Микология и фитопатология, 2021, T. 55, № 3, стр. 219-224

The present notice continues our acquaintance with the mycological heritage of Johann Christian Buxbaum (1693–1730), a naturalist who was appreciated by Peter the Great, the first botanist-academician of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences (Zmitrovich, Sytin, 2021). A total of 5 “Centuria” (sets of 100 species) under the title “Plantarum minus cognitarum centuria circa Byzantium et in Oriente observatos” were published by the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Basically, they describe and well illustrate the vascular plants associated with various habitats of North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, and South Russia. But among these several species of mosses, lichens, algae, and fungi were scattered, whereas their drawings were made with amazing for their time and sometimes almost photographic accuracy.

In the second “Centuria” issue (Buxbaum, 1728) we can find descriptions and illustrations of 8 species of fungi in pre-Linnean polynomial nomenclature. The peculiarity of descriptions consists of their brevity and capacity. Rather powerful information load falls on the drawings, made quite accurately. In some cases, important ecological notes are given to help identify the fungal species. The analysis of species descriptions follows here.

1. Agaricus varii coloris, erinaceus – p. 43, tab. XLIX, f. 1.¹¹ [Fig. 1 (1)]²².

“Qui hic delineatur est pediculo donatus, quando enim in ligno terra operto nascitur, pediculum acquirit et Fungum mentitur, quod etiam in aliis observamus Agaricis. Si vero truncis resectis terre proximis adnascitur, semicircularis est, crassus satis et succulentus, circa exortum lanugine alba mucida obsitus, spithamam interdum longus et palmam latus, superne variegatus, hirsutus et circa oras villosus. Prona pars aculeis fuscis aut variegatis lineas duas vel tres longis aspera est instar Fungi pene candidi, prona parte erinacei I.B.³³ Hic Fungus erinaceus immerito a Botanicis in tres discepitur species. Iunior enim albicat aut lutescir tener est et esculentus, antiquus vero rigidus evadit et coriaceus coloremque mutat, nec in putrilaginem more Fungorum abit, sed usque in hyeemem superstes remaner et talem describit Bauhinus, a quo aetate solum differunt Fungus erinaceus albus esculentus, in sylvis Tisculanis Bocc. et Fungus erinaceus Fl. Ien.”.

Сurrent status. The drawing of a mature basidiome, coupled with an indication of thickened context and age-related consistency changes in the diagnosis, indicates that the described species unambiguously belongs to the genus Hydnellum P. Karst. From the present figure and protologue of this fungus, it is rather difficult to accurately indicate its species affiliation. Since the co-lor of the young basidiomata was indicated as yellow (not orange), such versions as Hydnellum ferrugineum (Fr.) P. Karst., H. mirabile (Fr.) P. Karst., and H. geogenium (Fr.) Banker are the basic ones in this case. However, the habitus of mature specimens of H. mirabile is “stronger” than that is shown in Buxbaum’s figure (the cap with thinning out edges and funnel-shaped tendency). The hymenophoral spines in the species described by Buxbaum are indicated as brown in a mature state, whereas in H. geogenium the yellow tint of the hymenophore persists for a long time. Hence, it is most likely that Buxbaum was dealing with the most common genus representative, H. ferrugineum (Agaricomycetes, Thelephorales, Bankeraceae).

Post-Linnean synonymy: Hydnellum ferrugineum (Fr.) P. Karst., Meddn Soc. Fauna Flora fenn. 5: 41, 1879. ≡ Hydnum ferrugineum Fr., Observ. mycol. 1: 133, 1815 (sanct. in Syst. Mycol., 1821). = H. hybridum Bull., Hist. Champ. Fr. 1(2): 307, 1791. = Hydnellum sanguinarium Banker, Mem. Torrey bot. Club 12(2): 152, 1906. = H. pineticola K.A. Harrison, Can. J. Bot. 42: 1226, 1964.

Modern monograph: Stalpers (1993).

Note. According to Larsson et al. (2019), this is a good species rather than a species complex.

2. Agaricus Pectunculi  forma, oblongus luteus – p. 44, tab. XLIX,  f. 2 [Fig. 1 (2)].

“Elegans hic Agaricus superne hirsutus coloris lutei, nigris maculis adspersi, inferne totus luteus, lamellis crebris partim usque ad angustiorem partem, ubi ligno adhaered, excurrentibus, partim in medio evanestibus, instructus, mollis et carnosus. In pontibus ligneis auctumno. Agarici species novae fine necesitate sictae sunt sequentes. Fungus pedem equinum referens, subtus foraminosus D. Rai III. Agaricus igniarius, tuberis forma, ingens Ind. H.L.B. Fungus parvus pullus, stipitibus cariosis adnascens, superne lamellatus D. Vernon P. Mant. est monstrosa degeneratio Agarici lamellati qualis pariter est Agaricus nigricans totus ligno adhaerens, lamellis sinuosis et invicem implexis tantum protuber antibus Cat. Hall. Monstris etiam adnumerandus Agaricus ex alneo trunco, cortice duronitido castanei coloris obductus, alias lignosus, caput quasi caninum repraesentans Helw. Suppl. Fl. Praff. Quem lignosum describit, ad Auriculam Iudae tamen referendum dicit. Quam bene illue referatur, norunt illi, quibus cognita est Auricula Iudae, cuius substantia cartilaginea et membranacea, quemadmodum auris, uti Clusius describit. Agaricus quernus lamellatus coriaceus, villosus Dill. Cat. Est varietas pruis in decto Catalogo memorati, et tres Agarici porosi igniarii eiusdem varietates sunt Agarici pedis equini facie Tourn. Qui multis modis variat. Quomodo Agaricus villosus et porosus candidus, faginus Dill. Cat. a saligno differat video. De Agarico Lichenis forma variegato et varii coloris squamoso Tourn alii iam dixerunt. Ad Agaricum potius quam Fungum videtur pertinere Fungus aureus cruste instarcortici quercino raso innascens Ind. H.L.B. Male Agaricis adnumeratur a Tournefortio Fungus autumnalis, bisulcus velut Apex Flaminis Plinii Menz. Pug. quippe qui genuinus Boletus”.

Сurrent status. Despite the fact that Buxbaum does not indicate on what wood substrate this fungus was collected, being limited only by the note “In pontibus ligneis auctumno”, his drawing together with the description allows unequivocally to associate this material with Tapinella panuoides (Agaricomycetes, Boletales, Tapinellaceae). This conclusion is in agreement with anisotropic growth of the marginal zone of the basidiome visible from the drawing, the feature which is not characteristic to other pleurotoid fungi besides the Pleurocybella Singer, as well as the darkening of yellow hymenophore when injured due to pigments oxidation [in the Crepidotus (Fr.) Staude species, yellow or orange gills do not turn black when injured]. It should be noted that this species can be associated both with conifers (the most characteristic case) and hardwoods.

Post-Linnean synonymy: Tapinella panuoides (Fr.) E.-J. Gilbert, Les Livres du Mycologue Tome I–IV, Tom. III: Les Bolets: 68, 1931. ≡ Agaricus panuoides Fr., Observ. mycol. 2: 227, 1818 (sanct. In Syst. Mycol., 1821). = Agaricus acheruntius Humb., Fl. Friberg. Spec.: 73, 1793. = Paxillus fagi Berk. et Broome, Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., Ser. 5 9: 181, 1882.

Modern monograph: Henderson et al. (2005).

3. Lycoperdon stellatum, calyce inverso – p. 45, tab. XLIX,  f. 3 [Fig. 1 (3)].

“Differt a Lycoperdo vesicario stellato Tourn. Inst. quod globatum pulverulentum non complectatur, sed versus terram orae flectuntus, quae non tam profunde incisae sed leviter tantum crenatae sunt. Globulus multis dehiscit crenis foramen exiguum formantibus. Creseit in gramines circa Constantinopolim auctumno”.

Сurrent status. In Buxbaum’s figure, we can see a gasteromycete with a three-layer peridium and the exoperidium breaking into bending lobes with the formation of so-called earthstar life form, and the endoperidium opens with a singular stoma. Starting with Persoon (1794), the fungi having this peculiar habit have been considered into the genus Geastrum Pers. Some later, Morgan (1889) established a separate genus Astraeus Morgan for species devoid of columella and internal hymenia. Erwin (1951) emphasized a microanatomical difference between these two genera, including such characteristics as the shape of sclerohyphae and basidiospores. Buxbaum, of course, does not provide any information on the anatomical features of earthstar described, therefore, the generic affiliation of this taxon we can carry out only from some indirect data. Particularly, we can associate the habitat of this fungus with arid treeless areas near Constantinople. This fact is in favor of Geastrum generic affiliation, since Astraeus representatives are forest mycorrhizal fungi, whereas Geastrum species, being the humus saprotrophs, can be associated with tree-less spaces. In the figure, we counted 6 exoperidium lobes, although it is not clear whether this is a didactic step aimed at showing all the lobes that are present, or the lobes that we do not see are also assumed in the background. Still, more evidence suggests that the species should be associated with the Geastrum genus. In the diagnosis, there is a hint on hygroscopic bending of the lobes. It is interesting that Linnaeus, describing his already binomial Lycoperdon stellatum (“Volva multifida patente, capitulo glabro, ore acuminato dentato”) (Linnaeus, 1753, p. 1184) refers to Buxbaum’s description into consideration⁴⁴. A superficial examination of the holotype from the Linnaean Herbarium (The Linnean Collection, 2020) allows us to correlate this taxon with G. fimbriatum Fr. (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales, Geastraceae), and all the materials presented by Buxbaum don’t contradict this conclusion. For the nomenclature Linnean name is insignificant, because the gasteromycetes will have priority the names sanctioned by the Persoon (1801). In application to the species in question, the name G. fimbriatum persists in current use, although it is likely that G. rufescens var. minor Pers. belongs here.

Post-Linnean synonymy: Geastrum fimbriatum Fr., Syst. mycol. 3(1): 16, 1829. = Lycoperdon stellatum L., Sp. pl. 2: 1184, 1753 [non L. stellatus Scop., Fl. carniol. 2: 489, 1772. = Astraeus hygrometricus (Pers.) Morgan, J. Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist. 12: 20, 1889]. = L. stellatum Oeder, Fl. Danic.: tab. 360, 1767 nom. illeg. (Art 53.1). = Geastrum rufescens var. minor Pers., Syn. meth. fung. 1: 134, 1801. = Lycoperdon sessile Sowerby, Col. fig. Engl. Fung. Mushr., Suppl.: tab. 401, 1809. = Geastrum tunicatum Vittad. [ut Geaster tunicatus], Monogr. Lycoperd.: 162, 1842. = G. novohollandicum F. Muell. in Berkeley [ut Geaster novo-hollandicus] J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 13: 170, 1873. = G. sessile Pouzar, Folia geobot. phytotax. 6: 95, 1971.

Modern monograph: Sunhede (1989).

Note. As a rule, the gasteromycete species in their volume correspond to the linneons, i.e. there are few described cryptic species among them. In the case of Buxbaum’s species under consideration, the problem is a rather limited dataset presented in the description.

4. Fungus pileo plicatili, maior – p. 45, tab. L,  f. 1 [Fig. 2 (1)].

“Tuteus est fusco permixtus, lamellis subtus fuliginosis, totus tener. In gramineis hortorum et circa sepes auctumno”.

Сurrent status. Rather compact Buxbaum’s original description is somewhat compensated by the highly informative drawing. In print engraving, it looks less informative than in the original, stored in the Archive of St. Petersburg Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Particularly characteristic is veil remains, splitting to form fibers. This feature coupled with a slightly curled and bursting margin, general habit, and described color variability and habitat, fairly definitely points to Coprinopsis lagopus (Fr.) Redhead, Vilgalys et Moncalvo (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales, Psathy-rellaceae).

Post-Linnean synonymy: Coprinopsis lagopus (Fr.) Redhead, Vilgalys et Moncalvo in Redhead, Vilgalys, Moncalvo, Johnson et Hopple, Taxon 50(1): 229, 2001. ≡ Agaricus lagopus Fr., Syst. mycol. 1: 312, 1821. = Coprinus lagopus f. macrospermus Romagn., Revue Mycol. 10(5–6): 89, 1945. = C. lagopus var. vacillans Uljé in Uljé, Doveri et Noordeloos, Persoonia 17(3): 468, 2000.

Modern monograph: Keirle et al. (2004).

Note. Phylogenetically, Coprinopsis lagopus is rather a species complex (Nagy et al., 2013), and at least such taxa as C. jonesii (Peck) Redhead, Vilgalys et Moncalvo, and C. pachyderma (Bogart) Redhead, Vilgalys et Moncalvo are intermixed as separate lineages within a huge C. lagopus-conglomerate.

5. Fungus parvus pileolo plicatili, cinereus, oris crenatis – p. 46, tab. L,  f. 2 [Fig. 2 (2)].

“Tenerrimus est totus cinere quasi respersus. In pascuis circa Bosphorum Novembri”.

Сurrent status. This highly short Buxbaum’s description coupled with a more informative drawing shows that, like the previous species, this is one of minute ink-cap fungi representatives. Very thin flesh of the pileus coupled with pronounced ridges formed with few gills refer to the genus Parasola Redhead, Vilgalys et Hopple, within this we can choose between plane-cap species, like Parasola lactea (A.H. Sm.) Redhead, Vilgalys et Hopple, or P. misera (P. Karst.) Redhead, Vilgalys et Hopple (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales, Psathy-rellaceae). The first species varies widely in basidiome sizes, so few of its specimens could well be characte-rized as “fungus parvus”. However, without information on any micro-anatomical details, a further affiliation of the species is problematic.

Post-Linnean synonymy: Parasola Redhead, Vilgalys et Hopple, Taxon 50(1): 235, 2001.

Modern monograph: Keirle et al. (2004).

Note. Phylogenetically, P. lactea and P. misera represent the two closely related species (Szarkándi et al., 2017).

6. Fungus plicatilis omnium minimus, albicans – p. 46, tab. L,  f. 3 [Fig. 2 (3)].

“Occurrit cum precedente”.

Сurrent status. The species continues the gallery of minute ink-cap fungi described by Buxbaum in the 2nd “Centuria” issue. This minute fungus combines a less pronounced, but still present plicate tendency on the pileus margin, and a farinaceous veil remnant, similar to that of Coprinopsis lagopus on the central part of the pileus. Taking into consideration all aforementioned, as well as small sizes of basidiome, we can attribute this taxon to the C. cordispora species complex in Keirle’s et al. (2004) sense, i.e. with the inclusion of C. stercorea (Fr.) Redhead, Vilgalys et Moncalvo (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales, Psathyrellaceae).

Post-Linnean synonymy: Coprinopsis stercorea (Fr.) Redhead, Vilgalys et Moncalvo in Redhead, Vilgalys, Moncalvo, Johnson et Hopple, Taxon 50(1): 231, 2001. ≡ Coprinus stercoreus Fr., Epicr. syst. mycol.: 251, 1838. = Agaricus stercorarius Bull., Herb. Fr. 6: tab. 542, 1786. = Coprinus stercorarius Sacc., Syll. fung. 5: 1103, 1887. = Fungus stercorarius Kuntze, Revis. gen. pl. 3(3): 480, 1898.

Modern monograph: Keirle et al. (2004).

Note. As it was mentioned above, here we are dealing with a species complex. Buxbaum’s epithet “plicatilis”, however, in case of further splitting of the C. cordispora species-complex it would be of little use since in post-Linnean taxonomy this epithet is preoccupied with Agaricus plicatilis Curtis ≡ Parasola plicatilis (Curtis) Redhead, Vilgalys et Hopple.

7. Fungus parvus, infundibulum referens – p. 46, tab. L, f. 4 [Fig. 2 (4)].

“Fuscus est et subhirsutus, lamellis magis ad album vergentibus colorem. In pascius passim”.

Сurrent status. This species stands out from a range of minute ink-cap fungi described in 2nd Buxbaum’s “Centuria” issue by its omphaloid basidiomata with white gills edge. Such minute basidiomes of omphaloid morphotype are characteristic to such genera as Rickenella Raithelh. (Agaricomycetes, Hymenochaetales, Rickenellaceae), Omphalina Quél., Gerronema Singer (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales, incertae sedis), and some Arrhenia Fr. representatives (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales, Hygrophoraceae). Such important characteristics as “fuscus est et subhirsutus” refers to the last of the aforementioned genus. The term “subhirsutus” is applicable to the young stages of pileipellis development, characterized in modern terminology as “initially coarsely granular, becoming minutely pruinose, and finally merely of a pebbly or finely bumpy texture” (Voitk et al., 2014). Most of Arrhenia species are distributed mostly within various tundra and alpine habitats, however, the temperate species Arrhenia obscurata (D.A. Reid) Redhead, Lutzoni, Moncalvo et Vilgalys, being algophilous (Voitk et al., 2014), can grow in a wide range of pioneer communities. Buxbaum does not provide any substratum for the record in question.

Post-Linnean synonymy: Arrhenia obscurata (D.A. Reid) Redhead, Lutzoni, Moncalvo et Vilgalys, Mycotaxon 83: 47, 2002. ≡ Omphalina obscurata D.A. Reid, Trans. Br. mycol. Soc. 41(4): 419, 1958. = Omphalia obscurata Kühner, Annls Univ. Lyon, Ser. 3, Sci., Sect. C 6: 130, 1949; O. obscurata Kühner ex M. Lange, Meddr Grønland, Biosc. 147 (11): 21, 1955. = Clitocybe atrobrunnea H.E. Bigelow, Beih. Nova Hedwigia 81: 401, 1985.

Modern monograph: Bigelow (1985).

Note. Phylogenetically, this species seems to be a more or less homogeneous unit (Voitk et al., 2020).

8. Fungus exiguus albicans capitulo, striato – p. 46, tab. L,  f. 5 [Fig. 2 (5)].

“Gregarim nascitur in lignis putridis. Capitulum fere globosum est, oris semper versus pediculum inflexis, eleganter striatum, subtus lamellis crebris instructum. In hortis ad maceries”.

Сurrent status. The Buxbaum’s gallery of minute ink-cap fungi is crowned with a very characteristic species, persisting in current use as Coprinellus disseminatus (Pers.) J.E. Lange (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales, Psathyrellaceae). This attribution easily confirmed by original description data (small size of basidiomata, pileus shape, thin stem, substrate, gregarious development) as well as by rather an accurate drawing of the fungus.

Post-Linnean synonymy: Coprinellus disseminatus (Pers.) J.E. Lange [ut disseminata], Dansk bot. Ark. 9(no. 6): 93, 1938. ≡ Agaricus disseminatus Pers., Syn. meth. fung. 2: 403, 1801. = Agaricus minutulus Schaeff., Fung. bavar. palat. nasc. 4: 72, 1774. = Agaricus digitaliformis Bull., Herb. Fr. (Paris) 1: tab. 22, 1781. = Agaricus striatus Bull., Herb. Fr. 12: tab. 552, 1792. = Coprinus floridanus Murrill, Proc. Fla Acad. Sci. 7(2/3): 125, 1945.

Modern monograph: Keirle et al. (2004).

Note. Phylogenetically, this species seems to be a more or less homogeneous unit (Nagy et al., 2012).

The subsequent notes will be focused on the mycological material of the III–V “Centuria” issues.

The work was supported by the RFBR grant (N 20-011-42010) and the State Research Task N AAAA-A19-119020890079-6.