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Key of European tomentelloid fungi 

 

 

-        spores size without ornaments

-        cyanescent-  hyphae and basidia bluish-green to bluish black in KOH

 

 

 

 

 

A- Hyphae clamped

1

 

B- Clamps absent or occasionally present

38

 

 

 

 

1a.   Cystidia present

2

 

1b.   Cystidia absent

8

 

 

 

 

2a.   Cystidia hyphoid 55-95 x 3-4 µm, growing from subiculum and rhizomorphs,

 

 

        hymenophore hazel-brown to olive-brown, smooth to granulose,

 

 

        margin byssoid with brownish dimitic rhizomorphs,

 

 

        spores irregular 8,5-10 µm 

 

 

        Thelephora atroarenicolor (Nikol.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

2b.   Cystidia acuminate, capitate or clavate

3

 

 

 

 

3a.   Cystidia acuminate (basally widened, rarely hyphoid)

4

 

3b.   Cystidia capitate

5

 

3c.   Cystidia clavate

6

 

 

 

 

4a.   Hymenophore  hazel-brown, granulose,

 

 

        cystidia somewhat distended base and tapering towards the slightly,

        expanded apices, often apical encrusted with brown deposits,

 

 

        some spores reddish brown in KOH

 

 

        Thelephora subtestacea (Bourdot & Galzin) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

4b.   Hymenophore greyish-green, smooth to granulose, mucedinoid,

 

 

        cystidia apical slightly incrusted

 

 

        Thelephora galzinii (Bourd.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

5a.   Cystidia pale brownish to greenish

 

 

        basidiocarps separable, dimitic rhizomorphs present,

 

 

        hymenophore yellowish-brown to olive-brown,

 

 

        Thelephora pilosa (Burt) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

5b.   Cystidia hyaline,

 

 

        basidiocarps adherent, without rhizomorphs,

 

 

        hymenophore greyish-green to olive-brown,

 

 

        Thelephora martinii Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

        Syn ; Tomentella viridula  Bourdot & Galzin 1924

 

 

 

 

 

6a.   Basidiocarps separable, rhizomorphs present,                             

 

 

        hymenophore greyish-brown to hazel-brown, smooth,
        subicular hyphae brownish, thick-walled

 

        Tomentella subpilosa ined.

 

 

        (similar to Th. muricata, an American species)

 

 

 

 

 

6b.   Basidiocarps adherent, rhizomorphs absent,

 

 

        subicular hyphae hyaline and thin-walled                       

7

 

 

 

7a.   Spores irregular, partly lobed

 

 

        Thelephora clavigera (Litsch.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

7b.   Spores regular globose to ellipsoid,

 

 

        subiculum thin to absent,

 

 

        subhymenial hyphae partly short celled and inflated

 

 

        Thelephora subclavigera (Litsch.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

8a.   Spores average < 6,5µm 

9

 

8b.   Spores average > 6,5 µm

13

 

 

 

 

9a.   Spores 3-4 µm,

 

 

        hymenophore with short spines, rusty yellowish

 

 

        Odontia duemmeri (Wakef.) Kõljalg 2014

 

 

 

 

 

9b.   Spores average 4,5-6,5 µm 

10

 

 

 

 

10a.  Spores tubercular, hymenophore ferruginous-brown,

 

 

        smooth to hydnoid, margin byssoid, rhizomorphs dimitic

 

 

        Odontia calcicola (Bourdot & Galzin ) Kõljalg 2014

 

 

 

 

 

10b.  Spores echinulate

11

 

 

 

 

11a.  Basidiocarps adherent, rhizomorphs absent, hymenophore greyish brown

 

 

        basidia up to 25 µm long

 

 

        Thelephora griseoumbrina (Litsch. apud Lundell & Nannf.) Kõljalg et al. 2024                  

 

 

 

 

 

11b.  Basidiocarps separable, rhizomorphs present

12

 

 

 

 

12a.  Hymenophore rosy brown, smooth

 

 

        typical yellowish rhizomorphs present

 

 

        Thelephora palliodocastanea (X. Lu, Y.H. Mu & H.S. Yuan) Kõljalg et al. 2024

 

 

 

 

 

12b. Hymenophore greyish, granulose, rhizomorphs white

 

 

        Thelephora eucinerascens Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

        Syn.: Tomentella cinerascens (P. Karst.) Hoehn. & Litsch. 1906

 

 

 

 

 

13a.  Spore ornaments bifurcate, Hymenophore hydnoid

14

 

13b.  Spore ornaments not bifurcate or with a view of bifurcate warts                              

 

         Hymenophore smooth to granulare

15

 

 

14a.  Spores brown, slightly globose 7-8 µm, with short pines,

 

 

         rhizomorphs dimitic

 

 

         Odontia ferruginea Pers. 1794

 

 

         Syn. Tomentella crinalis (Fr.) M.J. Larsen 1967

 

 

 

 

 

14b.  Spores hyaline, irregular subglobose, 8-10 µm

 

         rhizomorphs monomitic

 

 

         Caldesiella italica Sacc. 1877

 

 

 

15a.  Immaturity basidia vesicular up to 25 µm wide, 

 

 

         hymenophore smooth, fawn, basidiocarps compact,

 

 

         spores irregular subglobose 7-9,5 µm

 

 

         Thelephora humicola Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

         Syn.: Tomentella terrestris (Berk. & Broome) M.J. Larsen 1974

 

 

 

 

 

15b.  Immaturity basidia clavate to utriform, < 15 µm wide                            

16

 

 

 

 

16a.  Spores average 6-7,5 µm (if hyphae short celled and inflated

17

 

        (if hyphae partly short celled and inflated go to 32a)

 

 

16b.  Spores average larger

19

 

 

 

 

17a.  Subicular hyphae thick-walled, brown, incrusted, up to 6 µm wide,

 

 

         hymenophore greyish-brown to dark brown, granulose,

 

 

         spores partly irregular globose, 6-8 µm

 

         Thelephora neobourdotii (M.J. Larsen) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

17b.  Subicular hyphae thin-walled, hyaline to pale brown 

18

 

 

18a.  Basidia and hyphae strong cyanescent, hymenophore blackish brown,

 

 

         rhizomorphs distinct, with scattered skelett hyphae

 

 

         margin and subiculum ferruginous-yellowish, subiculum ferruginous-yellowish

 

 

         Thelephora botryoides Schwein. 1822

 

          (if rhizomorphs distinct dimitic and hymenophore olivaceous brown

 

 

          compare Th. ferruginea 36a.)

 

 

 

18b.  Basidia and hyphae not cyanescent, rhizomorphs absent

 

 

         hymenophore brownish, margin and subiculum same coloured, 

 

 

         spores not bifurcate

 

 

         Thelephora sp.  FD 7548

 

 

 

19a.  Hymenophore whitish, yellowish or pale ochraceous to mustard yellow

        Thelephora ochraceo-olivacea (Litsch.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024  

        Syn. Thelephora fatrensis (Svrček) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

19b.  Hymenophor pale to dark brown, olivaceous or rusty brown

20

 

 

 

 

20a.  Spores subglobose or ellipsoid, not lobed 

21

 

20b.  Spores with irregular outline, mostly lobed

30

 

 

 

 

21a.  Spores ellipsoid (lateral view)                     

22

 

21b.  Spores subglobose (lateral view)                        

23

 

 

 

 

22a.  Subicular hyphae hyaline to pale brownish, thin-walled,

 

 

         subhymenial hyphae short celled and inflated,

 

 

         spores 7-10 µm long

 

 

         Thelephora ellisii (Sacc.) Zmitr., Shchepin, Volobuev & Myasnikov 2018 agg.

 

 

 

 

 

22b.  Subicular hyphae brown, thick-walled,

 

 

         subhymenial hyphae not short celled and inflated,

 

 

         spores 8-12 µm long, partly irregular 

 

 

         Thelephora atramentaria (Rostr.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

23a.  Subicular hyphae hyaline

24

 

23b.  Subicular hyphae brown

25

 

 

 

 

24a.  Hymenophore greyish-brown, tubercular, spores 8-11 µm,

 

 

         basidiocarps separable, rhizomorphs present,

 

 

         subiculum white, margin yellowish to white

 

 

         Thelephora asperula (P. Karst.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

24b.  Hymenophore pale brown to brick, spores 7-8,5 µm

 

 

         (forms of Th. eulateritia 34a. and Th. eucoerulea 35b. with more regular spores)

 

 

 

 

25a.  Hymenophor rust-yellowish, spores yellowish-brown, Th. bryophila complex

26

 

25b.  Hymenophor bright to dark brown, spores brown

28

 

 

26a.  Spores with long spines up to 3 µm, globose 8-11 µm,

         apiculus amyloid

         Thelephora bryophila (Pers.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

26b.  Spores with shorter spines up to 1,5 µm, Apiculus not amyloid

27

 

 

 

 

 

27a.  Hymenophore ochre-yellow with olivaceous tint, spores 8-11 µm

        Thelephora viridescens (Bres. & Torr.) ) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

27b.  Hymenophor rust-yellowish, spores 6-9 µm

        Thelephora ferruginella (Bourdot & Galzin) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

28a.  Spores globose, 8 -13 µm, spines up to 3 µm,

 

 

         Subicular hyphae not incrusted

 

 

         Thelephora stuposa s.l.

--      Spores 6 - 8 µm Thelephora spec.

--      Spores 8 - 10 µm  Thelephora stuposa (Link) Kõljalg et al. 2024 s.str.

--      Spores 10 - 13 µm Thelephora giacomoi Kõljalg et al. 2024

         Syn.: Tomentella bresadolae (Brinkmann) Höhn. & Litsch. 1908

 

 

 

 

 

28b.  Spores subglobose to ellipsoid, 7,5-9,5 µm, partly irregular

29

 

 

 

 

29a.  Subicular hyphae incrusted, apiculus not amyloid, with spines up to 2 µm 

 

 

         Thelephora lapida (Pers.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

         (similar Th. fuliginea with amyloid apiculus and subicular hyphae not incrusted)

 

29b.  Subicular hyphae not incrusted, with short spines, apiculus not amyloid

         Thelephora alpina (Peintner & Dämmrich)  Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

         (alpine species on Salix herbacea)

 

 

 

 

 

30a.  Spores with long spines up to 2,5 µm, hymenophore smooth, fawn to rosy-buff,

 

 

         margin byssoid to fimbriat, rhizomorphs present

 

 

         Thelephora testaceogilva (Bourdot & Galzin) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

30b.  Not with the above combination of characters

31

 

 

 

 

31a.  Subhymenial hyphae to 8 (10) µm wide, short celled and inflated

32

 

31b.  Subhymenial hyphae to 5,5 µm wide, regular       

33

 

 

 

 

32a.  Spores rough tuberculate-echinulate,       

         a few warts bifurcate, mostly spores with oil drops, 

         margin often fimbriat, partly rhizomorphs present

 

 

         Thelephora extendens Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

         Syn.: Tomentella radiosa (P. Karst.) Rick 1934,

 

 

         = Thelephora terrestris f. resupinata ss. auct.

 

 

 

 

 

32b.  Spores with long spines 7-9 µm,

         hyphae to 10 µm wide, inflated up to 15 µm wide,

 

 

         margin undetermined, rhizomorphs absent

 

 

         Thelephora wakefieldiae Zmitr., Shchepin, Volobuev & Myasnikov 2018 s.l.

 

 

         Syn,: Tomentella sublilacina (Ellis & Holw.) Wakef. 1962 s.l.

 

 

 

 

 

33a.  Subiculum thin, rhizomorphs rarely, 

         basidia partly with reddish contents (examines in distilled water!)

 

 

         hymenial with amber-tinted adhering material, solving in KOH

         and partly cyanescent 

34

 

 

 

 

33b.  Subiculum and rhizomorphs distinctly,    

 

 

         basidia not reddish in distilled water

36

 

 

 

 

34a.  Hymenophore brick-red, not cyanescent

         Thelephora eulateritia Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

         Syn.: Tomentella lateritia Pat. 1894

 

 

 

 

 

34b. Hymenophore brownish

35

 

 

 

 

35a.  Hymeniophore dark brown, distinctly cyanescent            

 

 

         Thelephora molybdaea (Bourdot & Galzin) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024   

 

35b.  Hymenophore pale brownish, not cyanescent

 

 

        Thelephora eucoerulea Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

        Syn.: Tomentella coerulea (Bres.) Höhn. & Litsch.1907 ss. M.J. Larsen

 

 

 

 

 

36a.  Basidia and hyphae cyanescent,

 

 

         hymenophore ferruginous-brown to olive-brown, granulose, 

 

 

         margin partly yellowish, rhizomorphs dimitic

 

 

         Thelephora ferruginea (Pers.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

         (if hymenophore blackish-brown view Thelephora botryoides 18a.)

 

 

 

 

 

36b.  Basidia and hyphae not cyanescent

37

 

   

 

 

37a.  Hymenophore pale brownish with greenish or reddish tints, granulose, margin,

         byssoid, ferruginous-brown, rhizomorphs monomitic or rarely dimitic

 

 

         Thelephora punicea (Alb. & Schwein.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024   

 

 

        (with distinct golden yellow hyphae compare Thelephora rubiginosa)

 

 

 

 

 

37b.  Hymenophore ferruginous-reddish to chestnut-brown, smooth to tubercular, 

 

 

         margin ferruginous-reddish, rhizomorphs dimitic

 

 

         Thelephora umbrinospora (M.J. Larsen) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

38a.  Spores ornaments bifurcate                                       

39

 

38b.  Spores ornaments not bifurcate                           

40

 

 

 

 

39a.  Hymenophore tubercular to hydnoid, cinnamon brown,

 

 

         spores slightly globose with short bifurcate ornaments 6-8 µm,

 

 

         with thick-walled up to 200 µm long tramal pseudocystidia

 

 

         Odontia fibrosa (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Kõljalg 2014

 

 

 

 

 

39b.  Hymenophore smooth (cf. Pseudotomentella!)

 

 

 

 

 

40a.  Spores brown                                                            

41

 

40b.  Spores hyaline (cf. Tomentellopsis!)

 

 

 

 

 

41a.  Occasionally clamps present,

 

         subicular hyphae and subhymenial hyphae occasionally clamps present,

         spores regular to irregular ellipsoid, 8-12 µm long, spines up to 1,5 µm

         Thelephora cinereoumbrina (Bres.) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

 

 

 

41b.  All hyphae without clamps

42

 

 

 

 

42a.  Spores regular globose 7–9 µm,  spines up to 3 µm

 

 

         Tomentella spinosispora (Cižek) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

         (the type is described with clamps-bearing subicular hyphae,

          but now recognised as alien hyphae, E. Martini 2021)

 

 

 

 

 

42b.  Spores ellipsoid or irregular globose

43

 

 

 

 

43a.  Basidiocarps thick, crustose, mostly on soil

 

 

         Thelephora fuscocinerea Pers. 1822

 

 

         Syn.: Tomentella fuscocinerea (Pers.) 1933

 

 

 

 

43b.  Basidiocarps thin and tomentelloid, on wood

44

 

 

 

 

44a.  Spores with spines up to 2 µm, spores irregular globose,

 

 

         basidiocarps mucedinoid

 

 

         Thelephora allobadia Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024

 

 

         Syn.: Tomentella badia (Link) Stalpers 1975

 

 

         (if spores regular globose view 42a.)

 

 

 

44b.  Spores with spines up to 1,5 µm, spores regular ellipsoid

 

 

         Thelephora brunneofirma (M.J. Larsen) Kõljalg, I. Saar & Svantesson 2024