Taiwania, 58(3): 176‒188, 2013 DOI: 10.6165/tai.2013.58.176 RESEARCH ARTICLE Myxomycetes of Taiwan XXIV. The genus Physarum Chin-Hui Liu(1*), Jong-How Chang(1) and Fu-Ya Yeh(2) 1. Institute of Plant Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 10617, R.O.C. 2. Department and Graduate School of Biotechnology, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 83102, R.O.C. * Corresponding author. Email:
[email protected] (Manuscript received 25 Febuary 2013; accepted 11 July 2013) ABSTRACT: Species of the genus Physarum collected from Taiwan were critically reviewed. In this paper, we also described and illustrated three new records of Taiwan: Physarum dictyosporum, P. nasuense, and P. tenerum, and a rediscovered species P. flavicomum. A key to the 51 Physarum species of Taiwan is also provided. KEY WORDS: Myxomycetes, Physaraceae, Physarum, Taiwan, taxonomy. INTRODUCTION 4’. Spores free, not in clusters ………………………………………. 5 5. Peridium double or triple …………………………………….…... 6 5’.Peridium single or appearing single ……………………………. 15 The genus Physarum, known as the largest genus in 6. Fructification strongly flattened, approximately isodiametric, Physaraceae and in Myxomycetes as well, comprises closely appressed and angular from pressure, and almost forming a pseudoaethalium; spores 12‒14 μm in diameter ...… P. tessellatum more than 141 species in the world records (Lado, 6’. Fructification not flattened, sporangiate or plasmodiocarpous, 2005–2013). As might be expected that members in this rarely forming a pseudoaethalium ……………………………….. 7 genus possess a wide range of characters as shown in 7. Fructification laterally compressed, usually dehiscing more or less the key to the species in this paper. They are, however, along a preformed longitudinal fissure ………………………..… 8 7’.