Scytinopogon cryptomerioides (Hydnodontaceae), a new species from Taiwan Author Lin, Wan-Rou Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC), Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI), No. 331, Shih-Pin Road, Hsinchu 300193, Taiwan. & Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, No. 1727, Sec. 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Taichung 407224, Taiwan. Author Wang, Pi-Han Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, No. 1727, Sec. 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Taichung 407224, Taiwan. Author Hsieh, Sung-Yuan Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC), Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI), No. 331, Shih-Pin Road, Hsinchu 300193, Taiwan. text Phytotaxa 2022 2022-06-21 552 1 73 83 journal article 78961 10.11646/phytotaxa.552.1.6 4297c95e-e63a-4170-8a5e-27738a07a3e0 1179-3163 6673263 Scytinopogon cryptomerioides W.R. Lin & P.H. Wang , sp. nov . ( Figs. 2–5 ) MycoBank no.—MB 835246 Type :— TAIWAN . Nantou County , Zen-Len area ( 23.45 N 120.68 E , alt. 1500 m ), on sandy loam soil, 5 July 2009 , W . R . LIN, 0906RK10- 23 ( holotype , TNMF28829 ). The mycelium of the fungi is associated with the roots of C. japonica trees . Etymology:—‘ cryptomerioides ’ refers to the forest habitat of the fungus and growth in association with the roots of Cryptomeria japonica . The DNA of the fungus could be detected in the roots of C. japonica and the fruiting of this fungus is affected by thinning of C. japonica (Lin et al. unpublished data). These results indicated that the fungus grows in association with the roots of C. japonica . Description:— Basidiomes coralloid, up to 50–110 mm in height, branched, tufts arising from a common stem or cluster of stems, white, cream or tan when fresh, rather tough, subcoriaceous, brown on drying, caespitose, gregarious or solitary on sandy loam soil. Stipe up to 10–30 × 1–6 mm , cylindric or sub-compressed, thick, arising from a tangled mass of mycelial strands. Branches dichotomous or polytomous, flattened, generally branched from the base. The mycelium was associated with the roots of C. japonica ( Fig. 2B ). FIGURE 2. A: Basidiomes of Scytinopogon cryptomerioides in natural habitat. B: Basidiome of S. cryptomerioides associated with roots of C. japonica (holotype, 0906RK10-23) (Bar: 1 cm). Photos by: W.R. Lin. Hyphal system monomitic; tramal hyphae smooth, thin-walled, colorless, 2–3 μm wide, ampullate at septa, all with clamps. Basidia formed laterally from generative hyphae, with basal clamp ( Fig. 5 ). Basidia 35–42 × 5.5–6 μm, clavate, finely granular-vacuolate, with four conical sterigmata (mostly 3–4 μm long). Cystidia absent ( Figs. 4A , 5 ). Basidiospores ( Fig. 3A–B ) 4.0–6.0 × 3–3.5 μm, colorless, ellipsoid, echinulate or verrucose with acute warts or spines 0.5–0.7 μm long, slightly angular, inamyloid and cyanophilous. Hilar appendix small, obscured by spore ornamentation. Basidiospore development ( Fig. 4 ) starts with a spherical enlargement of the sterigma apex to form a basidiospore primordium 0.6–0.8 μm in diameter ( Fig. 4A ). The basidiospore initially grows asymmetrically on its abaxial side ( Fig. 4B ). The spherical body enlargements, the hilar appendices, and the ornamentation formation of the basidiospore are shown in Fig. 4B–C , the depression of the hilar appendices in Fig. 4D . Habitat and distribution:—terrestrial, solitary, gregarious, or caespitose on sandy loam soil ( Fig. 2A ). This taxon was collected on the ground in forests dominated by Cryptomeria japonica at an elevation of 600–2100 m . The fruiting lasted for 2 to 3 months. The mycelium was associated with the roots of C. japonica . Lin et al . (2015) found that the fruiting of saprophytic fungi was negatively affected by tree-cutting in C. japonica plantations, whether this is the case for S . cryptomerioides could be the subject of another study. FIGURE 3. Scanning electron micrographs of Scytinopogon cryptomerioides (0906RK6-10). A: basidiospores. B: basidiospores. C–E: apices of basidia. Bars: A, D, E 1 μm; B, C 2 μm. Photos by: W. R. Lin. FIGURE 4. Scanning electron micrographs of Scytinopogon cryptomerioides —Development of basidiospores. A: spherical enlargement of the sterigma apex. B: spherical enlargement of the basidiospore. C: beginning formation of ornamentation. D: depressions of the hilar appendices of spores. Bars: 1 μm. Specimen number: 0906RK6-10. Photos by: W. R. Lin. Additional specimens examined ( paratypes ):— TAIWAN . Nantou County , Zen-Len area , 23°45’ N 120°68’ E, elev. 1300–1500 m , 5 July 2009 , 0906RK6-10 ( Tunghai University ) ; Nantou County , Zen-Len area , at 23°45’ N 120°68’ E, elev. 1300–1500 m , 5 June 2009 , 0906RK6-23 ( Tunghai University ) ; Nantou County , Zen-Len area , at 23°45’ N 120°68’ E, elev. 1300–1500 m , 5 June 2009 , 0906RK7-1 ( Tunghai University ) ; Hsinchu County , Guanwu , at 121°07’E , 24°31’N , elev. 2000–2250, 2 October 2010 , 1010WRK-10 ( Tunghai University ) .