Rare species of the genus Coprinus Pers . s . lato

1Faculty of Chemistry, A. Mickiewicz University, Grunwaldzka 6 PL-60-780 Poznań, hanuman@amu.edu.pl, wojton@amu.edu.pl 2Field Station in Turew, Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment Polish Academy of Sciences, Szkolna 4, PL-64-000 Kościan, ankujawa@man.poznan.pl 3Lubuska 3/17, PL-53-514 Wrocław, tomasz.pachlewski@gmail.com 4Department of Mycology and Forest Phytopathology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW nowoursynowska 159, PL-02-776 Warszawa, andrzej_szczepkowski@sggw.pl


INTRODUCTION
Until the end of XX century the species of agaricoid fungi, characterized by the presence of distinct pseudoparaphyses and deliquescent, dissolving as the result of autolysis, lamellae (and whole fruitbodies) were grouped into the genus Coprinus Pers.Further molecular investigations have indicated that from the phyllogenetic point of view it is a heterogeneous taxon.The characters distinguishing this group (so called coprin syndrome) must have originated at least twice during the basidiomycetes evolution.In the current literature coprinoid fungi are divided into four genera: Coprinus Pers., Coprinellus P. Karst., Coprinopsis P. Karst., and Parasola Redhead, Vilgalys & Hopple (Hopple, Vilgalys 1999;Moncalvo et al. 2002;Vellinga 2004;Redhead et al. 2001;Vesterholt et al. 2007;Vesterholt 2008a-d).First of them is placed in the Agaricaceae, the others in the Psathyrellaceae (Kirk et al. 2008).The genus Coprinus Pers. is separated from the others on the basis of absence of radial groving of the outer part of the pileus.Species belonging to the genus Coprinellus P. Karst.have distinct, hyaline pileocystidia and caulocystidia, which are absent in the other groups.The species of Coprinopsis P. Karst.species differ from a belonging to genus Parasola Redhead, Vilgalys & Hopple by the presence of veil on the cap and stem.Veil is also present on the pilei of the few species from the genus Coprinellus P. Karst.
Because of the basidiocarps fragility and their occurrence in the habitats which are rarely investigated by mycologists (pastures, meadows, studs), coprinoid fungi are poorly recognized in Poland.By now, 54 species of genus the Coprinus s. lato were found within this area, a lot of them are known only from single localities (Wojewoda 2003;Bujakiewicz 2004;Ślusarczyk 2004;nita, Bujakiewicz 2005;Gierczyk et al. 2009).In the northern of Europe about 120-150 species from this group occur (orton, Watling 1979;Uljé 2005;Vesterholt 2008a-d;Doveri 2004).

MATERIAL AnD METHoDS
We present a list of fifty-five coprinoid fungi found in Poland during mycological investigations in the years 2006-2009, which have not been reported earlier from this area (28 species) or are known only from a few localities.Four species (Coprinopsis acuminata, C. aff. argentea, C. tigrinella and C. urticicola), first time collected in Poland during mycological trips to Bieszczady Mts and mentioned, without descriptions by Gierczyk et al. (2009) are also included and described.For the species new to Poland short descriptions and illustrations, based on the specimens examined and literature data, are given.The species found in Bieszczady Mts mentioned above were fully characterized (micro-and macrocharacters as well as detailed ecological data were given).The collected material was deposited in the herbarium of Field Station of the Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment, Polish Academy of Sciences (zBŚRiL), in the author's (BG) private herbarium (BGF) and in Marek Snowarski's private herbarium (MS).names (except for Coprinellus elisii) are given according to Funga nordica (Vesterholt 2008a-d), threat categories according to Wojewoda and Ławrynowicz (2006).Information about species distribution are given according to orton and Watling (1979), Doveri (2004), Legon et al. (2005), Uljé (2005) and Vesterholt (2008a-d).The material was studied according to standard methods used in the taxonomy of fungi.The microscopic structures were examined in dried material, mounted in Congo Red or 10% ammonia and in fresh material mounted in water, using Bresser Bino Researcher microscope.Drawings of microcharacters were made from microphotographs taken with nikon Coolpix 950 Digital Camera.All measurements were made directly through the microscope under an oil immersion objective.

LIsT OF sPECIEs
Coprinellus P. Karst.
locAlities: 1. Puszcza Wkrzańska, Świdwie reserve; ATPoL: AB-62.A few basidiocarps were found on the ground in alder forest; 29.11.2009ATPoL: DD-78.In Tilio-Carpinetum, on the forest margin, two basidiocarps were found on a piece of wood of an unidentified deciduous tree; 18.09.2006;leg. A. Kujawa, A. Szczepkowski, det  distribution, hAbitAt And remArks: Hitherto species known only from type collection from Great Britain and few localities in Hungary (nagy 2007), in Poland found only in Bieszczady Mts (Gierczyk et al. 2009).Its habitat is unknown, type specimens were found in grassland, probably in association with grass stems.Descriptions available in the literature are not complete.According to Uljé (http:// users.raketnet.nl/keesuljee/argenteus.htm), the holotype is in poor state, without conserved lamellae.Therefore some characters (basidia and cystidia) of the collected specimens could not be compared with these of the type collection.Spores presented by orton and Watling (1979) differ slightly in shape from those drew by Uljé (http://users.raketnet.nl/keesuljee/argenteus.htm) during holotype examination -the latter author has shown more lentiform and ellipsoid spores.The specimens collected in Bieszczady Mts have only few kernel of maize shaped spores, most of them are broadly ellipsoid to lentiform, however other characters -the small dimensions of spores, the presence of thin-walled, white veil and ecology betoken that they belong to this species.
Coprinopsis candidata (Uljé)   distribution And remArks: The specimens obtained in laboratory culture on dung have slightly smaller spores dimensions than that produced by basidiocarps growing in natural conditions (5-7 × 4-6 μm vs. 7-11 × 6-10 μm) -such effect was not observed for other ink-caps.The species rather common in Europe, found in netherlands, Scandinavian Countries and Great Britain, growing on dung of various animals.In Poland, mentioned only from three localities: Kraków, Kuźnica Białostocka and horse stud in Wołosate village in Bieszczady national Park (Skirgiełło 1946;Wojewoda 1996;Gierczyk et al. 2009), probably overlooked because of small dimen- Gierczyk et al. 2009), probably overlooked because of small dimen-et al. 2009), probably overlooked because of small dimensions.
distribution And remArks: Common and widespread European coprophilous species, growing on herbivores dung.overlooked because of a minute basidiocarps.Known from three localities in Poland, all in national Parks: Karkonosze nP, Rozto-Roztocze nP and Białowieża nP (Sałata 1972;Lisiewska 1992;Faliński et al. 1997).

CONCLUsIONs
Fungi belonging to the genera Coprinus, Coprinopsis, Coprinellus and Parasola are poorly recognized in Poland.Many common and widespread European species hitherto were not mentioned in the Polish mycological literature or are known only from scarce localities.It is quite plausible that some species (e.g., Parasola leiocephala, Coprinopsis jonesii) were misidentified as other ink-caps, therefore a revision of Coprinus s. lato collections in the Polish herbaria is necessary.More attention should also be given to rarely investigated habitats, as studs, pastures or compost-prisms where many ink-cap species new to Poland or uncommonly recorded could be find.
Rather common and widespread ink-cap species, known from many European countries, north America and Japan, occurring solitary on weathered dung of cow, cattle, sheep and other herbivorous animals.Probably overlooked because of small basidiocarp dimensions.A species new to Poland.
(Halama, Romański 2010)10(photograph in the web atlas of fungi: "Fungi and Mushrooms of Poland" -http://www.grzyby.pl/gatunki/Coprinus_acuminatus.htm).3.Bieszczady Mts, Bieszczady national Park, 2 km SEE from Wołosate village, at the slope "Doszczanki" near the red tourist trail; ATPoL: GG-70.onebasidiocarp was found in beech forest, on the ground; 10.07.2008; leg.The fungus of a poorly known distribution, probably widespread in Europe, but not distinguished from similar and very common species -C.atramentaria (Bull.)Redhead,Vilgalys&Moncalvo.The major characters to separate C. acuminata from this species are narrower spores and smaller basidiocarps of ochre-brown color.It occurs in England, netherlands and Scandinavian Countries, growing fasciculate, on stumps of deciduous trees, fragments of wood or soil.In Poland the species was previously found only in Bieszczady Mts(Gierczyk et al. 2009) and Wigry national Park(Halama, Romański 2010).
. Veil composed of globose, up to 70 μm wide elements, smooth or covered with indistinct granules dissolving in HCl and sparse, diverticulate, narrow hyphae.Clamp-connections very sparse.locAlities: Bieszczady national Park, horse stud in Wołosate village; ATPoL: FG-79.About ten fruitbodies were found on horse dung mixed with straw; 01.05.2010, 05.06.2010; leg.B. Gierczyk, A. Kujawa, det.B. Gierczyk; BGF/100601/0017, BGF/100605/0003.distribution, hAbitAt And remArks: Known only from Europe, rare, found in netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark and Sweden.It grows on herbivores dung (most collections come from cow dung) or on dung mixed with straw and on compost heaps.Hitherto not mentioned from Poland.