| Summary: | Several fungi in the species complex surrounding Collybia dryophila ( Basidiomycetes: Tricholomataceae) are very closely related. For this study, monosporous isolates were obtained from spore prints of over 40 different collections made in North America and Europe. Mating studies indicate tetrapolar incompatibility with multiple alleles for all groups studied. Extensive intercrosses also reveal 4 distinct biological species in North America.
North American populations of C. dryophila var. dryophila represent the most widely distributed population studied. Collybia dryophila var. funicularis forms a second biological species. Collybia earleae is represented by intercompatible collections from California and Virginia, indicating that it is more widespread than previously believed. A population of Collybia which fruits on mulch beds on the Virginia Tech campus forms a fourth biological species.
Six European collections used in this study are also tetrapolar, and belong to 3 biological species. Two of these biological species are morphologically distinct from the other taxa studied, and one may represent the true C. dryophila as originally described from Europe. A third biological species shows affinities with C. alkalivirens, another taxon in the same section of Collybia. All intercrosses among North American and European biological species were intersterile, indicating at least seven distinct taxa present. A taxonomic revision of the C. dryophila complex and key to taxa are presented, with a discussion of the nomenclatural status of the taxa. === Master of Science
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