Taxonomic challenges posed by the genera Hydnellum and Phellodon highlighted by two interesting collections on the Atlantic coast of Spain
Résumé
Species belonging to the genera Bankera, Hydnellum, Phellodon and Sarcodon, commonly referred to as "hydnoid fungi" or "tooth fungi", have been the subject of growing conservation concerns due to apparent declines in their populations. At the same time, the phylogenetic identity of several early-described taxa remains unclear and several cryptic species detected by molecular investigations remain undescribed, leading to ongoing taxonomic confusion and conservation drawbacks. During the mycological congress of Liébana (Spain) in 2017, two interesting hydnoid fungi were collected from the coastal woods of dunas de Liencres, found in apparent association with the introduced Monterey pine (Pinus radiata). Following phylogenetic, morphological and taxonomical investigations, the first species revealed to belong to the yet unresolved Phellodon niger species-complex, while the second species nested in a novel phylogenetic lineage and is believed to represent the old forgotten taxon Hydnellum zonatum, described as early as 1786 by Batsch, but erroneously synonymised with H. concrescens since. The two species are illustrated, described and discussed.