The Genera Serpula and Meruliporia

Abstract

The brown-spored species formerly assigned to Merulius are placed in Serpula which, together with Jaapia, Conio-phora, Coniophorella, Gyrodontium and Meruliporia, is placed in the Coniophoraceae. Species recognized include Serpula lacrimans var. lacrimans, the ubiquitous dry rot fungus, S. lacrimans var. himantioides (Merulius h. Fr.) its "wild" equivalent, and var. carbonaria (M. carbonarius Lloyd), the widespread S. pinastri (Hydnum p. Fr J.), S. eurocephala (Polyporus eurocephalus B. and Br.) from the Asiatic" tropics, S. rugospora from Kentucky, S. illudens Overholts and S. impjerfecta Overnolts from the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Tennessee, S. erecta (Merulius erectus Lloyd) from Minnesota, S. atrovirens (M. a. Burt) from North Carolina, S. byssoidea (M. b. Burty from litter in Puerto Rico and Florida, S. hexagonoides (M. h. Burt) occurring on redwood in California, S. crassa (M. crassus Lloyd) from New Hampshire, S. fusca (M. fuscus Lloyd) from Tasmania, S. fuscescens (M. f. Bres.) from Brazil, and S. chlorina (M. chlorinus Pat.) from New Caledonia. Five spp. not available for study are mentioned and 4 spp. belonging in other groups are appended. The lengthy lists of specific synonyms for the 4 commoner entities are discussed on the basis of morphologic and anatomic similarity rather than genetic experimentation. The monotypic genus Meruliporia Murr. is described, with its sole species M. incrassata.