The species of Psilocybe sect. Psilocybe, formerly classified in the genus Deconica, were investigated using morphology, mating behaviour and RAPD analysis. Psilocybe inquilinus and P. crobula do not seem to be closely related. Based on the morphology, two varieties could be accommodated in P. subviscida, namely as vars. subviscida and velata. The mating group of P. montana is characterized by rather thick-walled, dark spores with a fairly large germ-pore. Putative representatives of P. muscorum and P. physaloides freely interbreed with typical P. montana, and, consequently, these taxa are considered to represent one variable species. The ex-type strain of P. chionophila did not mate with isolates of P. montana. One collection of P. chionophila from a lowland habitat, morphologically resembling P. montana, was found to be interfertile with the ex-type strain of P. chionophila, but not with P. montana. We identified several collections as P. magica, which is morphologically similar to P. schoeneti. Mating studies showed that these specimen belong to the same biological species, but failed to mate with the ex-type of P. schoeneti.

Uptake of 14C-labelled glutamine by seven Australian Pisolithus isolates (representing two species) was investigated over the concentration range 0.5 mmol m−3–20 mol m−3. Total uptake did not conform to simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics over this concentration range. At concentrations above 0.5 mol m−3 much of the glutamine uptake appeared to be diffusion-like. At concentrations below 0.5 mol m−3, subtraction of uptake in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol from total uptake revealed an active component that followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Estimated Km and Vmax values for active glutamine uptake by all isolates were in the ranges 4.0−210 mmol m−3 and 80−637 nmol g−1 d wt. min−1 respectively. pH optima for glutamine uptake were in the ranges 4.5–6.0, 3.7–5.0 or 3.0–4.5, depending on the isolate. While intraspecific variation was observed, there were no apparent relationships between the two Pisolithus species and either kinetic parameters for glutamine uptake or the pH optimum for the process.

Two new taxa from rain forest in Cuba are described and illustrated. They are Endophragmiella sphaeroproliferata anam. sp. nov., characterized by cymbiform, 3-septate, pale brown, smooth conidia, and Sporidesmiella intermedia anam. sp. nov., distinguished by obovoid, 2–5 distoseptate, pale brown to subhyaline conidia. A comparative tabulation of the described species of Sporidesmiella is provided.

Glabrocyphella stercoraria, a new cyphellaceous fungus, is described on the basis of morphological and ecological features. It is characterized by grey-brown colours, lack of special hairs on the surface of the fruitbody, spore size, absence of clamps and coprophilous habitat. The holotypes of Glabrocyphella upplandensis, G. brunneocrystallina and G. palmarum have been examined and compared with the new species. Observations about the status and the possible taxonomic relationships of Glabrocyphella with some other members of the reduced series of Tricholomataceae, Arrhenia (including Leptoglossum) and Rimbachia (including Mniopetalum), are discussed.

Mycovellosiella malloti-repandi, M. nerii-indici and M. solanacearum, occurring on Mallotus repandus (Euphorbiaceae), Nerium indicum (Apocynaceae) and Solanum verbascifolium (Solanaceae), respectively, are described and illustrated. The first was collected from the North-Eastern Terai region of India and the other two from Nepal.

The genus Tricholosporum is characterised by cruciate spores. The formation of these basidiospores and their subsequent growth until release from the sterigmata, is described from a sequence of SEM photographs. The spores on a basidium form either a diad, a triad or a tetrad during their development. The outer cell wall layer of the basidiospore enlarges, resulting in the cruciate shape of the spores and the ultimate calyptrate appearance after release when desiccated. The spores are seceded sequentially.

Armillaria mellea and A. tabescens stimulated the production of perithecia and ascospores of Sordaria fimicola shown by the co-culture, spore-plate, over-agar-culture, and culture broth assay methods. Culture diffusate of Armillaria through cellophane also stimulated perithecium and ascospore production. Among 15 other isolates tested, three Mortierella isolates were significantly stimulative for ascospore production. Four vitamins including biotin and thiamine were also stimulative, and may be related to the effects of these fungi.

A coelomycetous genus, Pseudophragmotrichum gen. nov., with the type species P. cubense sp. nov., is described from dead culms of Oncidium lucidum from Cuba. It differs from other coelomycete genera in having intercalary conidiogenous cells, thallic conidiogenesis and flattened conidia.

This listing covers the period January 1, 1997 through to February 28, 1997. Citations are arranged in groups which roughly correspond with the British Mycological Society's Special Interest Committees.

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This listing covers the period July 1, 1996 through to July 31, 1996. Citations are arranged in groups which roughly correspond with the British Mycological Society's Special Interest Committees.