Studies in Heterobasidiomycetes part 171 - The species of Cintractia s.l. (Ustilaginales, Basidiomycota)

Cintractia s.l. includes 43 species of smut fungi characterized by dark mas ses of mostly flattened teliospores and host species belonging to Cyperacea e and Juncaceae. In a recent publication, Cintractia s. l. has been split i nto five genera based on morphological and molecular data: Cintractia s.s., Tolyposporium and the new genera Gymnocintractia, Leucocintractia, and Ste gocintractia. The genus Cintractia s. s. is restricted to species with fine warty teliospores formed in a sterile fungal stroma and enclosed by fungal peridia. Species of Tolyposporium have a similar soral morphology, but irr egular roughly ornamented teliospores in balls. Species of Leucocintractia infect their hosts systemically, their sori have sterile stroma as well as fungal peridia, and their spores are covered by irregular warts forming rid ges. Species of Gymnocintractia are characterized by foveolate spores and s ori without stroma or peridia. These are included now in the genus Ustancio sporium, which was earlier published than Gymnocintractia. Species of Stego cintractia have foveolate spores in sori without stroma and enclosed by per idia formed by thick-walled hyphae. 43 species of Cintractia s.l. including four new species and 28 with new combinations are presented with synonyms, descriptions, drawings, and SEM photographs of teliospores. Keys were elab orated for genera of smut fungi on Juncaceae and Cyperaceae and for species of Cintractia s.l. For about 180 epithets in Cintractia the correct generi c position is given. A list of host species with their respective smut spec ies is added.