Metacampanella gen. nov.: The Campanella dendrophora complex

Abstract

ABSTRACTMetacampanella is proposed as a new genus in Family Marasmiaceae to accommodate a small group of six species morphologically resembling Tetrapyrgos or Campanella but molecularly distinct from both genera. Newly described taxa include M. costaricensis, M. sinecystidia, and M. dendrophora f. washingtonensis; species epithets transferred are M. caesia, M. dendrophora, M. olivaceonigra, and M. subdendrophora. Members of this complex habitually fruit on dead monocot stems and in one case, dead dicot wood. A comparison of nrITS sequences deposited in GenBank indicates that some members of Metacampanella include or are related to grass endophytes. Metacampanella appears to be global in distribution.

Keywords

• Basidiomycota
• Marasmiaceae
• new species
• new genus
• taxonomy