New and interesting Russula species from Panamá

Abstract

Detailed illustrated descriptions are given for Russula panamae sp.nov, Russula aucarum, R. puiggarii and R. venezueliana, all of which are reported for the first time from Panamá. For Russula venezueliana and R. aucarum, it is also the first record since their original description. Taxonomy, systematic position, and related species are discussed for each species. Russula ochrostraminea is probably a synonym of R. venezueliana and section Delicoarchaeae is considered a possible synonym of subsection Lactarioideae or of section Metachromaticae.

• biodiversity
• Central America
• Russulaceae
• systematics

We are indebted to the curators of K, F and LPS for the loan of type specimens, to J. Melot (Iceland) and G. Redeuilh (France) for useful discussions on nomenclature, and G. Mascarell for assistance with the scanning electron microscope. The second author thanks the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute for granting permission to collect on BCI. Field work in Panama for the second author was funded by a Mellon Comparative Research Grant administered by the Organization for Tropical Studies and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, by the Office of Research, University of Central Oklahoma, and by additional funding provided by Cecilio Puga and Allen Herre. This support is gratefully acknowledged. Appreciation is also extended to Scott Mangam for providing transportation to the small islands around BCI.