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Title: PROPOSAL TO CONSERVE THE NAME CHROOGOMPHUS AGAINST BRAUNIELLULA (GOMPHIDIACEAE)

Author
item Aime, Mary
item MILLER, ORSON - MCCALL, ID

Submitted to: Taxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2005
Publication Date: 3/15/2006
Citation: Aime, M.C., Miller, O.K. 2006. Proposal to conserve the name Chroogomphus against Brauniellula (Gomphidiaceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota). Taxon. 55(1):227-228.

Interpretive Summary: Accurate scientific names of fungi are essential for communication about them. The scientific names of fungi are governed by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. One principle of these rules is that the first name to be published should be used. Occasionally, however, an obscure name will be found to have priority over a later, well-known name. In this case the well-known name can be proposed for conservation. In this research the well-known name of a fungus is proposed for conservation over an obscure name. The reasons for the conservation are that the well-known name has been used extensively including for an endangered species in Europe. In addition one of the well-known fungi produces interesting chemicals and is known by this name. If the well-known name is preserved, only two new names are required. However, if this name is not preserved, fifteen species will require new names. This research will be used by scientists who need to communicate about these fungi.

Technical Abstract: Chroogomphus (Singer) O.K. Mill. 1964 is proposed for conservation over Brauniellula A.H. Sm. & Singer 1958. Brauniellula is an obscure genus of secotioid mushrooms with two currently accepted species. This rarely collected genus appears to be confined to the western United States where it is only found in association with certain Pinus spp. Chroogomphus is a common, widely collected agaricoid genus of Pinus-associated mushrooms containing approximately 15 taxa. The genus is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere including North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. The name Brauniellula is not well known, and the fungus is neither widely distributed, nor commonly collected. On the other hand, the genus Chroogomphus contains many well-known ectomycorrhizal fungi and the name is used in numerous floristic, ecological, systematic, and anatomical and molecular biology works. Additionally, the fungus C. rutilus has been the subject of several chemistry studies on production of antibiotics and other unique volatile and secondary compounds and has been red-listed as a threatened species under this name in the Netherlands. Finally, only one new combination is necessary to accommodate the conservation of Chroogomphus, whereas enforcement of the principle of priority would necessitate a total of 15 new combinations.