Fungalpedia – Note 75 Polypus
Citation if using this entry: Fallahi et al. (in prep). New genera in 2010-2011. Mycosphere
Index Fungorum , MycoBank, GenBank, Fig 1.
Polypus was introduced in Russulales incertae sedis being segregated from Scutiger Paulet (Audet 2010). Lloyd, (1912) described Polypus as a species of Polyporus, and then Audet in 2010 circumscribed it as a monotypic genus, containing the single species Polypus dispansus. Phylogenetic analysis based on LSU sequence data supported the introduction of this new genus. Polypus dispansus can be identified by its small, non-amyloid basidiospores, simple, septate hyphae, and pale yellow petaloid basidiomes. The broadest basidiome ever observed was 30 cm. It has small, multiple yellow caps, originating from a single stem. The flesh is single-layered and pale white, becoming cherry red when treated with potassium hydroxide (KOH). White hymenophores have angular pores. It has an uncharacteristic odor and bitter taste. It has irregularly swollen and constricted contextual hyphae with no or rare clamp connections. Basidia is inamyloid, non-dextrinoid, thin-walled, and long clavate-shaped. Spores are broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, thin-walled, hyaline, inamyloid, cyanophilic, and non-dextrinoid. It is considered saprobic and possibly ectomycorrhizal (Audet 2010).
Type species: Polypus dispansus (Lloyd) Audet
Fig 1. Polypus dispansus (redrawn from websites: https://enciclovida.mx/especies/3660-polypus-dispansus; https://baike.sogou.com/v388896.htm). a, b Basidiomata. c Basidiospore.
References
Audet S. 2010- Essai de découpage systématique du genre Scutiger (Basidiomycota): Albatrellopsis, Albatrellus, Polyporoletus, Scutiger et description de six nouveaux genres. Mycotaxon 111, 431-464. https://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/PDF/Essai%20 de%20d%C3%A9coupage%20syst%C3%A9matique%20du%20genre%20Scutiger.pdf
Lloyd CG. 1912- “Synopsis of the stipitate Polyporoids“. Mycological Writings 7, 95–208 (see p. 192). https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1570854175407905792
Entry by:
Maryam Fallahi, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang
University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
(Edited by Kevin D. Hyde & Ishika Bera)
Published online 14 September 2023