Thaxterogaster—A New Link Between Gastromycetes and Agaricales

SUMMARY

1.	A new genus and two new species of this new genus are reported from Tierra del Fuego. This genus is here called Thaxterogaster, as Thaxter was the first to collect a representative of this interesting genus in the western hemisphere (Punta Arenas, Chile).
2.	Thaxterogaster is a genus of the Secotiaceae Corda, a true Gastromycete.
3.	Thaxterogaster has close affinity with the Cortinariaceae, especially the genus Cortinarius Fr.
4.	There are some data which tend to favor the assumption that Cortinarius is derived from Thaxterogaster rather than vice versa. These data are corroborated by certain observations at the type locality.