Aseroe floriformis represents a new species lacking radiating branches on the receptacle and having a raspberry colour on the stipe; it grows in sandy soil.

1. MYCOTAXON
Volume 92, pp. 169–172 April–June 2005
Aseroë floriformis, a new phalloid
with a sunflower-shaped receptacle
I. G. BASEIA1 & F. D. CALONGE2
ibaseia@bol.com.br
Univerdidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, CB
1
Depto. Botânica, Ecología e Zoologia, Natal, RN, Brazil. 59072-970
calonge@ma-rjb.csic.es
2
Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC
Plaza de Murillo 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Abstract — Aseroë floriformis represents a new species lacking radiating branches on
the receptacle and having a raspberry colour on the stipe; it grows in sandy soil.
Key words — Phallales, gasteromycetes, taxonomy, neotropics, Brazil
Introduction
The gasteroid fungi of northeastern Brazil are the subject of on-going collecting
activities, the results of which have led to some interesting discoveries (Baseia &
Galvão 2002, Baseia & Milanez 2002, Baseia et al. 2003, Baseia 2003).
The genus Aseroë was proposed by Labillardière (1806) for a single species, A.
rubra Labill. A second species, A. arachnoidea E. Fisch., was described by Fischer
(1890) and a potential third by Imazeki & Yoshimi (1989), who introduced the name
A. coccinea Imazeki & Yoshimi (nom. inval., Art. 36.1; as “ad interim”). However,
the Index Fungorum includes 27 names assigned to this genus although these have
been shown to represent only two species, A. rubra and A. arachnoidea, following the
excellent revision carried out by Dring (1980). The large variability of the morphology
of the basidioma led to this proliferation of names where 25 were shown to be synonyms
of the most frequently encountered A. rubra (Dring 1980).
Only these two species are accepted in the last edition of the Dictionary of the
Fungi (Kirk & al. 2001). Both species can be distinguished by basidioma composed
of a receptacle and a well-differentiated sterile, hollow, cylindrical stipe arising from
a white volva. The two species have branches attached to the margin of the receptacle
and the gleba is located on the upper surface of the disc, branches or both (Dring 1980).
They present a pantropical distribution (Dring 1980), with a possibility of expansion
through other regions, an example being A. rubra, which has been found naturalized in
Europe (Spooner 1994).

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Material and Methods
Material Examined — Collecting expeditions were conducted during June and July
2004, to the Parque Estadual Dunas do Natal (05046ʼ S and 35012ʼ W) and Reserva
Particular do Patrimonio Natural Mata Estrela (06022ʼ10ʼʼ S and 35000ʼ28ʼʼ W), both are
remnants of the Atlantic rain forest located in the State of Rio Grande do Norte.
Methods — Basidiomata were examined and photographed in the field. Colours
were coded according to Kornerup & Wanscher (1978), with the indication “KW”,
bracketed in the text, and simultaneously described. They were dried slowly and placed
in containers with naphthalene, to prevent destruction by deteriogens. In addition, some
basidiomata were stored fresh in FAA.
Results
Aseroë floriformis Baseia & Calonge, sp. nov. (Fig. 1)
Etymology: floriformis, due to its resemblance to a flower.
Ovo subgloboso, 15–20 mm diametro, epigaeo, albo-aureo. Stipite cylindrico, spongioso,
rubro-roseolo, 30–40 mm alto, 5-8 mm lato. Receptaculo floriforme, rubro-roseolo, 15–
35 mm diametro, cum disco centralis perforatus, robromarginatus, sine ramulis, cum
gleba gelatinosa, griseo-brunnea, foetida. Sporis cylindraceo-bacilliformis, 4–6 (–7) ×
1·5–2 µm, laevis, hyalinis.
Holotypus: Brasil, Rio Grande do Norte, Parque das Dunas, ad solum arenarius, 3-
VII-2004, legit I. G. Baseia et P. P. T. Lacerda, UFRN 1851. Isotypus: URM 78650 et
MA-Fungi 59460.
Egg subglobose, 15–20 mm diam, epigeal, white yellowish (4A3), mycelial cords
robust, white. Volva composed of an internal, hyaline, gelatinous layer and a
membranous structure, made of hyaline, septate, branched hyphae, 3–7 µm diam. Stipe
cylindrical, spongy, reddish (11A6) to pink (11A4), 30–40 mm high, 5–8 mm wide,
with a pseudoparenchymatous structure made of globose elements, 12–45 µm diam,
with intracellular pigment. Receptacle with the same anatomy, sunflower-shaped, 15–
35 mm diam, without branches or any vestiges of them, pinkish (11A4), central disc
perforate, showing a reddish edge (11A8), covered by the gelatinous gleba, of a grey
brownish colour (11F1). Spores cylindrical to bacilloid, 4–6 (–7) × 1·5–2 µm, smooth,
hyaline. When fresh it produces a repellent odour, reminiscent of cow dung.
Key to the species of Aseroë
1. Receptacle with branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1. Receptacle without branches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. floriformis
2. Receptacle white, branches consisting of a single tube . . . . . . . . . . .A. arachnoidea
2. Receptacle red, branches composed of several chambers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. rubra

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Fig. 1 Aseroë floriformis UFRN 1851, Holotypus. a: mature badiomata. b: basidiospores.
Discussion
There are two species of Aseroë: A. rubra, with a pantropical distribution, reddish
receptacle bearing branches in pairs and with each branch composed of several
chambers, and A. arachnoidea, from Asia and West Africa, distinguished by its white
receptacle, with individual branches consisting of a single chamber (Fischer 1933).
Concerning phylogenetic relationships, Dring (1980) concluded that it was difficult to
establish real links between A. rubra and A. arachnoidea. The same is true when A.
floriformis is added. This new species appears to be close to A. rubra when comparing
several features; the colour and shape of the basidioma, and the size and shape of the
spores which are bacilloid in both species in contrast to the ellipsoid to ovoid spores of
A. arachnoidea (Dring 1980).
Aseroë rubra usually has bifurcate branches, but this is not always the case. Specimens
without bifurcate branches have also been found (Dring 1980), which may have
suggested that a division of the species into two taxa was justified. However, considering
the many names included in synonymy, it is not prudent to propose this division until
more evidences, both from field studies and molecular biology, are available and results
from an analysis thereof provides the justification.
The taxonomy of the genus Aseroë is far from being fully understood. Thus, more
studies on the ecology, phylogeny, anatomy and biochemistry of the included species
are needed.
Finally, the three species keyed above share a tropical distribtution. A. rubra, however,
appears to be naturalised in Europe (Spooner 1994). In conclusion, after a complete

4. 172
literature review of the genus Aseroë, we concluded that the lack of branches on the
receptacle and habitat of growing on sand of dunes, justify the introduction of a new
species, A. floriformis.
Acknowledgments
We express our sincere gratitude to Prof. Hanns Kreisel, to Prof. Gabriel Moreno and Dr. María P.
Martín for their valuable comments and taxonomic advice. Thanks are also given to the Conselho
Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for financial support; and to
Tereza Cristina de Oliveira Galvão for the illustrations. We wish to thank Dr. P. M. Kirk for the
correction of the English text.
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