Studies in the Genus Phellinus. I. The Identity of Phellinus rickii with Notes on Its Facultative Synonyms

The name Phellinus rickii (Bres.) David et Rajchenb., based on Poria rickii Bres., is a later homonym of Phellinus rickii Teix. and renamed Phellinus tropicalis M. Lars. et Lomb. The facultative synonyms of the Bresadola name, Phellinus glaucescens Petch and Phellinus flavomarginatus (Murr.) Ryv., were found to represent distinct species. We consider Phellinus ferrugineovelutinus (Henn.) Ryv. to be a nomen dubium. A cultural description of P. tropicalis is provided. Key Words: Phellinus rickii, P. tropicalis nom. nov. In a recent report, David and Rajchenberg (1985) proposed that the combination Phellinus rickii (Bres.) David et Rajchenb., based on Poria rickii Bres. (Bresadola, 1920), replace the pre­ sumed earlier synonym Phellinus ferrugineove­ lutinus (Henn.) Ryv., the type of which is sterile. However, that combination is a later homonym of Phellinus rickii Teix. (Teixeira, 1950). Fur­ thermore, several names of Phellinus species are considered to be facultative synonyms of Poria rickii. David and Rajchenberg (1985) reported that Phellinus glaucescens Petch is "identical" to Poria rickii. Ryvarden and Johansen (1980) list­ ed Phellinus flavomarginatus (Murr.) Ryv. as a synonym of P. ferrugineovelutinus. Our purposes here are (1) to resolve any ques­ tion concerning the possible synonymy of Phel­ linus rickii (Bres.) David et Rajchenb. with P. rickii Teix., and (2) to determine whether any of the proposed facultative synonyms would be an appropriate binomial in Phellinus to replace that used by David and Rajchenberg (1985).