Echinostelium novozhilovii (Echinosteliaceae, Myxomycetes), a new species from Northern Asia

Abstract

A new Echinostelium novozhilovii species from Northern Asia is described and illustrated. The species was collected in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Yugra, Russia. This new species clearly differs from the previously known species by several morphological characters. Its sporocarps have very large dimensions of 700–2500 µm tall, which exceed the dimensions of E. minutum (up to 500 µm tall). Its spores are the biggest among all known species of the Echinostelium genus with 20–25(30) µm in diameter. Its columella consists of several spore-like bodies. We present a scanning electron micrograph study of E. novozhilovii and an updated identification key for species of the Echinostelium genus worldwide, which currently includes 15 taxa. Holotype specimen of E. novozhilovii is deposited in NSK. It is the first new species for the Echinostelium genus since 1997.