New data on the distribution of hypogeous species Leucogaster nudus (Basidiomycota) in the Republic of North Macedonia with note on its taxonomy and morphology

Vol 26 No 1 (2023): Acta Musei Macedonici Scientiarum Naturalium

Abstract

A field work organized in 2020 and 2022 revealed new data on distribution and habitat types for Leucogaster nudus in North Macedonia. While examining the newly collected materials and comparing it with the original description of Hydnangium nudum a suspicion on the taxonomic position of L. nudus arose, since in the original description the species is defined by having warty ornamentation of the spores instead of reticulate. Therefore, we made an extensive literature review on the characteristics of L. nudus and its proposed synonyms and provide an in-detail morphological examination of the observed materials with illustrations. In order to clarify the taxonomic position of L. nudus and the diversity of this genus in Europe along with morphological, phylogenetic approach is needed.