Rediscovery of Alnicola cholea (Cortinariaceae): taxonomic revision and description of its mycorrhiza with Polygonum viviparum (Polygonaceae)

Abstract

Alnicola cholea, a little-known species so far reported only from the two original localities in the French Alps, is redefined here based on revision of herbarium materials and studies of recent field collections. A detailed morphological and anatomical description of fruit bodies of Alnicola cholea, including a discussion on its taxonomic status and distribution data is provided. Due to the unique combination of characters of Alnicola cholea within the genus, a new monospecific section is introduced for this species: Alnicola sect. Cholea, sect. nov. Mycorrhizal symbiosis of A. cholea with an arctic-alpine plant Polygonum viviparum was observed in the Tatra Mountains (Poland). A description of these mycorrhizae is given, providing first detailed data on an identified herbaceous plant mycorrhiza.

• Arctic-alpine fungi
• Cortinariales
• ectomycorrhizae
• taxonomy

The authors warmly thank Dr Philippe Clerc (Jardin et Conservatoire botaniques de Genève, G) and Dr Ursula Peintner (University of Innsbruck, IB) for loan of R. Kü hner’s and M. Moser’s collections respectively, Dr Guillaume Eyssartier (Paris) for the specimens and pictures of his collections of A. cholea, and two anonymous reviewers for useful comments improving the manuscript. Michal Ronikier greatly acknowledges the scholarship for young scientists granted by the Foundation for Polish Science (2003–2004). This study was partly done in a framework of the project financed by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science, grant no. 2P04C 086 30.