Volume 43(2), 2003

Phellodon secretus (Basidiomycota), a new hydnaceous fungus from northern pine woodlands
Tuomo Niemelä, Juha Kinnunen, Pertti Renvall, Dmitry Schigel
Karstenia 43: 37–44. 2003.
Phellodon secretus Niemelä & Kinnunen (Basidiomycota, Thelephorales) resembles Phellodon connatus (Schultz : Fr.) P. Karst., but differs in having a thinner stipe, cottony soft pileus, and smaller and more globose spores. Its ecology is peculiar: it is found in dry, old-growth pine woodlands, growing in sheltered places under strongly decayed trunks or rootstocks of pine trees, where there is a gap of only a few centimeters between soil and wood. Basidiocarps emerge from humus as needle-like, ca. 1 mm thick, black stipes, and the pileus unfolds only after the stipe tip has contacted the overhanging wood. In its ecology and distribution the species resembles Hydnellum gracilipes (P. Karst.) P. Karst. It seems to be extremely rare, found in Northern boreal and Middle boreal vegetation zones, in areas with fairly continental climate.

Ecology and decay pattern of Inocutis dryophila in Quercus robur
Stellan Sunhede, Rimvydas Vasiliauskas
Karstenia 43: 45–53.
The biology of Inocutis dryophila (Berk.) Fiasson & Niemelä was studied on Quercus robur L. in Lithuania, based on 22 host trees. Decay columns caused by the fungus in six oaks,120–180 years old, were examined in detail by dissecting the stems. Length of the decay columns in different trees varied between 4.8 and 11 m. Vegetative compatibility tests with the isolates indicated that each rot column comprised of a single genet of the fungus, and that the rot columns in different trees represented different genets. Basidiocarps of the fungus were recorded from 0.7 to 12.5 m above the ground. Infection routes, forestry, and biodiversity aspects are discussed. Colour photographs are shown of the basidiocarp, decay of different stages, and confrontation tests among cultivated mycelia of the same and different genets.

Corticioid fungi (Basidiomycetes) in different biocoenoses of Byarezinski Biosphere Reserve, Belarus
Eugene Yurchenko
Karstenia 43: 55–65.
In this paper distributional patterns and species composition of corticioid fungi (Corticiaceae s. l.) in forest ecosystems of Byarezinski Reserve were studied in permanent plots. The number of species per plot varies from 6 in oligotrophic bogs (Pino- Ledetum) to 47 in broadleaf-spruce forests (Querco-Piceetum). The cluster analysis of species lists revealed two main groups of biocoenoses with specific assemblages of fungi: southern taiga non-swamp coniferous forest and swamp forests dominated by alder and birch. The major factors determining biocoenotic preferences and species richness of fungi are number of tree and shrub species in community, coniferous/ deciduous hosts proportion, and soil humidity.

Notes on some rare polypores, found in Russia. I: Genera Antrodiella, Gelatoporia, Irpex, Oxyporus, Pilatoporus, and Porpomyces
Wjatcheslav A. Spirin, Ivan V. Zmitrovich
Karstenia 43: 67–82.
Antrodiella americana Ryvarden & Gilb., A. faginea Vampola & Pouzar, A. farinacea Vampola & Pouzar, A. foliaceodentata (Nikol.) Gilb. & Ryvarden, and A. incrustans (Berk. & M.A. Curtis ex Cooke) Ryvarden are discussed and illustrated. Antrodiella farinacea and A. incrustans are published as new to Russia; Gloeoporus amorphus (Fr.) Clem. & Shear var. vassilkovii Bondartsev is confirmed as a synonym of the latter. A key to the species of Antrodiella known from European Russia is provided. Distribution and substrates of Gelatoporia subvermispora (Pilát) Niemelä in European Russia are given. Gelatoporia griseoincarnata Spirin & Zmitrovich, spec. nov. is described as a wide-spored sib of G. pannocincta (Romell) Niemelä. Extremely rare Irpex semisupiniformis (Murrill) Saarenoksa & Kotiranta (=Junghuhnia semisupiniforme (Murrill) Ryvarden) is indicated as new to Russia; it is described and illustrated. On Populus suaveolens growing Oxyporus schizoporoides Zmitrovich & Spirin spec. nov. belongs to Oxyporus corticola-complex, but has wider spores than the North-American O. similis (Bres.) Ryvarden. Coriolus epileucus (Fr.) sensu Bondartsev is Pilatoporus ibericus (Melo & Ryvarden) Kotl. & Pouzar, species new to Russia. The genus Porpomyces Jülich is discussed, and two new combinations, Porpomyces albonigrescens (Núñez, Parmasto & Ryvarden) Spirin & Zmitrovich and Porpomyces balaenae (Niemelä) Spirin & Zmitrovich, are proposed. The latter is found in North-West Russia for the first time.