Australasian sequestrate Fungi 20: Russula scarlatina (Agaricomycetes: Russulales: Russulaceae), a new species from dry grassy woodlands of southeastern Australia

Abstract

<I>Russula scarlatina</I> sp. nov. is a common sequestrate fungus found in the dry sclerophyll <I>Eucalyptus</I> woodlands of southeastern Australia. Basidiomata are hypogeous or sometimes emergent; they are scarlet in youth and become dark sordid red or brown with advanced age. Historically, this species would have been placed in the genus <I>Gymnomyces</I>, but in light of recent revisions in the taxonomy of sequestrate Russulaceae, we place it in the genus <I>Russula</I>. It is morphologically distinct from other sequestrate species of <I>Russula</I> because of its scarlet peridium and unusual cystidial turf in youth. It has been collected only in dry grassy woodlands and open forest habitats of southeastern Australia.