Biological Species in Pleurotus
INTERSTERILITY GROUP
ISG IX. Pleurotus dryinus (Persoon) Kummer.
1882. Führ. Pilzk. p. 63.. 1882. Führ. Pilzk. p. 63.
Nomenclatural history: Schaeffer (1774) used a polynomial which Persoon (1800: 96) binomialized as Agaricus dryinus. Fries (1821: 180) adopted Agaricus dryinus, thus protecting it as sanctioned. Kummer recombined the epithet in Pleurotus.
Typification: To our knowledge, no holo- lecto- or neotype has been designated. Such a specimen should come from Bavaria, the topotype area for Schaeffer’s original taxon.
Taxonomic history: Basidiomata of P. dryinus occur scattered throughout the North Temperate Zone and farther north (common in central Alaska). Basidiomata are conspicuous, with central to eccentric stipe, all white coloration (slowly yellowing in age) and prominent partial veil. It can be confused with Hypsizygus basidiomata, but the latter are without partial veil and usually exhibit circular "water spots" on the pileus surface.
Tissues of P. dryinus basidiomata are dimitic, and basidiomata sometimes resemble those of P. levis. Basidiomata of P. levis (and P. cornucopiae; ruddy tan pileus color) sometimes form a fugacious partial veil in in vitro fruitings, but such a veil is almost unheard of in nature.
In culture, P. dryinus is unique in forming a turf of simple arthrosporophores and dry, easily disarticulated chains of tan to brown arthrospores. This character easily separates cultures of P. dryinus from cultures of P. levis, which are without anamorphic spores.
Mating system: Not yet accurately reported. Not yet accurately reported.
Culture characteristics: see Hilber, 1982, 1997. : see Hilber, 1982, 1997.
Anamorphic state: Mono- and dikaryon cultures form abundant tan to brown arthrospores (lacking or with clamp connections, dictated by the nuclear state). Hilber (1997: 50) introduced the name Antromycopsis ruzena Hilber for the anamorphic state of P. dryinus, but gave no Latin diagnosis nor type specimen: the name is a nomen nudum. Moreover, even Hilber (1997:4) recognized the misapplication of Antromycopsis for this anamorph, so the name is further flawed. No other name for the anamorph has been proposed.
Tester Strains: 7947-1,-2,-4,-6 (not tested for mating type)