New species of Torrendia (Fungi, Agaricales) from remnant woodlands in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia

Abstract

Two new species of sequestrate (truffle-like fungi) Basidiomycetes of the putatively ectomycorrhizal genus Torrendia Bres. with contrasting basidiome morphology are described from remnant patches of eucalypt woodland in the wheatbelt of Western Australia: Torrendia grandis Bougher and Torrendia inculta Bougher.Like other species of Torrendia, they have basidiomes which develop and mature mostly underground but may break through to the soil surface at a late stage of maturity. The gleba of Torrendia species does not become powdery. A comparison of the main diagnostic features of all known taxa of Torrendiais provided. T. grandishas stocky basidiomes with an agaric-like pileus. T. inculta has a gleba which fragments during stipe elongation. The basidiome development of T. incultaisdescribed and illustrated, and some possible mechanisms of spore dispersal are discussed.