Corticolous Myxomycetes VII: Contribution toward a Monograph of Licea, Five New Species

Abstract

SUMMARYSystematic collecting of corticolous Myxomycetes from the bark of living trees and vines has resulted in the discovery of five new species of Licea. Seventeen species of Licea are now known from corticolous habitats. Licea denudescens is characterized by a glossy brown appearance after the outer peridial layer erodes away, by an inner, membranous peridial layer prominantly marked on the inner surface by papillae arranged in an irregular or reticulate pattern, and spores with a sharply defined colorless area of dehiscence on one side. Licea inconspicua may be recognized on the lichenized bark surfaces of living trees by its bright orange-colored sclerotia. This is the only species of Licea that has a three-layered peridium, the outer layer of which is sometimes widely separated from the inner two layers creating a cavity within which the spore mass lies more or less freely. Licea perexigua is characterized by its tiny, (40–110 μm diam) iridescent, mostly sessile sporangia. This species has the smallest sporangia described thus far in the genus. Licea pseudoconica is distinguished by its tiny sporangia with an apical cone of dried matter and a perithecium-like appearance. Licea scyphoides is characterized by stalked sporangia typically having equatorial circumscissile dehiscence and minutely roughened brownish yellow spores. A key is provided to 30 taxa included in the genus Licea.