Botanical Studies (2007) 48: 91-96.
*
Corresponding author: E-mail: huil4951@ntu.edu.tw.
INTRODUCTION
The genera Perichaena and Trichia, belonging to
Arcyriaceae and Trichiaceae of Trichiales, respectively,
are characterized by having tubular capillitial threads.
While the capillitial threads of Perichaena are slightly
roughened or marked by warts or spines on the surface,
those of Trichia are of free elaters with acute or acuminate
ends and marked by 2-5 spiral bands on the surface. Their
spores are bright-colored and usually yellow in mass
(Martin and Alexopoulos, 1969). To date, five species
and one variety of Perichaena, and seven species and
three varieties of Trichia, have been recorded in Taiwan
(Nakazawa, 1929; Liu, 1980, 1982, 1983, 2005; Wang et
al., 1981; Chung and Liu, 1997; Chung et al., 1998; Chung
and Tzean, 1998; Liu et al., 2002a, 2002b). In this paper
two newly recorded species, P. pedata (A. & G. Lister)
G. Lister and T. papillata Adamonyte, and a new species,
P. papulosa Liu & Chang, are described and illustrated.
Voucher specimens were deposited at the herbarium of the
National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan
(TNM).
TAXONOMY
Key to species of Perichaena in Taiwan (inspired
by Martin and Alexopoulos, 1969)
1.
Fructifications predominantly plasmodiocarpous ........ 2
Fructifications predominantly sporangiate .................. 4
2.
Plasmodiocarps dull yellow-brown to dark-brown, long
slender, curved or net-like ........................................... 3
Plasmodiocarps dark reddish brown, often elongated
or ring-like, varying to sporangiate, rarely stipitate;
capillitium strongly spinulate, with long spines,
sometimes marked by reticulate ridges .........................
............................................................ P. chrysosperma
3.
Spores 10-14 £gm diam ...........................P. vermicularis
Spores 7.5-10 £gm diam .................................................
..................................P. vermicularis var. microsperma
4.
Sporangia flattened on a broad, continuous base,
usually densely aggregated and angular from pressure;
dehiscence circumscissile ............................P. depressa
Sporangia not flattened, often clustered but not angular;
dehiscence circumscissile or irregular
......................... 5
5. Sporangia mostly stalked ............................................. 6
Sporangia sessile, short-plasmodiocarpous or annulate
..................................................................................... 7
6. Peridium bearing one prominent wart on the top of
sporangium ................................................. P. papulosa
Peridium not as above .................................... P. pedata
7.
Sporangia dehiscing by a clearly preformed lid; the
line of dehiscence wavy; capillitium usually scanty,
minutely warted or spiny, rarely smooth
.....P. corticalis
Sporangia dehiscing irregularly; capillitium scanty, or
absent, smooth .............................................P. liceoides
Perichaena chrysosperma (Currey) A. Lister, Mycet.
196. 1894.
Description and illustration: Liu (1983).
Perichaena corticalis (Batsch) Rost., Mon. 293.1875.
Description and illustration: Liu (2005).
The fruiting bodies resemble those of P. tessellata in
having a dark outer peridium separated by a yellow and
membranous inner peridium to form a polygonal areolae
in outer appearance. The mostly plasmodiocarpous
Myxomycetous Genera Perichaena and Trichia in Taiwan
Chin-Hui LIU
1,
*, Jong-How CHANG
2
, and Fu-Hung YANG
3
1
Institute of Plant Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
2
2F, 72, Sec. 2, Pei-Hsin Rd., Hsin-Tien, Taipei County 231, Taiwan
3
Institute of Life Science, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
(Received February 3, 2006; Accepted August 23, 2006)
ABSTRACT.
Five species and one variety of the genus Perichaena, and seven species and three varieties of
Trichia have previously been reported from Taiwan. In this paper two newly recorded species, P. pedata and T.
papillata, and a new species, P. papulosa, are described and illustrated. Keys to the Perichaena and Trichia
species of Taiwan are also provided.
Keywords: Myxomycetes; Perichaena; Taiwan; Trichia; Trichiales; True slime molds.
MICROBIOLOGY
pg_0002
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Botanical Studies, Vol. 48, 2007
fructification and the thicker capillitial threads (2-4 £gm
diam) are distinct characters separating the present species
from P. tessellata, which is sporangiate with capillitial
threads of 1.5 £gm diam.
Perichaena depressa Libert, Pl. Crypt. 378. 1837.
Description and illustration: Liu (1982).
Perichaena liceoides Rostaf., Mon. 293.1875.
Description and illustration: Nakazawa (1929); Chung
and Liu (1997).
Perichaena papulosa Liu & Chang, sp. nov. (Figure 1)
Etymology. Latin, papulosus = pustular, referring to the
sporangium with a prominent papilla.
Fructificationes dispersae, sporangiatae, 0.2-0.44
mm altitudinem totam. Sporangia stipitata, globosa,
depresse globosa, vel oblonge ovata, 0.11-0.25 mm diam.,
ochracea, brunneolo-aurantiaca vel fusca, tuberculo fusco
ad nigello summo. Stipes erectus, brevis, cylindricus,
0.05-0.20 mm longus, fuscus. Hypothallus membranaceus,
fuscus. Peridium simplex, translucidum, cum basilari
Figure 1. Perichaena papulosa. A, fruiting body; B, young fruiting body; C, dehiscing sporangium, showing the elastic capillitium;
D, the sporangium after dehiscing; E, capillitium; F, sporangium under transmitted light, showing the protuberance (arrow); G, surface
view of spores and capillitial thread; H, marginal view of spores; I, capillitial thread by SEM; J, spore by SEM. Scale bar: A-D = 150
£gm, E = 8 £gm, F = 80 £gm, G-H = 4 £gm, I-J = 1 £gm.
pg_0003
LIU et al. ¡X
Perichaena
and
Trichia
in Taiwan
93
parte disciformi post dehiscentem. Capillitium elasticum,
abundum, sordide flavum, browneolum luce transmissa,
dense notatum e verrucis in annulari facie, 3-4 £gm diam.
Sporae in cumulos ochraceae vel sordide flavae, bruneolae
luce transmissa, subglobosae vel ovatae, 9-10 £gm diam.,
minute echinulatae. Plasmodium ignotum.
Fructifications sporangiate, scattered, 0.20-0.44 mm
in total height. Sporangia globose, depressed globose,
or oblong ovate, 0.11-0.25 mm in diameter, stipitate,
ochraceous, brownish orange or darker, orange brown
when young, spotted with one dark brown to blackish
protuberance at the top. Stalks erect, short, cylindrical,
0.05-0.20 mm in length, dark brown, filled with
amorphous matters under transmitted light, arising
from a membranous dark brown hypothallus. Peridium
single-layered, transparent, upwardly dehiscent leaving
a disk-like or wok-like basal part. Capillitium elastic,
abundant, dull yellow, tinted with brownish color by
transmitted light, marked by closely arranged warts in
ring-like appearance, 3-4
£g
m in diameter. Spores in mass
ochraceous or dull yellow, brownish by transmitted light,
subglobose or ovate, 9-10
£g
m in diameter, spinulate.
Plasmodium not observed.
Holotype. Taipei City, Yangmingshan National Park, on
fallen twigs and leaves, CHL B2206 (TNM F19096), Jul.
21, 2000 (moist-chamber culture: 8/1/2000-10/7/2000).
Additional specimens examined. TAIPEI COUNTY:
Shih-ting, Wenshan Botanical Gardens of National Taiwan
University, on plant litter, CHL B2381 (TNM F19097),
Oct 9 1999; on plant litter, CHL B2386 (TNM F19098),
Dec 25 1999. TAIPEI CITY: Yangmingshan National Park,
on fallen twigs and leaves, CHL B2205 (TNM F19095),
Jul 21 2000 (moist-chamber culture: 8/1/2000-10/6/2000).
Distribution. Known only from Taiwan.
This species is distinct in having stipitate sporangia
marked on the top with one prominent wart or papilla.
Compared with Perichaena pedata, another species with
stalked fruiting bodies, this species is much smaller (less
than 1/2) in total height, stalk length, and sporangial
diameter but similar in spore size, color, and surface
markings. The surface markings of capillitial threads of
these two species are also quite different. The capillitial
threads of P. papulosa are marked by low warts arranged
in a ring-like manner while those of P. pedata are marked
by prominent spines that are arranged irregularly.
Figure 2. Perichaena pedata. A-B, fruiting bodies; C, capillitium; D, spore by SEM; E, capillitial thread by SEM; F, inner peridium by
SEM. Scale bar: A-B = 150 £gm, C = 15 £gm, D, F = 5 £gm, E = 3 £gm.
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Botanical Studies, Vol. 48, 2007
5. Spores prominently reticulate ...................................... 6
Spores spinulate or warted .......................................... 7
6.
Spores coarsely reticulate, bands of reticulation pitted,
12-16 £gm diam
........................................... T. verrucosa
Spores delicately reticulate, 8-10 £gm diam
. . T. decipiens
7. Peridium not bearing protuberances ............................ 8
Peridium bearing prominent protuberances ..................
.....................................................................T. papillata
8. Elaters with long acuminate tips .................................. 9
Elaters with short acute tips....................................... 10
9.
Peridium black or dark purple, without wax scales .......
....................................................T. botrytis var. botrytis
Peridium covered with gray-green or yellow wax scales
.................................................. T. botrytis var. cerifera
10. Elaters, smooth, marked with regular spirals ...............
........................................................................ T. munda
Elaters, spinulate, marked with close spirals.. T. erecta
Trichia botrytis (J.F. Gmel.) Pers., Neues Mag. Bot. 1:
89. 1794.
Description and illustration: Liu (2005).
Trichia botrytis var. cerifera G. Lister, J. Bot., Lond. 53:
211. 1915.
Description and illustration: Nakazawa (1929).
Trichia contorta var. iowensis (T. Macbr.) Torrend,
Broteria 7: 55. 1908.
Description and illustration: Nakazawa (1929).
Trichia contorta var. karstenii (Rostaf.) Ing, Trans. Brit.
Mycol. Soc. 48: 647. 1965.
Description and illustration: Liu (1983).
Trichia decipiens (Pers.) T. Macbr., N. Am. Slime-Moulds
218. 1899.
Description and illustration: Liu (2005).
Trichia erecta Rex, Proc. Acad. Phila. 42: 193. 1890.
Description and illustration: Chung and Tzean (1998).
Trichia favoginea (Batsch) Pers., Neues Mag. Bot. 1: 90.
1974.
Description and illustration: Liu (1980).
Trichia munda (A. Lister) Meylan, Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sci.
Nat. 56: 327. 1925.
Description and illustration: Liu et al. (2002b).
Trichia papillata Adamonyte, Mycotaxon 87: 380. 2003.
(Figure 3)
Fructifications sporangiate, scattered, solitary or
gregarious, 0.77-1.30 mm in total height. Sporangia
stipitate, turbinate or globose, 0.25-0.64 mm diam, brown
Perichaena pedata (A. & G. Lister) G. Lister, J. Bot. 75:
326. 1937. (Figure 2)
Fructifications sporangiate, scattered, solitary,
occasionally two in a cluster with sporangia united,
0.75-0.95 mm in total height. Sporangia stipitate, globose
to subglobse, pale yellowish to orange brown, 0.3-0.6 mm
in diameter. Stalks erect, cylindrical, stout, roughened,
dark brown to black, 0.45-0.60 mm high. Peridium
single, membranous, with deposition of granular matter.
Hypothallus inconspicuous. Capillitium consisting of
yellow threads, the threads scarcely branched, with
occasional bulbous expansions, prominently marked with
spines or minute scattered warts, 3-5 £gm in diameter.
Spores orange yellow in mass, pale yellowish by
transmitted light, globose to subglobse, minutely warted,
9.5-10.0 £gm in diam. Plasmodium not observed.
Specimens examined. TAIPEI COUNTY: Shih-
ting, Wenshan Botanical Gardens of National Taiwan
University, on fallen twigs and leaves, CHL B2382
(TNM F19091), Jun 12 1999 (moist-chamber culture:
9/20-10/22/1999); on plant litter, CHL B2384 (TNM
F19093), Oct 9 1999.
Distribution. America, Europe, Asia (Japan, Taiwan).
The sporangia of this species and those of Hemitirchia
minor are similar in shape and color. They both have
stalked sporangia. The capillitial threads of our specimens
also resemble those of H . minor (Yamamoto, 1998) in
diameter and surface markings except the spiral bands.
The capillitial threads of H. minor bear faint spiral bands
(Lister, 1911; Ing, 1999). The spiral bands, nevertheless,
were not found by SEM in our specimens (Figure 2E).
Perichaena vermicularis var. microsperma Y. Yamam.
& Nann.-Brem., Proc. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wet. C. 98:
323. 1995.
Description and illustration: Liu et al. (2002a).
Perichaena vermicularis (Schw.) Rost., Mon. App. 34.
1876.
Description and illustration: Liu (1982).
Key to species of Trichia from Taiwan (inspired
by Martin and Alexopoulos, 1969)
1.
Typically sessile, sporangiate or plasmodiocarpous .... 2
Typically sporangiate and distinctly stalked ............... 5
2.
Spores prominently reticulate ...................................... 3
Spores spinulate or minutely warted ........................... 4
3.
Spores coarsely reticulate, bands of reticulation pitted,
12-15 £gm diam ........................................... T. favoginea
Spores delicately reticulate, 10-12 £gm diam . . T. scabra
4. Elaters smooth, with several large rounded expansions
along the length ......................T. contorta var. karstenii
Elaters spinulate, swellings may present before tips
................................................ T. contorta var. iowensis
pg_0005
LIU et al. ¡X
Perichaena
and
Trichia
in Taiwan
95
to blackish brown. Peridium double, the inner layer
membranous, translucent, appearing as narrow bands
separating the outer peridium into reticulate pattern, outer
layer opaque, composed of dark granular thickenings,
separating before dehiscence and forming areolae, with
a protuberance at the center of each areola, dehiscing
along the membranous bands of the inner peridium. Stalks
up to 0.6 mm long (about 1/3-1/2 of total height), dark,
cylindrical. Capillitium composed of yellow brown tubular
threads, the capillitial threads unbranched, nearly identical
in diameter along the length and often with acuminated
ends, 3.0-3.5 £gm in diameter, bearing 3-4 spinulate spiral
bands. Spores bright yellow brown in mass, brownish by
transmitted light, subglobose or ovoid, (7.2-) 8.0-8.5 (-9.0)
£g
m in diameter, minutely warted. Plasmodium yellow.
Specimens examined. TAIPEI COUNTY: Shih-
ting, Wenshan Botanical Gardens of National Taiwan
University, on plant litter, CHL B2388 (TNM F19101);
CHL B2389 (TNM F19102), Aug 31 1999. Wu-lai, on
plant litter, CHL B163 (TNM F19103), Feb 25 1982
(moist-chamber culture: 7/22/1982-10/4/1982). TAIPEI
CITY: Yangmingshan National Park, on fallen twigs and
leaves, CHL B2387 (TNM F19100), June 26 2001 (moist-
chamber culture: 6/26/2001-8/8/2001).
Distribution. Lithuania (Adamonyte, 2003), Taiwan.
Figure 3. Trichia papillata. A-C, fruiting bodies; D-E, H, capillitium; F-G, young fruiting bodies; I, outer (O) and inner (I) peridium; J,
spore by SEM; K-L, marginal and surface view of spores. Scale bar: A, C = 400 £gm, B = 500 £gm, D, H = 20 £gm, E = 6 £gm, F-G = 900
£gm, I = 2.5 £gm, J = 1.5 £gm, K-L =8 £gm.
pg_0006
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Botanical Studies, Vol. 48, 2007
The distinct character of this species is the turbinate or
nearly globose sporangia with conspicuous protuberances
on the nut-brown-colored outer peridium, a character not
known in any other species of Trichia. All the specimens
are harvested from moist-chamber culture.
Trichia scabra Rost., Mon. 258. 1875.
Description and illustration: Liu (1982).
Trichia verrucosa Berk., in Hook., f. Fl. Tasm. 2: 269.
1859.
Description and illustration: Nakazawa (1929).
LITERATURE CITED
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myxomycete species. Mycotaxon 87: 379-384.
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