Mycological Research

Table of Contents - 1999 - Volume 103, Issue 11  


Sarcodon imbricatus and S. squamosus – two confused species

HANNA JOHANNESSON a1, SVENGUNNAR RYMAN a2, HJÖRDIS LUNDMARK a3 and ERIC DANELL a1c1
a1 Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7026, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
a2 Botanical Museum, Uppsala University, Villavägen 6, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
a3 Västloning 1653, SE-860 40 Indal, Sweden

Abstract

Sarcodon imbricatus has long been used to extract blue and greenish pigments for wool dyeing. We found that fruit bodies growing with Pinus sylvestris seemed to be superior for dyeing compared to fruit bodies growing with Picea abies, and macroscopical differences between the forms indicated that they are different taxa. By studying sequences of rDNA ITS and macroscopical characters, two species were recognized. Sarcodon imbricatus grows in association with Picea, and S. squamosus with Pinus. The latter species, described by Schaeffer in 1774, has been lumped with S. imbricatus during the past 50 years, creating great confusion among wool dyers.

(Accepted January 24 1999)


Correspondence:
c1 Corresponding author.