Record of Battarrea phalloides (Dicks.) Pers., a red‐listed fungus from The National Botanical Garden of Iran

Document Type : Scientific Letters

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

2 Research Expert, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

10.22092/irn.2024.132055

Abstract

The National Botanical Garden of Iran (NBGI) is the country's largest and most complete genetic collection. Its role in preserving Iran's essential and endemic species and as a source for their propagation is irreplaceable. The National Botanical Garden of Iran, with its rich plant diversity (more than 4000 plant species), undoubtedly includes a wide range of valuable fungi. These include fungi, plant symbionts, and many other fungi that are nature's most effective recyclers and decomposers. During autumn 2023, Specimens of Sandy Stilt-Puffball (Battarrea phalloides), a rare and protected species worldwide, were collected from the NBGI. This saprobic fungi has no specific smell and taste and grows singly or in groups on sandy soils. In the collected samples, the morphological features of the fungus included a conical to semi-conical cap with a diameter of four centimeters, a hairy, hard, and brown stem with a height of 25 cm, and a vulva consisting of a capitolium and gleba and an elater at the base. Elaters had yellow spiral structures and basidia with two - four spores and no cystidia. Based on the above characteristics, the sample taken was identified as Battarrea phalloides (Agaraicaceae, Basidiomycota). Despite its worldwide distribution, the species B. phalloides is one of the rare and endangered fungal species. Observing this rare mushroom in the NBGI highlights the need to pay attention to this biological treasure and protect it from urban development.

Keywords

References

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Iran Nature
Volume 9, Issue 3 - Serial Number 46
September and October 2024
Pages 33-36

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