Notes on rare clavarioid species ( Fungi : Basidiomycota ) in Patagonia , Argentina

The distributions of two clavarioid species, Clavulinopsis laeticolor (Berk. and M.A. Curtis) R.H. Petersen (Agaricales, Clavariaceae) and Lentaria rionegrensis R.H. Petersen (Gomphales, Lentariaceae), are extended and updated. Both species are poorly known in Argentina, and specifically in Patagonia; these species were cited only once in the 1960s and 1990s, respectively.

According to the general diagnosis defined by Petersen (1988) the clavarioid fungi are characterized by having holobasidia and erect, simple columnar (clavate or "club fungi") or branched (coraloid or "coral fungi") basidiomata.This group of fungi is not homogeneous or monophyletic, so its taxonomic circumscription differs according to the authors.Most of the species are ubiquitous and thus have a worldwide distribution adopting different forms of nutritional modes, including saprotrophy, mutualism and parasitism (Detinger and McLaughling 2006).
During the studies of macromycetes carried out since 1996 in Patagonia, Argentina, two infrequent species with clavarioid basidiomata were found.In this contribution they are described and illustrated, and their geographical distribution in Argentina is commented and extended.
The morphological and anatomical characteristics of the studied specimens were observed under light microscope with brightfield illumination (BF) and differential interference contrast (DIC).Microscopic observations of the structures were performed using various dyes and reagents: lactophenol cotton blue, potassium hydroxide (KOH) 10% and Melzer's reagent.Measurements were obtained from histological preparations mounted in water.The sizes for the basidiospores of the two described species were obtained from 20 measurements and represent the minimum and maximum values.Photomicrographs were taken with a digital camera USB 2.0.The specimens examined were deposited in the herbarium BCRU.The authors of the species are listed following Index Fungorum (www.indexfungo rum.org).
Notes: As a result of the studies of their own collections of clavarioid fungi in Argentine Patagonia in May 1996, Petersen described the new species Lentaria rionegrensis (Petersen 2000).In that publication the paratype was located in "ARGENTINA, Prov.Río Negro, Parque Nacional de Lago Puelo, north shore of Lago Puelo…", however, that geographical reference has a mistake because this national park is included in the neighboring province of Chubut.Up to now the species L. rionegrensis has not been cited again.Therefore, the finding of this species in San Carlos de Bariloche (Península de San Pedro) represents the first record of Lentaria rionegrensis in Río Negro province.
The species has been registered in Neuquén province (Parque Nacional Lanín), and in Chubut province (Parque Nacional Lago Puelo and Parque Nacional Los Alerces) growing on decaying wood of Nothofagus sp.(Petersen 2000).Our specimens were collected growing on soil, between litter of Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.)Franco (Oregon pine or Douglas fir) and Pinus spp.
from Arroyo Frutilla, Neuquén province and Laguna Frías, Río Negro province.We can assume that C. laeticolor is an uncommon species in Argentina because of the restricted distribution in the subtropical rainforest and cool temperate forests, together with the scarce records of the species.The material collected by us represents a new occurrence of this species for Río Negro province, in a mixed forest of Nothofagus dombeyi (Mirb.)Oerst.(coihue), Austrocedrus chilensis (D.Don) Pic.Serm.and