On Corticium udicola Bourd

• Main Author: Jülich, W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1976
• Subjects: North Sweden
• Online Access: http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/record/531899; http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/569725

One of the fungi with very variable basidia is Corticium udicola Bourd., showing in the same basidiocarp all stages between sessile clavate basidia, podo- and pleurobasidia. Interesting features are the large sterigmata — not often found in species of Corticiaceae — and the amyloid spores. For this species Hauerslev (1974) created the monotypic genus Melzericium, based on his own collection from Sweden. A stay at the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris gave the opportunity to study all the specimens of Corticium udicola. Soon it was evident that the collections contained two different but closely related species, one of which agreed very well with the descriptions given by Bourdot (1910) and Bourdot & Galzin (1928). The second species is characterized by a deviating shape of the spores which is rather unique in the Corticiaceae. The first and obviously more common species is at the same time identical with Hauerslev’s specimen from Sweden. For the second species no name is available. It is, as far as I know, in France only represented by its type specimen, but is also found in North Sweden (Strid, 1975; sub Melzericium udicola). Corticium udicola was one of the first species which Bourdot described. Since he was the most important promotor of our knowledge of the Corticiaceae, I find it appropriate to name the second species after him.