Lycogala flavofuscum (Liceales, Myxomycetes): a rare species in South America, rediscovered in Brazil after 100 years

Abstract

In the second decade of the 20th century, Lycogala flavofuscum aethalia were collected in Brazil by Rev. Johannes Rick. Despite being easily observed in the field because of the size of the aethalia, the species was only found again in 2019, on a live trunk of Sebastiania commersoniana (branquilho, Euphorbiaceae) in the municipality of São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The description and illustration of recently collected material, and data on exsiccates collected by Rick from Brazil, deposited at Herbarium BPI, are presented herein. Information on substrates, microhabitats, and geographic distribution of the species in the Neotropics is provided based on bibliographical sources and herbarium catalogs. Considering the large time interval between records and the restricted area of occurrence in the country, its inclusion as near threatened in the Brazilian Red List is recommended.

Keywords:
Neotropics; Pampa biome; red list; Reticulariaceae; slime mold