XVI International Botanical Congess

This is a preliminary report of an intensive ongoing survey of Alpine Mycota (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) in Rocky Mountain tundra regions of MT, WY, and CO, including the Beartooth Plateau, the largest expanse of alpine tundra in the lower 48 states. Alpine tundra is the open vegetation zone above treeline on high mountains, characterized by a short growing season, cold temperatures, and high winds. The hardy arcto-alpine fungi are well known for much of the arctic and the Alps. This is the first concerted effort to survey tundra species in the Rocky Mountains. Fungi collected in two field seasons are in 17 agaric genera. Mycorrhizal agarics include Inocybe, Cortinarius, Hebeloma, Leccinum, Amanita, Russula, Laccaria, Lactarius, and Entoloma collected with dwarf and shrubby Salix, Dryas octopetala, and Betula glandulosa. Saprophytic agarics include Galerina, Stropharia, Agaricus, Mycena, Paneolus, Naematoloma, Cystoderma, Rickenella, and Leptoglossum in terrestrial, lignicolous, and bryicolous habitats, and the basidiolichens Omphalina. Future directions of the project are discussed.