Introduction

Fungi of the genus Cortinarius (Pers.) Gray are abundant and diversified in New Zealand, where many species exhibit vivid red, yellow and orange hues, forming a decorative element on the native forest floor. These species form ectomycorrhizae with plants of the Myrtaceae and Nothofagaceae families. Their sizes vary from small to fairly large, and their fruit bodies are dry or viscid. Recent molecular investigations (Garnica et al. 2016; Soop et al. in prep.) reveal that these brightly coloured species occur primarily in three genetic groups, which can be characterised as ‘dermocyboid’, ‘leprocyboid’, and ‘telamonioid’, with reference to the names of traditional Cortinarius subgenera.

Members of the dermocyboid group often resemble species in subgenus Dermocybe (Fr.) Trog, which means that they are mostly of a modest size and react strongly red with alkaline solutions on parts of their basidiome, indicating the presence of anthraquinonic metabolites. The leprocyboid group consists of small to fairly large fungi with a weaker alkaline reaction, which resemble species in subgen. Leprocybe M.M. Moser as well as in Dermocybe. The telamonioid group contains dermocyboid taxa that lack an alkaline reaction. Genetically the three groups appear to be closely related (Garnica et al. 2016 figure S2), suggesting a common evolutionary origin. They may be attributed mainly to Dermocybe sect. Icterinula E. Horak & M.M. Moser, D. sect. Papuerae M.M. Moser & E. Horak, Cortinarius sect. Limonii Kühner & Romagn. ex Nezdojm., C. subgen. Callistei Liimat., Niskanen & Ammirati, and an unpublished section around Cortinarius persplendidus Gasparini (Stefani et al. 2014; Soop et al. in prep.).

Many species in these groups were described by Horak (1987) and Soop (1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016). One aim of this eighth instalment in a series on Cortinarius taxa from New Zealand is to further investigate the affinities within the groups; this concerns the first five species described. Other species treated in the present study may be placed in sect. Anomali Konrad & Maubl., and subgen. Telamonia (Fr.) Trog, as morphologically defined by Brandrud et al. (1989). Species in these infrageneric taxa were partly considered in the previous instalments (loc. cit.), but have not been otherwise treated in publications aimed at the mycota of the country.

Materials and methods

Taxonomic treatment

Cortinarius peraurilis Soop & Dima, sp. nov.

(Figures 2B and 4B)

MycoBank 822875.

Typification. New Zealand. Otago Lakes, Milford Road, Totara Rest Area, in Fuscospora cliffortioides forest, 22 April 2004, K. Soop CO1405, holotype PDD 107505, GenBank MF568044 (ITS), MF568049 (LSU).

Etymology. From its resemblance to Cortinarius peraureus and Latin -ilis ‘similar to’.

Pileus 8–25 mm diameter, obtusely conical, later campanulate, dry, hygrophanous, saturated brownish orange with a darker umbo, finely innate fibrillose, margin striate. Lamellae pale ochraceous yellow to dark yellow when young, adnate, distant (L = 36, l = 1), edge concolorous. Stipe 20–55 × 2–3 mm, cylindrical, greyish yellow to pale brown, with ± distinct pale yellow bands. Veil pale yellow to white, rather sparse; cortina very fugacious. Context yellow-brown. Odour rather strong, raphanoid to phlegmacioid; taste insignificant. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH dark red to black on cutis, nil on stipital veil.

Spores (7.1–)7.5–8.2–8.9(–9.3) × (4.6–)4.6–4.9–5.2(–5.5) µm, Q = 1.68 ± 0.16 (n = 23), ellipsoid, weakly verrucose. Marginal elements 17–35 × 8–10 µm, prominent, crowded, clavate or irregular. Basidia 22–28 × 7–9 µm, four-spored. Pileipellis of repent hyphae 3–6 μm wide. Hypocutis of rectangular, somewhat irregular elements, 20–30 × 10–15 μm. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious in Nothofagaceae forest, rare.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. Fiordland, Kepler Track, 29 April 2013, K. Soop CO2087, PDD 103660.

Comments. A very small, dark orange fungus in Nothofagaceae forests. The lamellar edge is provided with conspicuous cheilocystidia. According to our molecular analysis (Figure 5), Cortinarius peraurilis clusters with several austral species in Dermocybe sect. Icterinula. In this group it resembles several species in the same habitat, such as Cortinarius indotatus (E. Horak) G. Garnier and Cortinarius sciurellus Soop, but these display a stronger alkaline reaction and possess a different micromorphology. Cortinarius peraurilis also evokes Cortinarius luteinus Soop, but the latter does not react with alkaline solutions and is not closely related in our phylogenetic analyses.

Cortinarius sect. Limonii Kühner & Romagn, ex Nezdojm.

Type: Cortinarius limonius (Fr.: Fr.) Fr.

In the phylogram (Figure 5) the section type is the only European member, and only two other species from the northern hemisphere are known in the section. In fact, Limonii has its core population in New Zealand with at least nine species, and no member has so far been reported from Australia or South America (Table 1).

Basidiomata are small to medium sized, and present vivid red-brown, orange and yellow colours. They react with alkaline solutions, while the fluorescence in UV light is generally weak or absent. Spores are usually subglobose, medium verrucose. Two species, Cortinarius rubrocastaneus and Cortinarius rubrimarginatus, possess remarkable chrysobasidia, a rare feature in Cortinarius (the former taxon was for this reason originally placed in the genus Gymnopilus).

Key to sect. Limonii:

1 Pileus brightly orange-yellow, in Picea forest, Europe, North America C. limonius

1* Pileus mostly with a dominant reddish or dark brown component, with other hosts and in other regions 2

2 With Quercus, Central America (Costa Rica) Cortinariusaurantiobrunneus

2* In Nothofagaceae or Myrtaceae forest, New Zealand 3

3  Pileus brightly red to orange-red 4

3*  Pileus darker mahogany red 8

3** Pileus yellow-brown to umber or blackish brown 6

4  Lamellae bright orange when young, basidiomata small, stipe < 7 mm wide Cortinarius araniiti

4*  Lamellae dull yellowish when young, basidiomata larger 5

5  Alkaline reaction strongly red on most parts, stipe ± tapering Cortinarius armiae

5*  Alkaline reaction trivial, stipe cylindrical, cf. Cortinarius collybianus (subgen. Callistei)

6(3) Spores subglobose, < 9 µm diameter 7

6*  Spores amygdaloid to ellipsoid, longer Cortinarius caryotoides

7  Pileus dry, umber to blackish brown, mostly > 35 mm diameter Cortinarius caryotis

7*  Pileus viscid, yellow-brown, smaller Cortinarius viscilaetus

8(3) Lamellae yellowish to reddish when young, pileus < 50 mm diameter 9

8* Lamellae whitish when young, pileus often larger, cf. Cortinarius rubrodactylus (subgen. Callistei)

9  Chrysobasidia present 10

9* Basidia trivial C. sp. (PDD 103635)

10  Lamellae mustard yellow C. rubrocastaneus

10* Lamellae brick red to dark red C. rubrimarginatus

Cortinarius caryotoides Soop & J.A. Cooper, sp. nov.

(Figures 1A and 3A)

New Cortinarius (Agaricales) species described from New Zealand

All authors

Karl Soop http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6888-5808, Michael Wallace & Bálint Dima http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2099-3903

https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2018.1436574

Published online:

06 March 2018

Figure 1. Basidiomata. A, Cortinarius caryotoides; B, Cortinarius citribasalis; C, Cortinarius durifoliorum; D, Cortinarius eucollybianus; E, Cortinarius eunomalus; F, Cortinarius juglandaceus.

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New Cortinarius (Agaricales) species described from New Zealand

All authors

Karl Soop http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6888-5808, Michael Wallace & Bálint Dima http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2099-3903

https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2018.1436574

Published online:

06 March 2018

Figure 2. Basidiomata. A, Cortinarius minilacus; B, Cortinarius peraurilis; C, Cortinarius pseliocaulis; D, Cortinarius rubrimarginatus; E, Cortinarius salmastrium; F, Cortinarius lanceolatus.

Display full size

New Cortinarius (Agaricales) species described from New Zealand

All authors

Karl Soop http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6888-5808, Michael Wallace & Bálint Dima http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2099-3903

https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2018.1436574

Published online:

06 March 2018

Figure 3. Microscopic details; a: spores, b: basidia, c: sterile marginal elements, scale = 10 µm. A, Cortinarius caryotoides; B, Cortinarius citribasalis; C, Cortinarius durifoliorum; D, Cortinarius eucollybianus; E, Cortinarius eunomalus; F, Cortinarius juglandaceus.

Display full size

New Cortinarius (Agaricales) species described from New Zealand

All authors

Karl Soop http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6888-5808, Michael Wallace & Bálint Dima http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2099-3903

https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2018.1436574

Published online:

06 March 2018

Figure 4. Microscopic details; a: spores, b: basidia, c: sterile marginal elements, scale = 10 µm. A, Cortinarius minilacus; B, Cortinarius peraurilis; C,  Cortinarius pseliocaulis; D, Cortinarius rubrimarginatus; E, Cortinarius salmastrium; F, Cortinarius lanceolatus.

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MycoBank 822876.

Typification. New Zealand. Buller, Lewis Pass, Boyle River Track, in Leptospermum scoparium forest, 12 May 2006, K. Soop CO1694, holotype PDD 103642, GenBank KF727389 (ITS), KF727309 (LSU).

Etymology. From its resemblance to Cortinarius caryotis.

Pileus 15–30 mm diameter, obtusely rounded, later convex, viscid to almost dry, not hygrophanous, evenly dark brown, glabrous; margin concolorous without visible veil remnants, not striate. Lamellae pale yellow-brown when young, fairly distant (L = 34, l = 1–2), adnate, edge concolorous. Stipe 35–60 × 3–6 mm, cylindrical or somewhat tapering downward, weakly viscid, yellowish white, flushing brown from base, apex almost white. Veil yellow-brown, fairly sparse; cortina yellow-grey. Context yellow-brown, darker in stipe centre. Odour and taste insignificant. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH red on stipital veil, red-brown on context and lamellae, black on cutis.

Spores (7.6–)8.1–8.8–9.4(–10.4) × (5.1–)5.4–5.8–6.1(–6.5) µm, Q = 1.53 ± 0.13 (n = 30), elliptic to ± amygdaloid, moderately verrucose. Marginal elements scattered, clavate to cylindrical, 20–32 × 6–8 µm. Basidia 25–35 × 7–8 µm, four-spored. Pileipellis with a thin gelified layer, lower hyphae repent 6–8 μm wide, mostly strongly yellow-brown with epimembranal incrustations. Hypocutis of oblong, hyaline or pale yellow elements, 40–55 × 10–15 μm, lower strata with more irregular elements. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious in Myrtaceae and Nothofagaceae forest, rare.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. Nelson, 15 May 2014, J. Cooper JAC13530, PDD 105781.

Comments. This is a small, viscid cortinar with yellow-brown colours, belonging to section Limonii (Figure 5). Cortinarius caryotoides evokes C. viscilaetus and C. caryotis in the same section, which, however, produce subglobose spores. The rather similar Cortinarius vernicifer Soop and Cortinarius verniciorum Soop also have shorter spores, but are not closely related in our phylogenetic analysis.

Cortinarius rubrimarginatus Soop, sp. nov.

(Figures 2D and 4D)

MycoBank 822878.

Typification. New Zealand. Nelson, Floral Saddle, in Fuscospora fusca forest, 10 May 2004, K. Soop CO1467, holotype PDD 107502, GenBank MF568042 (ITS), MF568048 (LSU).

Etymology. From Latin ruber ‘red’ and marginatus, referring to the lamellar edge.

Pileus 13–20 mm diameter, expanded to slightly conical, dry, hygrophanous, dark red-brown, rather coarsely innate fibrillose, margin with reddish tufts. Lamellae saturated brownish red to testaceous when young, edge conspicuously deep red, rather distant. Stipe 20–30 × 2 mm, cylindrical, yellow-brown with brownish red bands toward base. Veil distinctly brown-red, fairly copious; cortina not noted. Context brown. Odour and taste insignificant. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH black or trivial; fluorescence in UV light nil.

Spores (7.1–)7.3–7.6–8(–8.4) × (4.9–)5–5.2–5.5(–5.7) µm, Q = 1.46 ± 0.08 (n = 31), obtusely ellipsoid, moderately verrucose. Lamellar trama orange-brown. Marginal elements and basidia mostly provided with orange-brown to yellow-brown lumps, especially in the head, sometimes incrusted. The former crowded, clavate, 20–35 × 8 µm; basidia 23–30 × 6–7 µm, four-spored. Pileipellis of repent hyphae 3–5 μm wide. Hypocutis of elements with a pale yellow, cytoplasmic pigment, oblong elliptic, 35–85 × 11–17 μm, those of deeper layers more rounded, 50–70 × 17–25 μm. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious in Nothofagaceae forest, rare.

Comments. This is a small fungus with yellow-brown and reddish colours, where the red component is especially evident on veil remnants and on the lamellae, whose edge presents a saturated red hue. Cortinarius rubrimarginatus belongs to section Limonii (Figure 5), where it shares the presence of conspicuous chrysocystidia with C. rubrocastaneus. It may be difficult to differentiate from Cortinarius palissandrinus Soop in the same habitat, which possesses a yellow veil and belongs genetically to a different group. The species is otherwise well defined by the mentioned characters, but due to its apparent rarity has not been recorded again in New Zealand. It was nevertheless deemed worth publishing it in this study in view of its importance for the taxonomy of the genus.

Cortinarius subgen. Callistei Liimatainen, et al.

Type: Cortinarius callisteus (Fr.: Fr.) Fr.

Cortinarius callisteus was included in the original Limonii group (Kühner & Romagnesi 1953), and has often been considered to have affinity to the morphologically rather similar C. limonius in the literature (see Brandrud et al. 2014). On the other hand it has been apparent at least since Moser (1969) that the two species are not closely related, a fact which is borne out by subsequent molecular studies (e.g. Peintner et al. 2004, and cf. Figure 5). The subgenus is bi-hemispherical with at least four species in New Zealand, one of which is undescribed (PDD 72676). See Niskanen et al. (2016), where the northern species were studied in detail. Two New Zealand species are keyed out in the Limonii key (above). See Table 2 for a species list.

Cortinarius eucollybianus Soop, sp. nov.

(Figures 1D and 3D)

MycoBank 822881.

Typification. New Zealand. Fiordland, Kepler Track, in Fuscospora cliffortioides forest, 6 May 2001, K. Soop CO1230, holotype PDD 107518, GenBank MF568046 (ITS), MF568051 (LSU).

Etymology. From Greek ευ- ‘truly’, the taxon being the author’s original conception of Cortinarius collybianus.

Pileus 20–50 mm diameter, obtusely rounded, later expanded to campanulate, dry, hygrophanous, warmly red to dark orange-red, glabrous, finely granulose from reddish veil, margin darker red. Lamellae pale yellow to greyish ochre when young, free, distant (L = 30, l = 2–3), edge concolorous. Stipe 40–60 × 5–6 mm, cylindrical, yellow to pale yellow, with dense, reddish fibrils. Veil orange-red to orange-brown, sparse; cortina pale yellow. Context pale yellow. Odour faint like wax candles; taste insignificant. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH trivial; fluorescence in UV light none.

Spores (5.7–)6–6.3–6.7(–7.1) × (4.9–)5.2–5.4–5.7(–6) µm, Q = 1.16 ± 0.07 (n = 27), subglobose, finely punctuate. Marginal elements hyaline, crowded to disparate, clavate to vesiculose, some cylindrical, 16–28 × 6–8 µm. Basidia 17–20 × 7–8 µm, four-spored. Pileipellis of repent, hyaline hyphae 5–8 μm wide. Hypocutis elements oblong ellipsoid, 55–70 × 10–18 μm. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious in Nothofagaceae forest, uncommon.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. Gisborne, 8 May 2001, E. & A. Horak ZT9636, PDD 72718, GenBank KY606988 (ITS), KY606990 (LSU). Taupo, 13 May 2001, E. & A. Horak, PDD 72761, GenBank KY606987 (ITS), KY606989 (LSU).

Comments. This middle-sized fungus is beautifully orange-red with a yellow stipe, almost indistinguishable from its sister species Cortinarius collybianus in subgen. Callistei (Figure 5), including the micromophology. The main, but subtle difference, lies in the cap colour, being more drab reddish brown or orange-brown with the latter, while C. eucollybianus presents a strikingly red tone, coupled with a corresponding veil colour. The same red tone is found with C. armiae Soop in section Limonii (loc. cit.), which differs by larger basidiomes with the stipe usually tapering toward the base.

Cortinarius citribasalis Soop, sp. nov.

(Figures 1B and 3B)

MycoBank 822882.

Typification. New Zealand. Dunedin, Waipori Falls, in Lophozonia menziesii forest, 30 April 2011, K. Soop CO2018, holotype PDD 101845, isotype S F189996, GenBank KJ635214 (ITS+LSU).

Etymology. From Latin citreum ‘lemon’ and basis ‘base’, due to the typical colouration of the stipital base.

Pileus 12–35 mm diameter, dry, hygrophanous, obtusely conical, later expanded to plane, sometimes with a narrow umbo; orange-brown to yellow-brown, disc often darker orange, velvety to coarsely innate fibrillose; margin paler with yellow-brown to greyish yellow fringes, ± sulcate, weakly striate. Lamellae dark red-brown when young, rather distant (L = 30, l = 2), free, edge darker. Stipe 25–65 × 2–5 mm, cylindrical, with a yellow-green sheen, especially towards the base, girdled by yellow to citrinous bands and fibrils, later brown-grey to brown-yellow, mycelial felt white. Veil green-yellow, darkening to red-brown, sparse to rather copious; cortina pale yellow. Context pale yellow to grey-brown. Odour faintly raphanoid; taste insignificant. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH black to reddish black on cutis and lamellae, else trivial, fluorescence nil to weakly yellow.

Spores (7.6–)7.9–8.5–9(–9.8) × (4.6–)4.7–4.9–5.2(–5.5) µm, Q = 1.72 ± 0.01 (n = 27), ellipsoid to amygdaloid, moderately verrucose. Marginal elements hyaline, crowded, clavate, a few capitate, 13–25 × 5–6 µm. Basidia 25–30 × 7 µm, four-spored; most basidia as well as some basidiols with refractive, ± blue–green granules. Pileipellis of repent, hyaline hyphae 4–6 μm wide. Hypocutis elements oblong ellipsoid, 28–45 × 8–15 μm. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious in Nothofagaceae forest, rare.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. Westland, Haast Pass, Cameron Track, 27 April 2004, K. Soop CO1434, PDD 107504 GenBank MF568043 (ITS), MF568047 (LSU). Dunedin, Waipori Falls, 30 April 2011, K. Soop CO2019, PDD 101846. Buller, Springs Junction, Klondyke Spur Track, 4 April 2015, K. Soop CO2171, PDD 107701, GenBank KT875204 (ITS+LSU).

Comments. A small telamonioid fungus with the interesting combination of citrinous veil and lamellae with a reddish tint. Cortinarius citribasalis is quite similar to Cortinarius paraxanthus Soop, an olive-brown species with more yellow-brown lamellae and slightly narrower spores. According to our molecular analysis (Figure 5), the two cortinars are closely related.

Cortinarius durifoliorum Soop & Dima, sp. nov.

(Figures 1C and 3C)

MycoBank 822883.

Typification. New Zealand. Westland, Haast Pass, Blue Pools, in Fuscospora cliffortioides forest, 22 April 2011, K. Soop CO1999, holotype PDD 101829, isotype S F189988, GenBank KJ635210 (ITS+LSU).

Etymology. By association with its similarity to Cortinarius sclerophyllorum.

Pileus 15–50 mm diameter, conical, later broadly conical to campanulate with a small umbo, dry, hygrophanous, fragile, saturated red-brown, innate fibrillose, margin with a pink to purple flush and brown-red fibrils, not striate but sulcate when older. Lamellae brownish with a distinct violet tinge when young, moderately crowded. Stipe 35–105 × 2–6 mm, cylindrical, tall, slender, ± tough, silvery grey with a pink tinge and wine-brown to violet, rather dense bands and fibrils. Veil purple-red to dark brownish red rather copious; cortina white. Context red-brown, young marbled violet. Odour and taste faintly raphanoid. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH trivial.

Spores (6.5–)7.0–7.6–8.2(–8.9) × (5.5–)6.2–6.7–7.1(–7.3) µm, Q = 1.14 ± 0.1 (n = 27), subglobose, moderately to fairly coarsely verrucose. Marginal elements hyaline, crowded, clavate, 17–25 × 7–9 µm. Basidia 20–27 × 7–9 µm, four-spored. Pileipellis of repent hyphae, hyaline or with a diluted greyish yellow cytoplasmic pigment, 4–6 μm wide. Hypocutis elements oblong, rounded rectangular, 40–55 × 20–30 μm, with a yellow-brown vacuolar-zebrated pigment. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Fasciculate to gregarious in Nothofagaceae forest, occasional.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. Fiordland, Kepler Track, 24 April 2006, K. Soop CO1619, PDD 88255. Buller, Rahu National Park, Klondyke Spur Track, 4 May 2015, K. Soop CO2170, PDD 107700, GenBank KT875205 (ITS+LSU).

Comments. A slender, often brittle cortinar with dark reddish fringes and bands on the stipe, not uncommon in southern-beech forests. Molecular data places C. durifoliorum in the bi-hemispherical section Anomali Konrad & Maubl. (Dima et al. 2016; Figure 5), where it is sister to the almost identical C. sclerophyllorum Gasparini, a species known only from Tasmania. The latter differs mainly by more violet tints on pileus and lamellae.

Both are quite similar to Cortinarius spilomeus Fr., especially the variety depauperatus J. Lange, which displays the same red veil patterns and grows in Picea forests of the northern hemisphere. The former is the type of sect. Spilomei (Bidaud, Moënne-Locc. & Reumaux) Consiglio, D. Antonini & M. Antonini, sister to Anomali. Moreover, in the southern-beech forests of New Zealand there are two species that can easily be confused with the present taxon: Cortinarius rattinoides Soop, also in section Anomali, and the genetically isolated Cortinarius mysoides Soop (Figure 5). They both display reddish velar tufts on the stipe, but the former differs by deep violet lamellae when young, whereas the lamellae of the second are deep brick red and its spores are more elongated.

Cortinarius eunomalus Soop, sp. nov.

(Figures 1E and 3E)

MycoBank 822884.

Typification. New Zealand. Nelson, St Arnaud Lodge, in Leptospermum scoparium forest, 6 May 2008, K. Soop CO1788, holotype PDD 94040, isotype S F93239, GenBank JQ287690 (ITS).

Etymology. From Greek ευ- ‘truly’, and νομαλος ‘regular’, in opposition to the similar Cortinarius anomalus (‘irregular’).

Pileus 20–40 mm diameter, obtusely conical, later convex to campanulate, dry, hygrophanous, white frosty, later pale grey-brown, innate fibrillose, margin paler with a silky white rim when young, not striate. Lamellae pale violet when young, sometimes with a grey tinge, adnexed, medium distant (L = 38–44, l = 1–2), edge concolorous. Stipe 45–80 × 3–5 mm, cylindrical, tall, straight, white, with thin white fringes and zones. Veil white, sparse; cortina white. Context pale violet when young, soon grey to greyish yellow, brunnescent with age. Odour faintly raphanoid; taste ± bitter. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH trivial.

Spores (6.8–)7.4–8.1–8.8(–9.3) × (4.4–)4.6–5.0–5.3(–5.7) µm, Q = 1.63 ± 0.14 (n = 33), ellipsoid to amygdaloid, moderately to fairly weakly verrucose. Marginal elements hyaline, crowded, cylindrical to clavate, 18–32 × 6–8 µm. Basidia 20–27 × 6–8 µm, four-spored. Pileipellis of repent hyphae, hyaline, 3–6 μm wide. Hypocutis elements oblong, obtusely cylindrical, 20–40 × 8–11 μm. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious in Myrtaceae forest, uncommon.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. Buller, Lewis Pass, Boyle River Track, 6 May 2015, K. Soop CO2176, PDD 107706, GenBank KT875201 (ITS+LSU).

Comments. This is a medium-sized, pale, silky, telamonioid species, encountered in Myrtaceae woods. Its habit and hue recall members of sect. Anomali (loc. cit.), such as Cortinarius anomalus Fr., and especially Cortinarius albocyaneus Fr., due to the pale veil. Molecular data place C. eunomalus close to sect. Anomali, but in a basal position (Figure 5). It also resembles Cortinarius laquellus Soop, which is viscid and generally smaller, as well as Cortinarius rattinus Soop, which presents darker colours; moreover, these both grow in Nothofagaceae forest.

Cortinarius pseliocaulis Soop & J.A. Cooper, sp. nov.

(Figures 2C and 4C)

MycoBank 822885.

Typification. New Zealand. Buller, Lewis Pass, Boyle River Track, in Fuscospora cliffortioides forest, 3 May 2015, K. Soop CO2166, holotype PDD 107696, isotype S F267759, GenBank KT875176 (ITS+LSU).

Etymology. From Greek ψελιον ‘bracelet’, and καυλος ‘stem’, due to its rozitoid habit as well as its similarity to Cortinarius pselioticton.

Pileus 30–45 mm diameter, obtusely conical, later broadly conical to campanulate, viscid, hygrophanous, brightly yellow-brown with a paler disc, or totally greyish yellow, glabrous, margin finely striate. Lamellae pale cinnamon when young, adnexed, medium crowded (L = 56, l = 2–3), edge concolorous. Stipe 45–80 × 3–5 mm, clavate to cylindrical, often with a small piston-like bulb, viscid, stuffed to hollow, white, zoned white below collar. Veil white, sparse; collar membranous, white, viscid, positioned above mid-stipe. Context white with a pale brown middle string in stipe. Odour and taste insignificant. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH trivial.

Spores (8.9–)10.0–10.6–11.3(–11.7) × (5.5–)6.4–6.7–7.3(–7.6) µm, Q = 1.55 ± 0.13 (n = 29), amygdaloid, moderately verrucose. Marginal elements crowded, many grainy or with hyaline lumps, clavate, 22–38 × 7–13 µm. Basidia 32–36 × 11–13 µm, four-spored, some two-spored. Pileipellis of repent hyphae, hyaline, 4–5.5 μm wide, no gelatinous layer noted. Hypocutis elements irregular oblong, 40–70 × 14–25 μm. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious in Nothofagaceae forest, uncommon.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. Mid Canterbury, 15 June 2014, J.A. Cooper JAC13394, PDD 105646. Taupo, 17 May 2001, E. & A. Horak ZT9359, PDD 72808.

Comments. The presence of a membranous partial veil, and the large, amygdaloid spores, make this medium-sized agaric a member of a diverse austral group of Rozites habit, clustered around Cortinarius achrous E. Horak, Peintner, M.M. Moser & Vilgalys, a very pale (even white), common species in New Zealand. While C. pseliocaulis is more yellow tinted than the latter, it is brighter than the otherwise similar C. pselioticton Soop. The viscidity of the stipe (including the collar) could be an occasional trait. Molecular data confirm the close affinity within this group (Figure 5), where C. pseliocaulis forms a distinct clade, sister to the species mentioned.

New Cortinarius (Agaricales) species described from New Zealand

All authors

Karl Soop http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6888-5808, Michael Wallace & Bálint Dima http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2099-3903

https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2018.1436574

Published online:

06 March 2018

Figure 5. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree depicting the relationships among species treated in this study. New species are highlighted in boldface. Names of respective sections or clades are added. Maximum likelihood bootstrap support values are shown only above 50%. Scale bar indicates 0.03 expected changes per site per branch.

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Cortinarius salmastrium Soop, sp. nov.

(Figures 2E and 4E)

MycoBank 822886.

Typification. New Zealand. Nelson, St Arnaud, Black Hill Track, in Kunzea ericoides forest, 8 May 2015, K. Soop CO2183, holotype PDD 107713, isotype S F267759, GenBank KT875202 (ITS+LSU).

Etymology. From its similarity and affinity to Cortinarius salmaster.

Pileus 18–28 mm diameter, broadly conical to campanulate, viscid, hygrophanous, dark olive brown, glabrous to finely innate fibrillose, margin ± paler, weakly striate. Lamellae grey to pale grey-brown when young, emarginate, medium crowded, edge concolorous. Stipe 35–45 × 2–4 mm, dry, cylindrical, silky pale green-grey to pale green-blue, bluish black on lower half with a white coating at the base. Veil yellowish white, very sparse; cortina not noted. Context green-grey, olive brown toward stipital base, blackish green in pileus. Odour faintly raphanoid; taste insignificant. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH trivial.

Spores (6.8–)7.0–7.4–7.8(–8.2) × (4.4–)4.7–4.9–5.2(–5.5) µm, Q = 1.50 ± 0.10 (n = 29), elliptic, moderately verrucose. Marginal elements scattered, clavate, 15–24 × 6–8 µm. Basidia 20–27 × 5–7 µm, four-spored. Pileipellis of repent hyphae, with a greyish cytoplasmic to ± granular content, 4–6 μm wide, in the gelatinous layer hyaline, 2–4 μm wide. Hypocutis elements irregular, rounded rectangular, with a greyish content, 28–50 × 18–22 μm. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious in Myrtaceae forest, uncommon.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. Bay of Plenty, 4 May 2001, E. & A. Horak ZT9619, PDD 72698, GenBank KY606986 (ITS), KY606991 (LSU).

Comments. A small, viscid fungus with dark turquoise and olivaceous colours, growing in myrtaceous forests. These characters recall Cortinarius salmaster Gasparini, described from Tasmania, an affinity that is corroborated by molecular data (Figure 5). The latter is attributed to subg. Phlegmacium, subsect. Panchroi M.M. Moser & E. Horak by its author. Cortinarius salmastrium also recalls several species in sect. Purpurascentes M.M. Moser, e.g. Cortinarius rhipiduranus Soop, which all stain violaceous on manipulation. Also Cortinarius aerugineoconicus E. Horak displays similar colours but produces amygdaloid spores. Both species are described from New Zealand, but grow with southern beech and are not closely related in our phylogenetic analysis

Cortinarius juglandaceus Soop, sp. nov.

(Figures 1F and 3F)

MycoBank 822887.

Typification. New Zealand. North Canterbury, Arthurs Pass, in Fuscospora cliffortioides forest, 20 April 1999, K. Soop CO1028, holotype PDD 107510, GenBank MF568045 (ITS), MF568050 (LSU).

Etymology. From Latin Juglans ‘walnut tree’, due to the colour and texture of the pileus surface resembling wood.

Pileus 15–25 mm diameter, rounded, later convex, viscid, weakly hygrophanous, date brown, glabrous, margin young slightly violet. Lamellae pale greyish violet when young, emarginate, rather distant (L = 30, l = 1–2), edge concolorous. Stipe 20–30 × 3–4 mm, cylindrical, often with a small round bulb, viscid, filled, rather tough, grey-brown, young with a violet tinge. Veil pale violet, very sparse; cortina very fugacious. Context pale violet in upper stipe, else pale tan to grey. Odour faint, somewhat sweetish; taste insignificant. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH trivial.

Spores (9.3–)10.0–10.8–11.5(–12.5) × (5.5–)5.7–6.3–6.8(–7.6) µm, Q = 1.72 ± 0.12 (n = 31), amygdaloid, coarsely and densely verrucose. Marginal elements numerous, clavate, 22–28 × 8–10 µm. Basidia 25–30 × 8–11 µm, many one-spored, some two-spored or four-spored, often angular. Pileipellis with a thick, gelatinous layer of tangled hyphae, 2–3 μm wide; epicutis hyphae repent with a yellow-brown cytoplasmic and sparsely incrusted pigment, 3–5 μm wide. Hypocutis elements irregular, rounded rectangular, with a yellow-brown content, 27–40 × 8–11 μm. Clamp connections sparse.

Habitat. Gregarious in Nothofagaceae forest, rare.

Comments. A small, viscid, brown fungus with blue lamellae and an exterior reminiscent of polished wood. It somewhat resembles a miniature Cortinarius marmoratus E. Horak, which is larger and genetically distant according to our molecular analysis (Figure 5). In our analysis, C. juglandaceus is genetically close to Cortinarius cuphomorphus Soop, another myxacioid species, which differs by a larger habit, paler colours and a more copious veil. The species has not been recorded again in New Zealand, but it was deemed worth publishing it in this study in view of its importance for the taxonomy of the genus.

Cortinarius minilacus Soop, J.A. Cooper & Dima, sp. nov.

(Figures 2A and 4A)

MycoBank 822888.

Typification. New Zealand. Nelson, St Arnaud Campsite, in Kunzea ericoides forest, 4 May 2013, K. Soop CO2092, holotype PDD 103665, isotype S F244775, GenBank MF577079 (ITS+LSU).

Etymology. A direct translation of the Māori name Rotoiti (Latin mini ‘small’, lacus ‘lake’), the lake in New Zealand near which the holotype was found.

Pileus 20–40 mm diameter, dry, hygrophanous, date brown, finely innate fibrillose; margin ± paler with a pale ochre frost, striate. Lamellae yellow-brown when young, free, rather distant (L = 28–36, l = 2–3). Stipe 25–90 × 3–7 mm, cylindrical, pale brownish yellow with thin, ochraceous zones, apex concolorous, mycelial felt white. Veil pale ochraceous to almost white, sparse; cortina white. Context brown-yellow. Odour raphanoid; taste insignificant. Macrochemical reactions: NaOH trivial.

Spores (4.9–)5.2–5.6–6.1(–6.5) × (4.0–)4.3–4.7–5.1(–5.7) µm, Q = 1.20 ± 0.08 (n = 30), small, subglobose, pale, weakly verrucose. Marginal elements crowded, clavate to cylindrical, hyaline, 16–22 × 6–8 µm. Basidia 19–24 × 6–7 µm, four-spored, often with yellow lumps. Pileipellis hyphae 4–6 μm wide, repent with a pale yellow-brown content. Hypocutis elements cylindrical to rectangular, pale, 45–80 × 9–17 μm. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious in Myrtaceae forest, uncommon.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. North Canterbury, 8 June 2013, J.A. Cooper JAC12866, PDD 96970. Auckland, Albany, Northwood Reserve, 11 May 2011, K. Soop CO2042, PDD 101868, S F190008.

Comments. This is a telamonioid fungus with drab, yellow-brown colours, growing in myrtaceous forests. It is similar to several species found in the native forests of New Zealand, especially Cortinarius xenosmatoides Soop, which deviates by reddish lamellae, larger spores, and by growing in Nothofagaceae forest. In myrtaceous forests C. minilacus could be confused with Cortinarius amblyonis Soop, which deviates mainly by a more red-brown pileus. It is not closely related genetically to any known taxon, but forms, according to our molecular analysis (Figure 5), a small clade together with two undescribed taxa (PDD 107520, PDD 72798).

Cortinarius lanceolatus M. Wallace, sp. nov.

(Figures 2F and 4F)

MycoBank 822889.

Typification. New Zealand. Taupo, Kaimanawa Forest Park, Clements Mill Road, in Lophozonia menziesii and Fuscospora fusca forest, 30 May 2015, M. Wallace DSC5545, holotype PDD 107496, GenBank MG019343 (ITS), MG019369 (LSU).

Etymology. From Latin lancea ‘lance’, for the macroscopic form of the basidiome, especially in young specimens.

Pileus 7–15 mm diameter, lanceolate to hemispherical, later conical to campanulate with a broad but pointed umbo, slightly viscid, hygrophanous; reddish brown, darker reddish brown at disc, pale tan when dry; margin finely appendiculate from veil remnants when young, striate half way to disc; cutis covered in pale ochraceous decurved squamules arranged in concentric rings becoming punctuate-squamulose towards the margin. Lamellae pale yellow-brown when young, margin paler, adnate, sometimes with a decurrent tooth, distant, (L = 10–13, l = 3), edge smooth to minutely fimbriate with age. Stipe 35–45 × 2–4 mm, attenuated upwards with an enlarged apex, flexuous, solid near the apex, fistulose towards the base; grey-brown, above cortina darker red-brown or concolorous with pileus and adorned with fine ochraceous punctuate scales and fibrils; below cortina covered by fine cottony, ochraceous fibrillose veil remnants. Veil yellowish to pale ochraceous, fibrillose on stipe, punctuate-squamulose on cap surface. Cortina membranous, yellowish to pale ochraceous, non-striate, persistent. Context dark red-brown at apex, becoming yellowish towards the stipe base, smell and taste sweet, farinaceous. Chemical reactions on pileus and stipe: KOH nil.

Spores (8.0–)8.6–8.6–9.0(–9.3) × (4.6–)5.0–5.0–5.3 µm, Q = 1.75 ± 0.05, amygdaliform, finely verrucose with some sparsely dispersed slightly coarser warts, plage absent. Marginal elements 17–21 × 8–12 µm, clavate to ampullaceous, incrusted with yellow-brown pigment. Basidia 22–28 × 8–9 µm, clavate, four-spored. Pileipellis consisting of hyaline inflated clavate to fusiform elements, some terminal cells irregularly shaped, often rectangular and with irregular finger-like projections, cells furthermost from terminal cells incrusted with yellow-brown pigment, 12–19 µm wide. Hypocutis consisting of thinner elongated hyphae heavily incrusted with yellow-brown pigment, 40 × 5 µm. Veil hyphae hyaline, cylindrical with aciculate to lanceolate terminal elements, cells furthermost from terminal cells incrusted with yellow-brown pigment, 8–13 µm wide. Clamp connections present.

Habitat. Gregarious amongst leaf litter in Nothofagaceae forests. New Zealand.

Other collections examined. New Zealand. Taupo, Kaimanawa ranges, Clements Mill Road, Te Iringa track, 2 June 2012, M. Wallace DSC1905; idem 1 June 2013, M. Wallace DSC1588; idem 31 May 2014, M. Wallace DSC3557.

Comments. A very small telamonioid fungus found in troops in leaf litter in the Nothofagaceae forests of New Zealand and possibly also of Australia. Cortinarius lanceolatus has many macro- and micro-characteristics reminiscent of smaller taxa in the genus Descolea. According to our molecular analysis (Figure 5), this species belongs to the bi-hemispherical section Laeti Melot, where many sister species present similar colours and velar characters.

Discussion

Several recent works (Stefani et al. 2014; Garnica et al. 2016) have revealed genetic kinships between Cortinarius taxa found in Australia and New Zealand. These affinities are often supported by morphological traits, and the fruit bodies sometimes look like ‘local variants’ of one species. The taxa may be described as subspecies (or varieties) of one species, or, if their genetic and morphological differences are sufficient, as two distinct species, one from each country. We mention two such cases of species pairs in the present study, and others are found in various works (Table 3).

In addition to species pairs, there are also cases where what is considered as the same species is widely distributed in the South Pacific region. Horak (1983) discusses a number of such taxa, and some of these biogeographical links have since been corroborated by molecular studies, even though taxa were sometimes identified by local synonyms. Table 4 gives examples of species that appear to be shared between Australia and New Zealand:

Such affinities are of course not surprising, given the well-established geological history of the region (Swenson et al. 2001), and are parallel to those observed between other land masses, such as Europe and North America (Garnica et al. 2011; Cripps et al. 2015). An example of the latter is found in subgen. Callistei (Figure 5), where the type possesses the American sister species Cortinarius neocallisteus.