A new species of Cribraria (Myxomycetes) from Australia

Abstract

A new species of Cribraria, described herein as C. bicolor, appeared in moist chamber cultures on samples of the bark of Eucalyptus sp. collected at two localities in Australia. The morphology of representative specimens was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy, and micrographs of relevant morphological details of sporocarps and spores are provided. The species has a number of distinct and unique morphological features, including a glossy bright-violet globose sporotheca and a two-colored long stalk which is bright-red over the lower one-third and light yellow or lemon-yellow over the upper two-thirds. The combination of these characteristics as well as a shallow calyculus which is dark-violet when viewed under a dissecting microscope and bright red in transmitted light when mounted in lactophenol makes C. bicolor a well-defined morphospecies when compared to all other species of Cribraria. The stability of the taxonomic characters of the species was confirmed by an examination of a number of specimens.