A survey of the genus Rhodophyllus Quélet in Nova Scotia

The purpose of this thesis is to examine and consider taxonomically mushrooms in the genus Rhodophyllus that occur in Nova Scotia. The genus Rhodophyllus is distinguished from other agarics by its characteristic pink, angular spores, subparallel gill trama, fibrous stipe and attached gills. Characteristics used in the identification of species of Rhodophyllus are pileal size and colour; taste and odour of the flesh; cuticular anatomy of the pileus; and morphology of the cystidia, basidia and spores. The materials and methods used in this study are those generally applied to the examination of agarics. The taxonomic system used follows that of Hesler (1967) where four subgenera, four sections and eleven subsections are recognized. Descriptions are provided for fourteen species of Rhodophyllus occurring in Nova Scotia, of which four are described as new and given provisional names.