Taxonomy of Ganoderma from southern South America: subgenus Elfvingia

Macro- and micromorphology of 124 specimens and II holotypes of South Ameri can taxa of subgenus Elfvingia ( = G. applanatum complex) were examined, an d were compared with isoenzymic data previously obtained.:Two major dermis types were defined and illustrated. Spore ornamentation was inspected under SEM. Sixty-four per cent of the specimens had an anamixodermis, 80 % had s pores with longitudinal furrows under SEM and 83 % had a context layer with out streaks of melanoid deposits. Some of our South American collections co uld be ascribed to G. lipsiense, G. tornatum, G. testaceum and G. lobatum. Other taxa are critically discussed. The position adopted in this work was to join under synonymy closely related taxa on the grounds of morphology an d geographical distribution. In general, correlation between morphological features and isoenzymic patterns could not be established. In this group, p henotypic plasticity appears to be great.