Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 64. (Budapest 1972)

Bohus, G.: Hebeloma studies I.

The Hebeloma testaceum problem A number of our collections, deriving from the vicinty of various trees (Populus, Robinia) on sand, and showing a weakly developed cortina and spores larger than 10 u, was tentatively identifiable as H. testaceum (BATSCH ex FR.) SACC., because either the material was insufficient to allow the observation of the carneous tinge in the colour of the gills refering to H. versipelle or the specimens were not sufficiently scrutinized. However, a more careful study revealed that the fungi represent the species H. versipelle (FR.) GILL. SS. KONR. & MAUBL. A study of the literature results in the followings; BRESADOLA'S (1930) H. testaceum (tab. 707) is rather H. fastibile (FR.) KUMMER, substantiated, besides the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the fruitbodies, also by the occurrence in groups. LANCE'S (1938) H. testaceum (tab. 118 F) can be considered H. versipelle (FR.) GILL. ss. KONR. & MAUBL., supported, among others, by one of the features of H. versipelle, namely the colour of the gills being "whitish, becoming flushed with flesh-colour and then light brownish." COOKE'S (1884-0) H. testaceum table (449/408) depicts a fine collection of H. versipelle (FR.) GILL. ss. KONR. & MAUBL., consisting of specimens with a smaller and bigger stature. The variability in stature is a characteristic of H. versipelle. Concerning PILÁT & USÁK'S (1901) H. testaceum (tab. 128 a), F. GRÖGER wrote as follows (letter communication): "Übrigens stellt das Bild bei PlLÁT, Mushrooms, 1961, meines Erachtens auch nur mesophaeum dar. Jedenfalls befindet sich im Herbar in PragPruhonice ein Exsikkat von diesem Funde und das ist ganz zweifellos mesophaeum. Ich bin nur nicht ganz sicher, ob die Herren in dem betr. Tage nicht etwa mehrere Belege gesammelt haben und nun ein anderer Pilz exsikkiert worden ist als abgebildet. Dr. KUBICKA kann sich leider nicht mehr genau erinnern." On these grounds one may rightly presume that the species H. testaceum (BATSCH ex FR.) SACC. does not exist at all. However, H. testaceum ss. BRUCHET, published in 1970. differs from H. versipelle mainly by its amygdaliform spores and bitter taste. Hebeloma mesophaeum (PERS. ex FR.) QUEL. Some supplementary data may be added with respect to this species, on the ground of material collected in Hungary. The authors (MOSER 1967; KONRAD & MAUBLANC, 1924-1930; BRESADOLA, 1930; RICKEN, 1910-1915; etc.; except BRECHET 1970) designate pine woods as its habitat, or at least consider it a species fructifying mostly in coniferous woods. Besides growing under pine-trees, SMITH (1949) mentions also from "under aspen and scrub oak". It occurred abundantly in young oak plantations in Hungary, and it was found under oak also in other countries. As regards the colour of the cap, several authors find the essentially darker centre and lighter margin as one of its characteristics. It were, however, more justified to use the expression "usually darker", because there occur not rarely specimens with an evenly graded coloration even within the identical population. The cortina-like veil is mostly more strongly developed, but again, it is not unfrequently of a weaker development. The characteristic brown discoloration of the stipe is not yet appreciable enough in the young specimens, to show through the veil-fibrils covering its surface. The spores are constantly 8-10x5-6 p, ellipsoid or pruniform, finely punctate, or, according to SMITH (1949), smooth.