Hydnangium nigricans var. Longispinosum, a new Hypogeous fungus from Madagascar

On July 7, 1980, the author collected a semi-hypogeous gasteromycete at Andasibe, Malagasy (=Madagascar). Drying of the specimen was improvised on filter paper. Three days later a second specimen was collected at the same locality. Unfortunately the latter was totally destroyed by insects during the process of drying. The remaining specimen was studied in the laboratory of the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures at Baarn, Netherlands. It appeared to be the first hypogeous macromycete recorded from Madagascar. As it showed a close resemblance to the South African Hydnangium nigricans, which according to Singer & Smith (1960) is closely related to Octavianina nigrescens (Zeller) Sing. & A. H. Sm., a comparison of the author’s specimen was made with the type material of these species. The fungus from Madagascar appeared to be conspecific with H. nigricans, only differing by its coarser spore ornamentation. A new variety is therefore proposed.