Abstract
A second genus in Chlorociboriaceae is described here as Brahmaculusgen. nov. Macroscopically distinctive, all species have bright yellow apothecia with several apothecial cups held on short branches at the tip of a long stipe. The genus is widely distributed across the Southern Hemisphere; the four new species described here include two from Chile (B. magellanicussp. nov., B. osornoensissp. nov.) and one each from New Zealand (B. moonlighticussp. nov.) and Australia (B. packhamiaesp. nov.). They differ from species referred to Chlorociboria, the only other genus in Chlorociboriaceae, in their terrestrial habitat and ascomata that are noticeably more hairy than the known Chlorociboria species, most of which have apothecia with short, macroscopically indistinct hair-like elements. Based on our analyses, Chlorociboria as accepted here is paraphyletic. Additional study is needed to clarify where alternative, monophyletic generic limits should be drawn and how these genera may be recognised morphologically. Also described here are three new Chlorociboria spp. from New Zealand (C. metrosiderisp. nov., C. solandrisp. nov., C. subtilissp. nov.), distinctive in developing on dead leaves rather than wood and in two of them not forming the green pigmentation characteristic of most Chlorociboria species. New Zealand specimens previously incorrectly identified as Chlorociboria argentinensis are provided with a new name, C. novae-zelandiaesp. nov.
Highlights
The modern-day distribution of Nothofagaceae forests of the Southern Hemisphere and their associated fungi are often explained in terms of vicariance in relation to the breakup of Gondwana (e.g. Horak 1983)
Much of the fungal diversity in these forests remains undiscovered (e.g. Johnston et al 2012; Romano et al 2017b). An example of this undiscovered diversity comes from recent collections of a beautiful, small terrestrial fungus from Nothofagaceae forests in South America, New Zealand and Australia that could not be matched to any known genus
Preliminary sequencing of ribosomal genes of both Australasian and South American specimens showed that these fungi are phylogenetically closely related and that they are related to the Leotiomycetes genus Chlorociboria
Summary
The modern-day distribution of Nothofagaceae forests of the Southern Hemisphere and their associated fungi are often explained in terms of vicariance in relation to the breakup of Gondwana (e.g. Horak 1983) This explanation has been challenged in recent years (May 2017), with their distribution thought to be due to a complex mix of ancient vicariant and geologically more recent long distance dispersal events, with evidence from Nothofagaceae phylogeny (e.g. Knapp et al 2005) along with the phylogeny of some of their specialised fungal associates (e.g. Peterson et al 2010b).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
