Australian truffle-like fungi. VI* Gigasperma (Basidiomycotina, Tricholomataceae) and Horakiella gen.nov. (Basidiomycotina, Sclerodermataceae)

Abstract

Re-examination of both species assigned too the genus Gigasperma reveals significant differences between the two taxa that warrant separation at the order level. Gigasperma cryptica is characterised by large, smooth, extremely thick-walled, reddish brown spores borne on 4-spored basidia as in some Agaricales. Horakiella clelandii gen. et comb. nov. differs in its ornamented, hyaline to pale brown spores enclosed by nurse hyphae as in the Sclerodermatales.

* Part V, Aust. Syst. Bot., 1992, 5, 631–8.