J. Moravec
kaushalii (Moravec 1988a
. pallida (Spooner) J. Moravec Mycol. Helv. 1 (6): 431 (1985) ?Pseudombrophila pallid
(this paper)
. parvispora (Trigaux) J. Moravec Mycol. Helv. 2 (1): 95 (1986) Syn. of S. radiculata (this
paper)
. phlyctispora (Lepr. & Mont.)
ohmeyer & J. Moravec
Czech Mycol. 47 (4): 263 (1994) √
. polaripustulata J. Moravec Mycotaxon 23: 493 (1985) √
. radiculata (Sowerby) Nannf. Svensk bot. Tidskr. 32: 119 (1938) √
. radiculata var. kewensis Y.J. Yao
Spooner
Fung. Diversity 21: XX (2006) √
. radiculata var. petaloidea (Cooke
W. Phillips) Y.J. Yao & Spooner
Fung. Diversity 21: XX (2006) √
. reguisii (Quél.) J. Moravec Mycol. Helv. 1 (6): 429 (1985) √
. reguisii var. venustula (Rifai)
äffner
Rheinland-Pfälzisches Pilzjournal
3 (1): 50 (1993)
√
. rhenana (Fuckel) J. Moravec Mycol. Helv. 2 (1): 96 (1986) √
. unicisa (Peck) J. Moravec Czech Mycol. 47 (4): 266 (1994) √
. unicolor (Gillet) Nannf. Svensk bot. Tidskr. 32: 118 (1938) Syn. of S. imperialis (Korf
1971)
√ Recognisable from the literature.
Although further study of the several dozen British collections preserved
under the name of
S. radiculata at K may reveal additional collections of S.
radic
ta var. petaloidea is required to determine if they represent the same
taxon.
ulata var. petaloidea, it is notable that only early collections from the
latter part of 19th Century have been identified, and that there appear to be no
recent or modern collections of this taxon, at least from Britain. It may be
further noted that
S. densireticulata J. Moravec, described from Slovakia, has
similar spore size and ornamentation (Moravec, 1985a) to this taxon, and
comparison of the type material of
S. densireticulata with British collections of
S. radicula
276

Fungal Diversity
Current status of known taxa of Sowerbyella
With o varieties propose total of
werby ta nomic position of
uire nve
the current status of the known taxa in
Sowerbyella is summ in Table 1.
rrently 14 cies d three varieties,
in
gely
y to largel blished data,
. It is int e use we have not
e taxa in ic revision is required
ct placem
ell
rreg (spores 15-18 × 8.5-
............................................................................................ phlyctispora
, or idges, or a partial to complete
..... ............................... 2
ornament of isolated small warts and lines, rarely anastomosing............................. 3
.... ............................... 8
d, Q = ..... ............ angustispora
<2 ) ............................ 4
; ap ....... ................ brevispora
more; a . ............................... 5
5. Spores large, mostly 16-20 µm long................................................................................... 6
long ................................................................................. 7
densely punctuate-verruculose, with mostly isolated small
warts to 0.7 µm across; apothecia with Fagus ........................................................ fagicola
6. S
the tw d in this paper, a 20 taxa have been
referred to the genus
So ella. As shown above, the xo
several of these taxa req s clarification. For the co nience of reference,
arised
There are cu taxa, including 11 spe an
which can be recognised
Sowerbyella, based lar on a survey of the
on puliterature (Table 1). A ke these taxa, again based y
is provided below ended for guidance only b ca
examined many of th cluded and further taxonom
to confirm the corre ent of some of them.
Key to species of Sowerby a
(measurements of ascospores exclu
ding ornamentation)
1. Spore ornament of large, i
10 µm) ..................
ular warts to 5 µm wide × 4 µm high
1. Spore ornament punctate of irregular small warts or r
reticulum........................... ..............................................................
2. Spore
2. Spore ornament a partial or com
plete reticulum......................... .....
3. Spores narrowly ellipsoi 2.3-2.6, under 16 µm long ...... .....
3. Spores ellipsoid, Q usually
.2 (if narrower, spore length 17-20 µm
4. Spore length 12 µm or less othecia fulvous to brown ........ .....
4. Spore length 13 µm or pothecia yellow to orange............. .....
5. Spores smaller, mostly <15 µm
6. Spores mostly 17-20 µm long,
pores mostly 16-18 µm long, ornamented with warts and short ridges which may rarely
anastomose ..................................................................................radiculata var. petaloidea
7. Spores with fine, isolated warts; apothecia with conifers..................................... imperialis
7. Spores spinose-echinulate; apothecia with deciduous trees......................... polaripustulata
8. Disc bright yellow; spore ornament a dense, irregular incomplete reticulum with narrow,
elongated meshes mostly 0.5-1.5 µm wide; spores often over 16 µm long.. densireticulata
8. Disc orange to orange yellow or olive; spore ornament a complete or incomplete
reticulum with meshes 1.5-4 µm wide................................................................................ 9
277

9. Spores large, 17-22 µm long............................................................................................. 10
9. Spores smaller, <16.5 µm long......................................................................................... 12
11. D
nse warts or short ridges, often
forming a reticulum; apothecia broader than tall, not split on one side............................ 13
.5-9.0 µm..radiculata var. radiculata
...................radiculata var. kewensis
nvi
a
en
n
n
ga
eferences
Boud
Brum
Ascomycotina). Libri Botanici 14: 1-117.
n
ooke, M.C. (1874). Carpology of Peziza. Grevillea 3: 73-74, Figs. 65-121.
äffner, J. (1993). Die Gattung Aleuria. Rheinland-Pfälzisches Pilzjournal 3(1): 6-59.
10. Spore ornament a regular reticulum; disc orange-yellow....................................... rhenana
10. Spore ornament an irregular and mostly incomplete reticulum; disc orange or olive-
yellow ................................................................................................................................11
isc yellow-olive; European ................................................................reguisii var. reguisii
11. Disc orange; Australian .................................................................... reguisii var. venustula
12. Disc pale yellow, with pink tints; spore ornament of irregular, anastomosing lines and
partial reticulum; apothecia taller than broad, sometimes split on one side and Otidea-like
.................................................................................................................................. unicisa
12. Disc yellow, lacking pink tints; spore ornament of de
13. Ascospores cylindric-ellipsoid, mostly 14.0-15.5 × 7
13. Ascospores ellipsoid, mostly 12.0-13.0 × 6.5-8.0 µm
Acknowledgements
This work was initially supported by grant GR3/8284 from the UK Natural
ronment Research Council for the project ‘The ascomycetes of Great Britain and Ireland’ E
and completed during a visit by Y.-J.Y. to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, supported by a
Roy l Society study visit grant. The first author also wishes to thank the National Natural
ci ce Foundation of China for the award ‘Distinguished Youth Scholars’ (30025002) and the S
Chi ese Academy of Sciences for support through the scheme ‘Introduction of Overseas
Chi ese Scholars’ and a project grant (KSCX2-SW-101C). Thanks are also due to Ginette
ri ux for kindly sending type material of Discina parvispora for this study and for donating the T
type specimen for deposit in K.
R
Boudier, E. (1885). Nouvelle classification naturelle des Discomycètes Charnus. Connus
généralement sous le nom de Pezizes. Société Mycologique, Bulletin 1: 91-120.
ier, E. (1907). Histoire et Classification des Discomycètes d'Europe. Librairie des
Sciences Naturelles, Klincksieck: Paris. 221pp.
melen van, J. (1995). A World-Monograph of the Genus Pseudombrophila (Pezizales,
Can on, P.F., Hawksworth, D.L. and Sherwood-Pike, M.A. (1985). The British Ascomycotina,
an Annotated Checklist. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux: Slough, U.K. 302pp.
C
Cooke, M.C. (1876). Mycographia, seu Icones Fungorum. Vol. 1. Williams and Norgate:
London. pp. 45-136.
Eckblad, F.-E. (1968). The genera of the operculate Discomycetes. Nytt Magasin for Botanikk
15(1-2): 1-191.
H
278

Fungal Diversity
Harmaja, H. (1979). Studies on vernal species of Gyromitra and Pseudombrophila (syn.
Nannfeldtiella). Annales Botanici Fennici 16: 159-162.
Harmaja, H. (1984). Sowerbyella brevispora, a new discomycete species from Finland.
Korf
e Gal, M. (1957). Le gener Leucoscypha Boud. Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de L'État,
Bell & Sons: London. viii + 522pp.
Mora
Pezizales). Mycotaxon 23: 483-496.
a
oravec, J. (1986). A new species and two new combinations in the genus Sowerbyella.
93-102.
oravec, J. (1988a). la angustispora spec. nov. and Otideopsis kaushalii comb. nov.
amsbottom, J. and Balfour-Browne, F.L. (1951). List of Discomycetes recorded from the
les. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 34: 38-137.
(1981). New records and species of British microfungi. Transactions of the
British Mycological Society 76: 365-301.
Karstenia 24(1): 29-30.
Korf, R.P. (1971). Some new discomycete names. Phytologia 21: 201-207.
, R.P. (1972). Synoptic key to the genera of the Pezizales. Mycologia 64: 937-994.
L
Bruxelles 27: 719-728.
Massee, G. (1895). British Fungus Flora. A Classified Text-book of Mycology. Vol. 4. George
Moravec, J. (1973). Sowerbyella fagicola J. Moravec spec. nov., novy druh z Ceskoslovenska.
Česká Mykologie 27: 65-68.
Moravec, J. (1976). Svrcekomyces J. Moravec gen. nov., a new genus of Pyronemaceae [sic]
Corda em. Eckblad (Discomycetes). Česká Mykologie 30: 5-7.
vec, J. (1985a). A taxonomic revision of the genus Sowerbyella Nannfeldt (Discomycetes,
Mor vec, J. (1985b). Taxonomic revision of the genus Sowerbyella. Mycologia Helvetica 1:
427-442.
M
Mycologia Helvetica 2:
SowerbyelM
(Discomycetes, Pezizales, Pyronemataceae). Mycologia Helvetica 3: 135-141.
Moravec, J. (1988b). A key to the species of Sowerbyella (Discomycetes, Pezizales). Česká
Mykologie 42: 193-199.
Moravec, J. (1994). Some new taxa and combinations in the Pezizales. Czech Mycology 47:
261-269.
Nannfeldt, J.A. (1938). Contributions to the mycoflora of Sweden 5. On Peziza catinus
Holmskj. ex Fr. and P. radiculata Sow. ex Fr. with a discussion of the genera Pustularia
Fuck. emend. Boud. and Sowerbyella Nannf. n. gen. Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift 32: 108-
120.
R
British Is
Spooner, B.M.
Spooner, B.M. and Yao, Y.-J. (1995). Notes on British taxa referred to Aleuria. Mycological
Research 99: 1515-1518.
Svrček, M. (1981). Katalog operkulátních diskomycetů (Pezizales) Českkslovenska. I. (A-N).
Česká Mykologie 35: 1-24.
Trigaux, G. (1985). Une nouvelle espece de Discina (D. parvispora). Documents
Mycologiques 16(61): 7-15.
Yao, Y.-J. and Spooner, B.M. (1995). Notes on British Leucoscypha with a new combination
in Melastiza. Mycological Research 99: 1513-1514.
(Received 5 February 2006; accepted 16 April 2006)
279