Mark Bower's New Species!

Violet Coral Fungus

Mark Bower recently found two different fungi along Bull Creek that are new species!  The Violet Coral fungus shown here is a beauty shown at our last Master Naturalist meeting before it was known to be a new species never before identified! It will soon be getting a new name.

I asked Mark to share with us some details of how a new species of fungus is identified.  Here is his description for us naturalist nerds.

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There is an ongoing effort to document the great variety of fungal species in the U.S. It is spearheaded by a nonprofit DNA lab in Michigan in conjunction with participating local mushroom clubs such as our Missouri Mycological Society.  Until recently, our fungal species have been separated based on macroscopic and microscopic features. Many were named because they closely resembled European species.
 
With the relatively recent advent of faster and cheaper DNA sequencing, we are finding that numerous species have been misidentified. For example, Red Russulas are extremely common in Missouri. They used to be labeled “Russula Emetica.” It turns out that the European species doesn’t exist in North America. Missouri’s “Red Russulas likely represent dozens of distinct species that happen to look alike. The same is true for many other fungal groups.
 
I began participating in the MycoMap project in July 2024 and have provided hundreds of specimens for DNA sequencing. The results are just now trickling in, but so far two new species have been identified. 

The first is a grayish Russula which I initially passed over because it was chewed up and I was tired. I changed my mind and returned to collect it. It turns out it is a new species which has the provisional name Russula redolens MO-01. It is so-named because it resembles Russula redolens - the “MO” stands for Missouri and the “01” means that this is the first specimen found.
 
 

I presented the purple coral-shaped mushroom to the Master Naturalist group recently because I thought it was attractive. We now know that it is a new species, with the provisional name Clavaria zollingeri MO-01.  I think this project is very exciting, as it will provided much-needed documentation of our very diverse fungal species.
 
Mycota Lab is a 501c3 molecular DNA laboratory based just outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The current focus of the lab is documenting macrofungal diversity at large scales with a goal of creating a reasonably comprehensive outline of North American macrofungal biodiversity by 2035. The initial goal formed in late 2022 was to sequence 10,000 specimens per year for the next 10 years, bringing in over 100,000 new collections. In 2023, over 20,000 specimens were attained.
 
Mycota Lab has several key initiatives to achieve these goals. The first is the Continental Mycoblitz - www.MycoBlitz.org. For several weeks each year, any individual from anywhere in North America can submit specimens to their lab for free DNA sequencing. Thus far over 1,000 people from across the continent have participated in these events. The second key initiative is the MycoMap Network -www.MycoMap.org. For 2024 collectors can submit new specimens without restriction from the following areas for free DNA sequencing: Arizona, California, Indiana, Michigan, New Brunswick/PEI/Nova Scotia/Newfoundland, and Puerto Rico.

Editor's note:

I can't end without showing the coral fungus in its full size glory.