CORTINARIUS, SUBGENUS PHLEGMACIUM, SECTION PHLEGMACIUM IN EUROPE - A STUDY OF CHARACTER VARIATION AND ECOLOGY INCLUDING A NUMERICAL-ANALYSIS OF THE C-ARGUTUS COMPLEX

The taxonomy of Coutinarius section Phlegmacium in Europe is treated, including 18 taxa, with emphasis on an analysis of character variation and differentiation as a tool for species delimitation and the select ion of diagnostic characters. Based on the character differentiation b etween closely related taxa, spore size, veil structure, veil pigment and pileipellis structure appeared to be the most taxonomic significan t characters in the group, whereas characters related to carpophore si ze and shape were of little value. A numerical (multivariate) analysis was performed including four taxa in subsect. Arguti. The PCO and clu ster analysis distinguished more or less completely the four taxa, and a character analysis revealed discontinuous variation in at least one character between the taxa. The spore morphology characters were the most distinguishing. The taxonomic implications of the character varia tion are discussed. The species of sect. Phlegmacium have very special ized habitat requirements, with strict mycorrhizal associations. Of th e 17 species here accepted 16 appear to be associated with a single ho st genus in Europe, and most are associated solely with a single host species. Many species are calciphilous, xerophilous and thermophilous, and some have a strictly southern distribution in Europe. The majorit y of taxa are widely distributed frequently following the natural dist ribution of their host trees.