Campanella alba (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Singer, Lloydia 8: 191. 1945. Fig. 8d–g

Basionym: Laschia alba Berk & M.A. Curtis, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 10: 323. 1868.

Synonyms: Favolaschia alba (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. (Leipzig) 3(2): 476. 1898.

Pterospora alba (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) E. Horak, Sydowia 36: 129. 1983.

Tetrapyrgos alba (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) E. Horak, Sydowia 39: 101. 1987 [1986].

Isotype:— CUBA. CW Wright 334, Berkeley & Curtis—Fungi Cubenses #333 (FH!).

The holotype material at K was not available for inspection. The isotype specimen contains no basidiomycete material. The specimen consists of one woody stick glued to a sheet, on which is a resupinate, orbicular structure with an angular-poroid upper surface, badly fragmented. This material is not fungal in origin.

Description of representative material (Singer B 1546): Basidiospores only 2 seen, 8 × 5.5 μm, broadly ellipsoid with a rounded bulge on one side, not triangular, not tetrahedral, hyaline, inamyloid, thin-walled. Basidia 4-sterigmate, clavate, clamped. Basidioles clavate. Pleurocystidia absent. Cheilocystidia scarce, 25–32 × 3–4 μm, irregularly subcylindrical with a capitulum 4.8–5.8 μm diam, hyaline, thin-walled. Pileipellis a thin Rameales -structure of diverticulate hyphae, non-gelatinous, hyaline, inamyloid. Pileus trama of loosely interwoven, cylindrical, branched hyphae 1.5–3 μm diam., embedded in a thick gelatinous matrix.

Habitat and known distribution: Solitary on palm, dicotyledonous branch and Chusquea sp. (Poaceae). Bolivia, Cuba (type), Ecuador, Peru.

Representative material examined: BOLIVIA. Dpto. La Paz, Prov. Nor-Yungas: Carmen Pampa, elev. 2000 m, 26 February 1956, R Singer B 1546 (LIL). ECUADOR. Pichincha Prov.: Quito, Quebrada de Miraflores, elev. 2950 m, no date recorded, R Singer B 7117 (F). PERU. Cusco Prov.: Machu Picchu, elev. 2000 m, 20 May 1958, R Singer M 3010 (LIL).

Status: The isotype material of Laschia alba Berk. & M.A. Curtis contains no basidiomes. Our concept of Campanella alba (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Singer follows that of Singer (1975a) based on examination of specimens collected and determined by R Singer as C. alba. This species is a good species of Campanella because of the presence of the following features: a pileipellis that is a thin Rameales -structure overlaying strongly gelatinized tramal tissue; broadly ellipsoid basidiospores with or without a rounded lateral bulge, but distinctly neither triangular nor tetrahedral; hymenial cystidia that are basically tibiiform and lacking central diverticula; and the absence of a stipe. It should be noted that the Lagerheim specimens (FH) from Ecuador (reported below) determined as C. alba by Singer (1975a) do not represent the same taxon as Singer’s specimens from Bolivia and Chile.

Misidentified material: Laschia alba Berk & M.A. Curtis. ECUADOR. Quito, no date recorded, leg. Lagerheim (Patouillard Herbarium—FH); Quito, 31 January 1892, leg. Lagerheim (Patouillard Herbarium—FH). Basidiospores 12.5–13.7 × 4.8–5.7 μm, elongate-ellipsoid, smooth, hyaline, inamyloid. Basidia 4-sterigmate, clavate, clamped. Basidioles clavate. Hymenial cystidia common on sides and edges of lamellae, tibiiform, 32–42 × 3.5–6.5 μm with a capitulum 6.5–8 μm diam., hyaline, thin-walled, smooth overall, lacking diverticula. Pileipellis a Rameales -structure but diverticula broad and knob-like, scattered, slightly gelatinous. Pileus trama of loosely interwoven hyphae 1.5–4 μm diam., branched, cylindrical to irregular in outline, embedded in a thick gelatinous matrix, hyaline, inamyloid, clamped.

The Lagerheim material represents a Campanella species, but differs from others identified as C. alba by Singer (1975a) in size and shape of basidiospores, size of cheilocystidia, and shape of pileipellis diverticula. Because there are no basidiomes in the type collection of Laschia alba, it is impossible to determine if this specimen actually represents L. alba.