Abstract The birds called towiri by the Baniwa people include three species: Psarocolius decumanus Pallas, P. bifasciatus Spix, and P. viridis Statius Muller. These are known respectively as japu, japuguaçu and japu-verde in Portuguese, and as Crested Oropendola, Olive Oropendola and Green Oropendola in English. This study investigated the use of rhizomorphs in nests constructed by the P. decumanus. Females of this species build large, pocket-shaped nests that form colonies of 7–12 nests in tall trees. We examined P. decumanus nests collected from two localities in Manaus, and Psarocolius sp. from São Gabriel da Cachoeira in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, and conducted phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer sequences to identify the incorporated rhizomorphs, which belonged to Marasmius neocrinis-equi R.A Koch & Aime. This is the first report of this fungal species in Brazil. In addition, we discuss the role of Psarocolius spp. in the traditions of the indigenous Baniwa people and the observation of kite string in P. decumanus nests in an urban area of Manaus, Brazil.

Agaricus is the type of the family Agaricaceae and comprises more than 500 species divided into six subgenera and 24 sections. In this study, we aim to contribute to the understanding of the genus’s species diversity by describing A. termitophilus, a newly discovered taxon collected in the Brazilian Amazon. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses confirmed its placement within Agaricus subg. Pseudochitonia specifically in A. sect. Sanguinolenti, which we emendate here to include the features of this species.

Rhizomorphs are hair- or wire-like melanized structures with structural differentiation analogous to plant roots that help fungi spread over an area and find food resources. Some species of multiple groups of the Ascomycota and the Basidiomycota produce different types of rhizomorphs. In the Agaricales, the structures are largely found in Marasmiineae , particularly in the Omphalotaceae , Marasmiaceae , and Physalacriaceae . Many rhizomorph-forming species spread over the forest floor (ground level), while others form aerial litter-trapping rhizomorph systems that hang on living branches of the forest understorey. Here, we describe three new species that form aerial systems, two in Marasmius and one in Pusillomyces , all of which inhabit areas of the Amazon rainforest in Amazonas State, Brazil. Support for these new species is based on evidence derived from morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (nrITS) and nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU) markers. Marasmius foliauceps sp. nov. , with a pileipellis made up of Rotalis -type broom cells, is different from all other species described to date and branched along with species of the monophyletic Marasmius sect. Marasmius subsect. Marasmius , being conspecific with specimens from Guyana. Also different from all other described Marasmius species, Marasmius arachnotropus sp. nov. has a pileipellis mostly composed of Siccus -type but in transition to Rotalis -type broom cells and branched along with species of the Marasmius crinis-equi species complex. Pusillomyces cuieirasensis is morphologicallyvery similar to Pusillomyces manuripioides to which it is sister, but it has a non-umbonate pileus and smaller basidiospores. They all form aerial litter-trapping rhizomorph systems that mimic spider webs, particularly those hanging on the understorey. Whether made of mycelia or silk, such webs serve to capture food. The aerial rhizomorph-forming ‘spider fungi’ make up a guild with hidden species diversity in tropical systems.

A luminescent fungus growing on decaying leaves and sticks was collected in terra-firme forest at the upper Cuieiras river, Amazonas, Brazil. Morphological study and phylogenetic analysis (based on ITS+LSU data) confirmed it as a new species of Mycena. Mycena lamprocephala sp. nov. is characterized macroscopically by small, thin, basidiomata with an olivaceous brown pileus and glutinous stipe, and microscopically by diverticulate pleurocystidia, ramose cheilocystidia, and thin, diverticulate and branching pileipellis hyphae. The luminescence of the pileus and of the mycelium in the substrate is typically green and sometimes pulsating. This is the third luminescent species of Mycenaceae described from the Amazon Forest.

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Species of the genus Tulostoma are easily recognizable by the presence of a spore sac, with a mouth from which spores are released, attached to a stipe. Tulostoma is a species-diverse genus with a worldwide distribution, and some attempts were made to delimitate species and to evaluate reliable taxonomic-informative characteristics for species identification. However, there is a notable information gap regarding Neotropical species, especially for geographic distribution and DNA data, which hampers further understanding of the infrageneric diversity, evolution, and ecology of this genus. Based on morphological analysis, molecular phylogenetics and geographic distribution, we propose here two new species of Tulostoma with reticulated spores, from the two threatened Brazilian geographical areas, Atlantic Forest and "campos rupestres" (rupestrian grassland), as well as we provide notes on the taxonomic rank of Tulostoma exasperatum var. ridleyi.

The Phallales order has common names that are used to define groups based on basidiome shapes, such as Clathroid, Phalloid, and Lysuroid. However, up to now, there is no systematic and detailed information to define these and other basidiome shapes. New systematic definitions with notes on generic morphology and new nomenclatures are proposed to standardize the concepts related to the morphology of Phallales fungi, with illustrations for the main genres. In addition to the Clathroid, Laternoid, Lysuroid, and Phalloid forms, we proposed the division of the Clathroid type into two subdivisions (Lattice Clathroid and Columnar Clathroid) and the insertion of three new types of shape: Arachnoid, Floweroid, and Truffoid. We are also proposing a checklist and an identification key for all the species of Phallales in Brazil.

Known to date only from the Neotropics, the genus Staheliomyces E. Fisch. (Phallaceae, Phallales) was described from Suriname with only a single species, S. cinctus E. Fisch. Nearly 100 years have passed since the original description, and its systematic position and species diversity have not been investigated. Collections from Brazil and Costa Rica were studied, and four new species are described based on morphology, molecular phylogenetic analyses, and nomenclatural review. We provide morphological descriptions together with a key to species, and a proposal to emend the genus. We review the type material of S. cinctus located in herbarium of Botanischer Garten der Universität Bern (BERN), and establish the phylogenetic position of the genus which clusters with Xylophallus (Schltdl.) E. Fisch. in an exclusively neotropical clade. Our results highlight the importance of studying neglected taxa that impacts knowledge of biodiversity especially for localities that have been poorly collected. The study of herbarium collections can reveal data on forgotten type materials and shed light on the work of pioneering mycologists. This study also brings insights into biogeographical diversity of the phalloid fungi.

RESUMO A ordem Phallales abriga fungos gasteroides conhecidos como chifres-fedidos, falsas trufas, gaiolas-de-bruxa e véus-de-noiva, e é caracterizada principalmente pelo cheiro fétido do basidioma, mecanismo de dispersão associado a insetos e gleba mucilaginosa. A ordem tem sido bem estudada no Brasil, com maior ocorrência nas regiões Sul e Nordeste do país. O Estado da Bahia apresenta apenas registros das espécies Abrachium floriforme e Lysurus sphaerocephalum. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar novas ocorrências de Phallales para o Estado. As espécies foram coletadas na Bahia, nos municípios de Elísio Medrado, Mucugê, Salvador e Uruçuca. Um espécime herborizado coletado em Lençóis foi incluído nas análises. Sete espécies foram identificadas: Abrachium floriforme, Itajahya galericulata, Mutinus caninus, M. elegans, M. verrucosus, Phallus denigricans e P. merulinus. Todas representam novas ocorrências para o Estado da Bahia, com exceção de A. floriforme. Descrições, chave de identificação, notas e fotos das espécies são disponibilizadas.

Geastrum is a genus with worldwide distribution and the most species-diverse in the family Geastraceae and is easily recognized by the star-like basidioma in the majority of species. The most recent and accepted classification based on phylogenetic, morphological and chemical data, subdivided the genus into 14 sections. The section Exareolata is formed by eleven species from which only G. echinulatum and G. verrucoramulosum are truly stipitate. During field trips in Brazilian Amazonia, we found a stipitate species of Geastrum. Based on morphological and phylogenetic data, we propose it as a new species for the genus, which forms a sister group of G. verrucoramulosum and is allocated in sect. Exareolata. Geastrum squameoramulosum sp. nov. is characterized by a prominent and well-developed ramified stipe and the presence of scales on the outer surface of the exoperidium. It is known so far only from the Amazon rainforest. We also provide an updated key to the species in this section.

In the search for new strains of edible mushrooms in the Brazilian Amazon Forest, we found Lentinula specimens different from Lentinula raphanica. These were described morphologically and evaluated phylogenetically within the Lentinula clade. The mating system was determined, and interbreeding compatibility with L. raphanica was verified. The basidiomata have a cinnamon or deep orange to fulvous brown, moist to dry pileus, occasionally with whitish scales; crowded whitish cream lamellae; and an eccentric to lateral stipe. The typical, predominant basidiospores are 4.4-7.2 µm in length. Endogenous, elongate (7.8-14 µm) basidiospores were also found in some specimens. The long spores seem rare and occasional, but nonetheless a novelty for the group. Basidia are homogeneous in size, cheilocystidia are pyriform or bulboid, and caulocystidia are long and spheropedunculate. The hyphae of the pileipellis are pigment-encrusted. The characteristics match those of Agaricus ixodes originally described from Guyana, currently a synonym of Lentinula boryana. In the phylogenetic trees, such taxon appears distinct from L. boryana and sister to L. raphanica with strong support. This unique lineage was confirmed to be reproductively isolated from sympatric L. raphanica strains. Lentinula ixodes comb. nov. is the second species of the genus reported in the Amazon Forest.

Pseudotulostoma is a genus described for fungi with stipitate sporocarps that have an exposed gleba and a woody, volvate base. The two species that belong to this genus (P. volvatum and P. japonicum) form unusual epigeous ascomata that are atypical among the hypogeous members of the Elaphomycetaceae. The genus was first described from the Guiana Shield and was suggested to be restricted to rainforests dominated by the ectomycorrhizal tree Dicymbe corymbosa (Leguminosae-Detarioideae). Pseudotulostoma volvatum was also later described from Colombia in association with Pseudomonotes tropenbosii (Dipterocarpaceae- Monotoidea). Here we report a new occurrence of P. volvatum that is also the first occurrence of an ectomycorrhizal Ascomycota fungus in a native host plant in Brazil. The description includes images of the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, a discussion of the distinctive features, and phylogenetic placement using the nLSU of this fungus among Elaphomyces species. This new collection (third known location) demonstrates that P. volvatum also occurs in a white-sand forest composed of the canopy tree Aldina heterophylla (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae). Thus, we provide additional information regarding P. volvatum that expands its known distribution.

A new luminescent lignicolous fungal species, Mycena cristinae sp. nov., is proposed from the Central Amazon forest. This is unique and supported by morphological evaluation along with LSU- and ITS-based phylogenetic analyses. The basidiomata have mostly fuscous olivaceous brown pileus, adnate to subdecurrent and distant lamellae, and stipe with slightly bulbous base (basal mycelium absent). It also has inamyloid and/or weakly amyloid basidiospores, ramose cheilocystidia and a pileipellis composed of an aerated tangle of slender, diverticulate hyphae forming a coralloid pellicle overlaying the hypodermium. The luminescence is evident in the basidiomata (especially the stipe) and in the mycelium on the substrate. The LSU phylogenetic trees reveal that M. cristinae is sister to M. coralliformis within the Mycenaceae clade. In the ITS trees, it forms a unique lineage grouping with undetermined Mycena taxa. Morphological data support M. cristinae as a different species compared to previously described taxa.

The order Phallales (Basidiomycota) is represented by gasteroid fungi with expanded and sequestrate basidiomata, known as stinkhorns and false truffles. In phalloids, the first DNA sequence was published in 1997, and after that, some studies aimed to resolve phylogenetic conflicts and propose new species based on DNA markers; however, the number of families and genera in the order still generates controversies among researchers. Thus, this work aims to provide an overview of Phallales diversity represented by selected DNA markers available in public databases. We retrieved Phallales sequences from DNA databases (GenBank and UNITE) of seven markers: ITS (internal transcribed spacer), nuc-LSU (nuclear large subunit rDNA), nuc-SSU (nuclear small subunit rDNA), mt-SSU (mitochondrial small subunit rDNA), ATP6 (ATPase subunit 6), RPB2 (nuclear protein-coding second largest subunit of RNA polymerase), and TEF1-α (translation elongation factor subunit 1α). To compose our final dataset, all ITS sequences retrieved were subjected to BLASTn searches to identify additional ITS sequences not classified as Phallales. Phylogenetic analyses based on Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches using single and combined markers were conducted. All ITS sequences were clustered with a cutoff of 98% in order to maximize the number of species hypotheses. The geographic origin of sequences was retrieved, as well as additional information on species lifestyle and edibility. We obtained a total of 1,149 sequences, representing 664 individuals. Sequences of 41 individuals were unidentified at genus level and were assigned to five distinct families. We recognize seven families and 22 genera in Phallales, although the delimitation of some genera must be further revisited in order to recognize only monophyletic groups. Many inconsistencies in species identification are discussed, and the positioning of genera in each family is shown. The clustering revealed 118 species hypotheses, meaning that approximately 20% of all described species in Phallales have DNA sequences available. Information related to geographic distribution represents 462 individuals distributed in 46 countries on all continents, except Antarctica. Most genera are saprotrophic with only one putative ectomycorrhizal genus, and 2.1% of the legitimate specific names recognized in Phallales are confirmed edible species. Great progress in the molecular analyses of phalloids has already been made over these years, but it is still necessary to solve some taxonomic inconsistencies, mainly at genus level, and generate new data to expand knowledge of the group.

Basidiomata of Phallales have a diversified morphology with adhesive gleba that exudes an odor, usually unpleasant that attracts mainly insects, which disperse the basidiospores. The genus Blumenavia belongs to the family Clathraceae and, based on morphological features, only two species are currently recognized: B. rhacodes and B. angolensis. However, the morphological characters adopted in species delimitations within this genus are inconsistent, and molecular data are scarce. The present study aimed to review and identify informative characters that contribute to the delimitation of Blumenavia species. Exsiccates from America and Africa were analyzed morphologically, and molecularly, using ITS, LSU, ATP6, RPB2 and TEF-1α markers for Maximum Parsimony, Bayesian and Maximum likelihood analyses, and also for coalescent based species delimitations (BP&P), as well as for bPTP, PhyloMap, Topo-phylogenetic and Geophylogenetic reconstructions. According to our studies, seven species can be considered in the genus: B. rhacodes and B. angolensis are maintained, B. usambarensis and B. toribiotalpaensis are reassessed, and three new species are proposed, B. baturitensis Melanda, M.P. Martín & Baseia, sp. nov., B. crucis-hellenicae G. Coelho, Sulzbacher, Grebenc & Cortez, sp. nov., and B. heroica Melanda, Baseia & M.P. Martín, sp. nov. Blumenavia rhacodes is typified by selecting a lectotype and an epitype. Macromorphological characters considered informative to segregate and delimit the species through integrative taxonomy include length of the basidiomata, color, width and presence of grooves on each arm as well as the glebifer position and shape. These must be clearly observed while the basidiomata are still fresh. Since most materials are usually analyzed after dehydration and deposit in collections, field techniques and protocols to describe fugacious characters from fresh specimen are demanded, as well as the use of molecular analysis, in order to better assess recognition and delimitation of species in Blumenavia.

Studies have demonstrated that many cosmopolitan species actually consist of divergent clades that present high levels of morphological stasis throughout their evolutionary histories. Phallus indusiatus s.l. has been described as a circum-tropical species. However, this distribution may actually reflect the lack of taxonomic resolution due to the small number of diagnostic morphological characters, which leads to the identification of new records as populations of P. indusiatus. Here, we examine the diversity of P. indusiatus-like species in Brazilian Amazonia. We show a clear congruence between detailed morphological data and ITS, nuc-LSU and atp6 based phylogenetic analyses and three new species are described within the Brazilian indusiate clade. These results highlight the importance of more detailed investigation, with the inclusion of molecular information, in Neotropical fungi.