THE GENUS HYMENAGARICUS HEINEM IN SOUTH-AFRICA

During an investigation of South African species of Agaricus L.: Fr, a nd allied genera, three species of Hymenagaricus Heinem, have been stu died. H. caespitosus is described as a new species. With the exception of H. luteolosporus Heinem. & Little Flower, which was recently recor ded by van der Westhuizen & Eicker (1994), the remaining species const itute new additions to the mycobiota of this country; both the genus a nd species are still unfamiliar to many. A generic description, a key to the South African species, and accounts of these taxa follow. Type and other collections studied have been deposited in PRUM.