NIEMELAEA, A NEW GENUS OF MERULIACEAE (BASIDIOMYCOTA)

The paper deals with little-known taxa of resupinate tinder fungi which were regarded till now in artificial genus Ceriporiopsis. These fungi have rather uniform superficial characteristics (light-colored prostrate annual basidiomata with tubular hymenophore and wide ellipsoid basidiospores), but differ each from others by thin features of key structures and plectological organization. A total of four taxonomical entities, Сeriporiopsis balaenae, C. consobrina, Fibuloporia cremea, and Porpomyces mucidus were analyzed highlighting their spore and hyphal wall features, microchemical reactions and features of plectenchymatic organization. It is shown that Ceriporiopsis balaenae is a synonym of C. consobrina, and this entity should be placed together with Fibuloporia cremea in independent genus, whereas Porpomyces mucidus has rather isolated position. A new genus, Niemelaea is created for Ceriporiopsis consobrina and Fibuloporia cremea, and three new combinations, Niemelaea consobrina, N. consobrina var. balaeneae, and N. cremea are proposed. The differences of new genus from the rest Ceriporiopsis units was presented.