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SUMMARY
The broad and discontinuous distribution of Auricularia polytricha was confirmed and its occurrence on a wide range of substrates established. Interfertility tests demonstrated that A. polytricha comprises a number of microevolutionary units. The representative from America proved intersterile with all others and it is not improbable that a microevolutionary unit is confined to that continent. Partial interfertility between other representatives together with the development of mono- karyon interactions point to the presence of additional units based in Africa, India and Australasia. Biometrical analysis of morphological data revealed a high degree of variation within A. polytricha. The representative from Assam is distinguishable on morphological data, although not on inter- fertility data, and may be a member of a microevolutionary unit centered in Asia. There were indications that further microevolutionary units might be distinguishable on morphological grounds.
The part played by spatial and ecological isolation in the development of microevolutionary units in A. polytricha and other Basidiomycetes is discussed.