title: Crepidotus thermophilus comb. nov., a reassessment of Melanomphalia thermophila, a rarely collected tropical agaric.
abstract: Melanomphalia thermophila (Sing.) Sing. is a rarely collected agaric previously known only from Florida and Brazil. This taxon was originally described as a species of Tubaria and much of Singer's rationale for placing Tubaria within the Crepidotaceae (Imai) Sing. was based on anatomical similarities between T. thermophila and Crepidotus (Fr.) Staude. In later works, T. thermophila was transferred to Melanomphalia M.P. Christ., again forming the basis upon which Singer placed Melanomphalia within the Crepidotaceae. Based on examination of newly collected specimens from Puerto Rico and Panama, type studies, and nuclear large subunit rDNA analysis, we conclude that this taxon is, in fact, a centrally stipitate Crepidotus. Melanomphalia thermophila is transferred to Crepidotus, fully described and illustrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061.
authors.forename: Mary Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aime
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.forename: Orson K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Miller