XVI International Botanical Congess

Ramaria is divided into four subgenera (R. subg. Ramaria, R. subg. Laeticolora, R. subg. Lentoramaria and R. subg. Echinoramaria) based on spore ornamentation, context amyloidity, fruitbody appearance and habitat. To test generic and subgeneric taxonomic concepts, 750bp of the nuc-LSU-rDNA were determined from 63 isolates representing 31 species from the four subgenera. Parsimony analyses indicate that Ramaria is not monophyletic and that several morphologically distinct groups of holobasidiomycetes independently group within the genus. Gautieria, a genus of hypogeous fungi, is a sister group to species of R. subg. Ramaria. These data also suggest that Gomphus and Phallales independently arose from separate groups of ramarioid ancestors. Furthermore, the monophyly of R. subg. Laeticolora and R. subg. Lentoramaria is rejected.