Mayotte, additions to the tropical Myxomycetes of France

Mayotte, part of the Comoros archipelago located in the Mozambique Channel between the African continent and Madagascar, consists of a main island Maore or Grand Terre, a smaller island, Petit Terre, and several satellite islets. The main island, with an area of 374 square kilometers, is of volcanic origin and was formed about 7.7 mya. The climate is tropical marine with a cool dry season from May to November followed by a hot rainy season from November to May.Before 2010 the only published Myxomycete record known from Mayotte was of Hemitrichia serpula (Scop.) Rostaf. (Patouillard 1928). This mainly tropical species was collected in the capital Dzaoudzi. The record was added to the annotated species list contributing to the study of mushrooms of Madagascar, of which Mayotte was at that time considered a part.This poster presents the results of five surveys spanning a period of three years (2010-2013). A total of 261 specimens have been collected, these represent 27 genera, 69 species and 7 infraspecific taxa. Three of the specimens were labelled as “confer” identifications. Six and 13 collections could only be identified up to order and genus level respectively. Arcyria glauca Lister is reported for the first time from Africa. Diderma rimosum Eliasson & Nann.-Bremek. and Physarum retisporum G.W. Martin, K.S. Thind & Rehill represent second records for Africa. Other interesting taxa collected are Ceratiomyxa morchella A.L. Welden, Diderma chondrioderma (de Bary & Rostaf.) G. Lister, Physarum citrinum Schumach. and Physarum lakhanpalii Nann.-Bremek. & Y. Yamam.Most of the collections (57%) were found on dead wood. Noteworthy substrate trees were Ylang-ylang or Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson, African tulip tree or Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. and Sang-dragon or Pterocarpus indicus Willd.

Publication year:2017