Lost and found: the Bermudan Donadinia seaveri found in North America, with comments on its juniper associates

ABSTRACT

Collections of a species referred to Sarcosomataceae (Pezizomycetes) from eastern North America were studied both morphologically and using nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and approximately 800 bp from the 5′ region of the nuc 28S rDNA (28S) to construct a phylogeny. The analyses indicate that these collections are Donadinia seaveri, a species previously known only from Bermuda. Because the associated tree, Juniperus bermudiana, has declined as a result of insect attack, it was thought that D. seaveri might be extinct. This work indicates that it is not extinct but is present in eastern North America. The species is described, new distributional records are given, and its association with the genus Juniperus is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Bermuda cedar
• biogeography
• Sarcosomataceae

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We join in recognizing Meredith Blackwell with this contribution. Her insight into the natural history of fungi has inspired us. We thank Danny Haelewaters, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, for aid in the analyses. We thank F. A. Harrington who made the field photographs and was first to collect and study this fungus in fresh condition. Ronald Petersen and Karen Hughes, of the University of Tennessee, assisted in locating specimens. The late Larry Grand provided a critical specimen from North Carolina that sent us looking further into the identity of our fungus. We also thank William Neill who directed us to one of the local populations and Raymond Archambault, Conservateur du Fongarium, Centre sur la Biodiversité de l’Université de Montréal, for providing material.