MYCOTAXON Volume 108, pp. 257–285 April–June 2009 Revision of Termitomyces in China T.-Z. Wei1, B.-H. Tang2 & Y.-J. Yao1, 3, *
[email protected] 1Key Laboratory of Systematic Mycology and Lichenology, Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China 2Bioengineering Department, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China 3Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK Abstract — A survey of Termitomyces was carried out to clarify the species in China based on examination of more than 600 specimens, of which one third were fresh material collected from the field in this study. Among 32 Chinese records, including 26 in Termitomyces and six in Sinotermitomyces, the distribution of 11 species in China, viz. T. aurantiacus, T. bulborhizus, T. clypeatus, T. entolomoides, T. eurrhizus, T. globulus, T. heimii, T. mammiformis, T. microcarpus, T. striatus and T. tylerianus, is recognized, whilst seven are excluded because of misidentification or misapplied names, and five are unconfirmable owing to the lack of specimen support. There are nine synonyms of other known Termitomyces species, eight of which were described as new species from China. The recognized Chinese species are described in detail with discussion on their morphological variation. A key to the Chinese species is provided and discussion on other Chinese records made. Keywords — Agaricales, taxonomy, Lyophyllaceae Introduction Termitomyces is an agaric genus cultivated by termites, with basidiomata growing in association with termite nests. The relationship between Termitomyces and termites is mutualistic or symbiotic (Batra & Batra 1966, 1967, 1979, Batra 1975, Heim 1977, Bels & Pataragetivit 1982, Shaw 1992). The colonies of Termitomyces are managed by termites in their nest as “fungus gardens” and in return the fungi degrade lignin and cellulose of plant material for termites as food.