Leptocaulis R.L. Zhao & J.X. Li, gen. nov.
Fungal Name: FN571717; Index Fungorum number: IF 571717; MycoBank number: MB 571717; Facesoffungi number: FoF 15151
Type species – Leptocaulis sublongistipes R.L. Zhao & J.X. Li
Etymology – From the latinized Greek lepto- (slender) and caulos (stipe). The epithet refers to the basidiomes with a slender pseudostipe.
Formerly, species belonging to Leptocaulis were classified under Lycoperdon s.l. and assigned to Lycoperdon subg. Utraria (Larsson & Jeppson 2008, Alfredo et al. 2017). However, phylogenetic analyses of Lycoperdaceae and Lycoperdon s.l., conducted using ITS, nrLSU, rpb2, and tef1–α sequences data, indicated that Leptocaulis forms a fully-supported, monophyletic group. Molecular clock analyses depicts its divergence around 26.7 Myr, a timeframe close to other genera in Lycoperdaceae, especially within Lycoperdon s.l. (26.7–34.5 Myr). Morphologically, members of this genus typically have basidiomes with well-developed pseudostipes, a feature particularly distinct in Le. sublongistipes sp. nov., Le. albiperidius (= Lycoperdon albiperidium Chang S. Kim) (Kim et al. 2016). Compared with the closely related Utraria, Leptocaulis species prefer fruiting on rotten wood, as seen in Le. sublongistipes sp. nov., Le. albiperidiuma, and Le. subumbrinus (= Lycoperdon subumbrinum Jeppson & E. Larss.) (Jeppson et al. 2012, Kim et al. 2016).
In this study, a new species, Le. sublongistipes sp. nov., is proposed, and three species, Le. muscorum, Le. albiperidius, and Le. ericaeus, previously classified under Lycoperdon, are transferred to this new genus.
Species