Articles by Taxonomic Group

Microbotryum marginale is reported for the first time on Bistorta plumosa, based on a collection from the Yukon coast, Canadian Arctic, at 68°55'N. This locality is a new northern limit for M. marginale in North America.

The group of seed-destroying Microbotryum species on caryophyllaceous hosts includes ten species, among which only M. alsines, on Stellaria nitens from USA, is known on Stellaria. Recently, a specimen of Stellaria media from Greece, infected by a seed-destroying Microbotryum species, was found in a phanerogams herbarium. Based on distinct morphology and phylogenetic evidence, this fungus was considered to represent an unknown species which is described and illustrated as Microbotryum graecum. It can be distinguished from M. alsines by having smaller spores, fewer meshes per spore diameter, a different spore ornamentation, wider meshes, and higher spore wall muri.

Two new species of Ustanciosporium, U. bulbostylidis-truncatae and U. bulbostylidis-coniferae, are described and illustrated. These are the first records of species of this genus on hosts in Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae). Both species are known only from their type localities, in the savannas of Suriname (Sipaliwini Savanna Nature Reserve, for U. bulbostylidis-truncatae) and Guyana (near Manari, for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae). Ustanciosporium bulbostylidis-truncatae is distinguished from U. bulbostylidis-coniferae by having smaller spores, (9.5–)10–12.5(–13.5) μm long vs. (12–)12.5–15.5(–16.5) μm long for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae, and thinner spore wall, 0.5–0.9(–1.2) μm thick vs. 0.6–1.7(–2.0) μm thick for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae.

The genus Restiosporium consists of 21 species on hosts in the Restionaceae. It was known only from Australia and New Zealand. Restiosporium is reported here for the first time outside Australasia, based on a specimen of R. spathacei on Dapsilanthus disjunctus from Thailand. A description and illustrations are provided for this smut fungus. Dapsilanthus disjunctus is a new host plant for Restiosporium spathacei.

Two poorly known smut fungi are recorded for the first time from Africa: Tilletia brachypodii-ramosi on Brachypodium retusum (from Morocco) and Ustilago constantineanui on Sporobolus schoenoides (from Algeria). Descriptions and illustrations are provided for these taxa.

Two generic names, Meira and Acaromyces, and nineteen species names of basidiomycetous yeasts, earlier proposed and invalidly published, are validated.

Bauerago (with B. abstrusa on Juncus as the type species) is a small genus in the Microbotryales. Its species infect plants belonging to three, monocotyledonous families, Commelinaceae (Commelina and Tinantia), Juncaceae (Juncus and Luzula), and Cyperaceae (Cyperus). There are four Bauerago species on hosts in the Commelinaceae (three species on Commelina and one on Tinantia). Bauerago commelinae on Commelina communis was studied by molecular and morphological methods. Phylogenetic analyses using rDNA (ITS, LSU, and SSU) sequences indicate that B. commelinae does not cluster with other species of Bauerago on Juncaceae. For accommodation of this smut fungus in the Microbotryaceae, a new genus, Kalmanago, is introduced, with four new combinations: Kalmanago commelinae (Kom.) Denchev et al., K. combensis (Vánky) T. Denchev et al., K. boliviana (M. Piepenbr.) T. Denchev et al., and K. tinantiae (J.C. Lindq.) T. Denchev et al. A lectotype is designated for K. commelinae.

Two smut fungi, Bauerago vuyckii on Luzula alpina and Moreaua kochiana on Schoenus nigricans and Schoenus ×scheuchzeri, are reported for the first time from Austria. Luzula alpina is a new host association for Bauerago vuyckii. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for these taxa.

Additional records to three Tilletia species are reported from Africa: T. oplismeni-cristati on Acroceras calcicola from Madagascar, T. vittata on Oplismenus burmannii from Senegal, and T. perotidis on Perotis patens from Madagascar. Acroceras calcicola is a new host association for T. oplismeni-cristati, currently known only on species of Oplismenus. Descriptions, illustrations, and taxonomic notes are provided for these taxa.

Juncorrhiza aschersoniana, known only from Europe, Central America (Costa Rica), and New Zealand, is reported for the first time from South America (from Bolivia).

Thecaphora thlaspeos, known only from Europe and East Asia (South Korea), is reported for the first time from Africa (from Algeria), on a new host plant, Arabis pubescens.

A type specimen of Bauerago capensis, a smut fungus endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, is re-examined and designated as a lectotype. An emended description of that species and for the first time, illustrations of the spores in SEM are presented.

Microbotryum polygoni-alati, known only from India and China, is reported for the first time from Africa (from Ethiopia).

Anthracocystis compacta, known only from the type collection from Senegal, is reported from a second locality, from Mali.

Haradaea moenchiae-manticae is reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula (from Spain), on Moenchia erecta subsp. erecta, and from Africa (from Morocco and Algeria), on a new host plant, M. erecta subsp. octandra.

Anthracoidea melanostachyae, previously known from Iran and Tajikistan on Carex melanostachya, is reported from Armenia and Azerbaijan on the same host plant, and from a new Tajik locality, on a new host plant, C. songorica.

Four species of smut fungi are reported for the first time from the following areas: Melanopsichium pennsylvanicum from Egypt and Madagascar, Sporisorium foveolati from the Canary Islands and Somalia, Sporisorium lanigeri from Somalia, on a new host, Cymbopogon pospischilii, and Urocystis corsica from the Canary Islands. Echinochloa stagnina is a new host of Ustilago trichophora in Africa (based on a record from Zambia).

Tilletia lolioli, previously known only from Lebanon and Iran, is reported from Armenia.

Leucocintractia scleriae is reported for the first time from Japan.

Langdonia aristidae is reported for the first time from Madagascar, on a new host plant, Aristida tenuissima.

Sporisorium nyassae is reported for the first time from Togo and Benin. Hyparrhenia nyassae and H. diplandra var. mutica are recorded as new host plants of Sporisorium nyassae. Based on the current revision, Sporisorium barcinonense is removed from the list of smut fungi in Togo. Cintractia limitata is reported for the first time from Benin. All species of smut fungi known from Togo and Benin and their host plants are listed.

Two new Entyloma species, E. castillejae on Castilleja (Orobanchaceae) and E. violae on Viola (Violaceae), are described and illustrated from the USA.

This study endeavors to clarify the taxonomy of Anthracoidea species occurring in East Asia. Being a cosmopolitan genus, more widely distributed in temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Anthracoidea is insufficiently studied in East Asia, particularly in Japan and Korea. A comprehensive account of the species composition and distribution of the Anthracoidea species in Japan is presented herein. Further, information about the Anthracoidea species in the Kuriles, Sakhalin, and Korean Peninsula is also provided. Three new smut fungi are described and illustrated as follows: Anthracoidea caricis-grallatoriae on Carex grallatoria from Japan, Anthracoidea lanceolatae on Carex lanceolata from South Korea, and Anthracoidea pseudomichelii on Carex michelii from Central Europe. For Cintractia japonica on ‘Carex capillacea’, a new combination, Anthracoidea japonica, is proposed. Anthracoidea grallatoriae Vánky is a superfluous name and a synonym of A. japonica. The existence of the type specimen of Cintractia subglobosa S. Ito makes the lectotypification of C. subglobosa redundant. Similarly, a lectotype of Cintractia variabilis S. Ito is also made redundant. Based on a comparative morphological investigation, 20 Anthracoidea species were established in Japan, all of them on host plants of Carex. In addition to Anthracoidea caricis-grallatoriae, six other species, A. capillaris, A. humilis, A. irregularis, A. karii, A. michelii, and A. sempervirentis, are reported for the first time from Japan. Eight plant species are reported as new hosts of Anthracoidea species in Japan: Carex gmelinii with Anthracoidea buxbaumii; Carex foliosissima, C. mitrata, C. morrowii, C. nervata, and C. subebracteata with Anthracoidea caryophylleae; Carex fernaldiana and C. tenuinervis with Anthracoidea microsora. Ten fungus-host combinations, Anthracoidea capillaris on Carex tenuiformis, A. caryophylleae on Carex leucochlora, A. caryophylleae on Carex mitrata, A. caryophylleae on Carex foliosissima, A. caryophylleae on Carex morrowii, A. humilis on Carex lanceolata, A. karii on Carex omiana var. monticola, A. microsora on Carex fernaldiana, A. microsora on Carex tenuinervis, and A. sempervirentis on Carex makinoensis, are new for science. Additional distribution records are given for some Anthracoidea species hitherto known from Japan. The genus Anthracoidea is recorded for the first time from the Korean Peninsula, with three species from South Korea: A. caryophylleae on Carex leucochlora, A. lanceolatae on Carex lanceolata, and A. siderostictae on Carex siderosticta. Two species, Anthracoidea caryophylleae and A. variabilis, are reported for the first time from the Kuriles. Anthracoidea variabilis is a new species for Russia. Three species, Anthracoidea globularis, A. heterospora, and A. paniceae, are reported for the first time from Sakhalin. The study further found that four fungus-host combinations had been wrongly recorded in the literature, specifically, Carex cespitosa is not a host of Anthracoidea variabilis; Carex foliosissima and C. conica are not hosts of Anthracoidea microsora; and Carex tarumensis is not a host of Anthracoidea buxbaumii.

A new genus of smut fungi, Aizoago, is described and illustrated, with two new species, A. tetragoniae on Tetragonia diptera and A. tetragonioides on T. tetragonioides (Aizoaceae), from Australia.

A new genus, Eriocortex is proposed to accommodate a peculiar, new smut fungus, E. eriocauli, collected in Australia on Eriocaulon scullionii.

An emended description of the genus Anomalomyces is given to accommodate a new species of smut fungus, Anomalomyces yakirrae, on Yakirra pauciflora (Poaceae) from Australia. The systematic placement of the fungus within the genus Anomalomyces is based on morphological characters and molecular data from two loci.

A new species of Sporisorium, S. emariae on Sclerachne punctata (Poaceae), is described and illustrated from Transcaucasia, Republic of Georgia.

A new family, Erratomycetaceae, is described as distinct from Tilletiaceae based on host specialization, morphological features of the sori and spores, and results of published molecular phylogenetic analyses. Eight invalidly published names of Indian smut fungi are discussed. Four of these are considered to apply to distinct species and their names are validated as Eballistra punensis, Anthracocystis kolhapurensis, Sporisorium mahabaleshwarense, and Sporisorium lohagadense. The remaining names are recognized as synonyms of validly published names. A new name, Anthracocystis guoae, is proposed to replace Sporisorium apludae-muticae L. Guo (non Anthracocystis apludae-muticae (A.R. Patil et al.) McTaggart & R.G. Shivas).

A new genus of smut fungi, Tubisorus, is proposed for Sorosporium pachycarpum on Mnesithea rottboellioides, Poaceae.

A new genus of smut fungi, Bambusiomyces is proposed for Ustilago shiraiana on host plants in the tribe Bambuseae of Poaceae.

Anthracoidea melanostachyae on Carex melanostachya from Iran is described and illustrated.

Seven new species, Anthracoidea breweri on Carex breweri and C. subnigricans from USA, Anthracoidea griseae on Carex grisea from USA, Farysia echinulata on Carex fischeri from Kenya, Tilletia avenastri on Avenastrum turgidulum from Lesotho, Urocystis anemonae-narcissiflorae on Anemone narcissiflora from Canada, Ustanciosporium venezuelanum on Rhynchospora sp. from Venezuela, and Ustilago buchloëformis on Bouteloua repens from Mexico are described and illustrated.

Two new species of Moreaua are described from endemic species of Cyperaceae (sedges) in Western Australia. Moreaua actinoschoeni occurs on Actinoschoenus sp. in the far north, and M. chrysitricis occurs on Chrysitrix distigmatosa in the mid west. These are the first smut fungi to be found on these two genera of sedges. Moreaua chrysitricis is the third smut fungus to have been found on a sedge in the subfamily Mapanioideae.

An historical account is given of the smut fungus genus Pericladium and its species, parasitic on members of Grewia (Malvaceae). The genus is characterised and descriptions of its three recognised species, P. grewiae, P. piperis and P. tiliacearum are given, along with their synonyms, host plant range and geographic distribution. A key to the species of Pericladium is presented. Arguments are enumerated for the necessity of description of a new family, Pericladiaceae, to accommodate Pericladium within the Ustilaginales.

The checklist of the smut fungi of Africa and adjacent islands contains 427 species in 47 genera, arranged alphabetically. A short description of each genus is provided. For each species the author(s), place of publication, type(s), nomenclatural and taxonomic synonyms are given, as well as the host plant family, host plant genus (genera), and general distribution are mentioned. For each species the African host plants and the countries from where they are known are enumerated. A chapter of doubtful, excluded or invalidly published taxa is compiled. A list of selected literature is completing the paper. The checklist reflects the great, but incompletely known biodiversity of Africa.

Anthracoidea eburneae on Carex eburnea from Canada is described and illustrated.

The smut fungi of Rhynchospora are revised. Twenty-eight species in seven genera are recognised and presented. Keys to the genera and species are given.

After a short revision of the genus Anthracoidea, two new species, A. multicaulis on C. geyeri and C. multicaulis, and A. praegracilis on C. praegracilis are described and illustrated.

The information on 59 species of smut fungi known in Israel is given. The genera represented in the country are Antherospora (1 sp.), Entyloma (19 spp.), Jamesdicksonia (1 sp.), Melanotaenium (1 sp.), Microbotryum (3 spp.), Sporisorium (14 spp.), Tilletia (3 spp.), Urocystis (4 spp.), Ustilago (12 spp.), and Vankya (1 sp.).

Synnemacrodictys stilboidea on Ailanthus altissima and Juniperus chinensis is recorded for the first time from Korea and Asia. Occurrence of Diplodia subtecta on Acer palmatum, Melanconis aucta on Alnus glutinosa, and Microbotryum stellariae on Stellaria graminea is reported from Bulgaria. Records of three larger basidiomycetes are given as new for Ukraine (Cantharellus amethysteus) and Bulgaria (Sarcodon joeides and Pluteus salicinus). A new Turkish record of a myxomycete, Physarum perfectum, is also presented.

Conservation of fungal diversity needs to be integrated. Smut fungi are potentially a key group for illustrating the problems encountered when estimating the conservation status of microscopic fungi. Various difficulties in assessing the status of smut fungi are described. Examples are provided of threatened species of smut fungi, evaluated with IUCN criteria.

In addition to the 46 known smut fungi of Bolivia, a further 16 species are reported as new to Bolivia, three of which are new to science, viz. Moreaua scirpi, Sporisorium christineae and Tilletia spinulosa. New host plants are given for four smut fungi.

Identification keys to smut fungi (Ustilaginomycotina p.p. and Microbotryales) of 14 selected host plant families and 51 keys to 92 selected host plant genera are presented to facilitate world-wide identification of these plant parasitic microfungi.

An historical account is given of the smut fungus, Ustacystis waldsteiniae, which is parasitic on members of Rosaceae. This is followed by a short characterisation of the unispecific genus Ustacystis, and a detailed, illustrated description of U. waldsteiniae. Synonyms of the genus and species, host plant range and geographic distribution are also provided.

Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological studies, three new cryptic species of
Microbotryum, M. silenes-dioicae on Silene dioica, M. shykoffianum on Dianthus sylvestris, and M. carthusianorum on Dianthus carthusianorum, are described and illustrated. For Ustilago superba on Dianthus superbus, a new combination in Microbotryum, M. superbum, is proposed.

An historical account of the smut genus Vankya and its type species, V. ornithogali. is given. It is apparent that V. ornithogali does not infect Ornithogalum, only species of Gagea, and that the genus Vankya is restricted to host plants in the Liliaceae s.str. It is shown for the first time that there are sterile cells between the spores of species of Vankya. Detailed descriptions of Vankya and its three species, including the new V. lloydiae on Lloydia triflora, are provided as well as synonyms, host plant ranges, geographic distributions and a key to the species. A lectotype is designated for Ustilago heufleri.

Several species of smut fungi not previously recorded in Thailand were collected in December 2007. Amongst these were two new species, Sporisorium likhitekarajae on Ischaemum sp. and Tilletia isachneicola on Isachne globosa, which are described and compared with related species.

Two new Thecaphora species, T. ulicis on Ulex minor from England, and T. hosackiae on Hosackia parviflora from the U.S.A., are described.

Restilago capensis gen. et sp. nov., a smut fungus found in flowers of Ischyrolepis capensis (Restionaceae) in South Africa, is described. The ultrastructure of the septal pores indicates that it belongs to the ascomycetes. In addition to the genus Schroeteria, this is the second genus of smut fungi of ascomycetous origin. The current definition of the term ‘smut fungus’ is briefly discussed in the introduction.

After a short revision of the genus Stegocintractia, a new species, S. capitata on Juncus capitatus is described and illustrated. A key to the six known species of Stegocintractia is presented.

The rare Urocystis jaapiana, collected on a new host plant species, Ruscus hypophyllum in Algeria, is described, illustrated, and compared with the type specimen on R. aculeatus.

Cladosporium aecidiicola on spermogonia of Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae on Anemone ranunculoides is reported from Austria. It is the first record of this species from spermogonia. The following new records are reported for the first time: Merendera attica, as a new host of Urocystis colchici (from Bulgaria); Helleborus orientalis, as a new host of Urocystis floccosa – a new species for Turkey; Cantharellus amethysteus from Bulgaria; and Badhamia dubia from Turkey. New combinations of Microbotryum viviparum on Polygonum viviparum in Bauhinus, and Neovossia japonica on Alopecurus geniculatus in Tilletia are proposed.

A revision of Haradaea alsineae on Stellaria nitens was carried out. A description and illustrations of this species are presented.

A new smut fungus, Macalpinomyces viridans on Sporobolus actinocladus is described from Australia. It is compared with related species, and a key to the four Macalpinomyces species known on Sporobolus is given.

A new combination of Ustilago primulae on Primula clusiana in Bauhinus is proposed.

A new genus, Centrolepidosporium, is proposed to accommodate a new smut fungus, C. sclerodermum, collected in Australia on Centrolepis exserta. The new species is unique in that it produces tightly packed spores in spore balls surrounded by a cortex of sterile cells. This is the first report of a smut fungus on the plant family Centrolepidaceae.

Four new smut fungi are described from Australia, Sporisorium incompletum on Cynodon incompletus, Tilletia lachnagrostidis on Lachnagrostis filiformis, Tranzscheliella austrostipae on Austrostipa verticillata, and Urocystis glabella on Hypoxis glabella.

The taxonomic status of Microbotryum species on Silene vulgaris, Lychnis viscaria, and L. alpina is discussed. A new species on Lychnis viscaria, Microbotryum lagerheimii, is described and illustrated.

A new anther smut fungus on Silene uralensis, Microbotryum savilei, is described and illustrated from Canada.

The first Farysia which is not on a Carex, F. unciniae is described on Uncinia multifaria from Chile.

A third Thecaphora species on Androsace, T. pakistanica on A. rotundifolia is described from Pakistan.

The genus Testicularia is studied. In addition to the two known species, Testicularia cyperi and Testicularia minor, a new species, Testicularia africana is described on Rhynchospora corymbosa from Guinea.

Eight new smut fungi, collected in Thailand, are described: Macalpinomyces siamensis on Coelorachis striata, Sporisorium clandestinum on Aristida setacea, S. pseudosorghi on Pseudosorghum fasciculare, S. trispicatae on Eulalia trispicata, Tilletia chiangmaiensis on Arundinella bengalensis, T. filisora on Pennisetum setosum, T. lageniformis on Hyparrhenia rufa, and Yelsemia droserae on Drosera burmanni and on D. indica (from Australia).

A new genus, Anomalomyces, is proposed to accommodate a peculiar, new smut fungus, A. panici, collected in Australia, on Panicum trachyrhachis. The new species shares some characteristics of both Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces, but is also unique in possessing two types of sterile cells. Anomalomyces is compared morphologically to the genera Ustilago, Sporisorium, and Macalpinomyces. Its relation to these genera is shown also by molecular analyses of ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. The problems of generic delimitation in this large group of smut fungi are discussed.

The four recognised smut fungi of Araceae are studied. A new genus and species, Entylomaster typhonii, are described and illustrated on Typhonium brownii from Australia. A new combination proposed is Entylomaster dietelianus on Ambrosina bassii from Italy.

Smut fungi of Restionaceae s. lat. were studied. They are classified into two genera, Restiosporium and Websdanea. Problems of species delimitation in these smuts are discussed. In addition to the nine known smut fungi, thirteen new species are described and illustrated: Restiosporium anarthriae, R. apodasmiae, R. chaetanthi, R. desmocladii, R. eurychordae, R. flexuosum, R. hypolaenae, R. lepyrodiae, R. pallentis, R. patei, R. proliferum, R. spathacei, and R. sphacelatum.

The current status of former Ustilago species on dicotyledonous plants, recently treated as members of the Microbotryaceae, is discussed. Almaraz et al. (2002) pointed out that the genus Microbotryum is restricted to the anthericolous smuts on Caryophyllaceae, based on the sequence analysis of ITS rDNA. They concluded that Sphacelotheca and ovariicolous Microbotryum species on Caryophyllaceae, or at least, Microbotryum duriaeanum, are generically distinct from Microbotryum s. str. These results, on the one hand, alter the taxonomic scheme of the Microbotryaceae and, on the other, reestablish the genus name Bauhinus, reduced by some recent authors to a synonym of Microbotryum, as a correct name. Twenty-six new combinations in Bauhinus are proposed: B. ahmadianus, B. anomalus, B. calandriniicola, B. calyptratae, B. cilinodis, B. coronatus, B. dehiscens, B. dumosus, B. filamenticola, B. lewisiae, B. longisetus, B. ocrearum, B. paucireticulatus, B. perfoliatae, B. picaceus, B. polygoni-alati, B. prostratus, B. radians, B. scabiosae, B. shastensis, B. silybi, B. stewartii, B. tenuisporus, B. tovarae, B. tuberculiformis, and B. tumeformis. A new genus, Haradaea, is described to accommodate the seed-destroying species of Ustilago on Caryophyllaceae. It unites seven species: H. alsineae, H. arenariae-bryophyllae, H. duriaeana, H. holostei, H. jehudana, H. moenchiae-manticae, and H. nivalis.

Recent activity and current problems in conservation of fungal diversity in Bulgaria are discussed. The need for complex investigation, conservation, and monitoring of fungal diversity is presented. A preliminary red list of smut fungi in Bulgaria (as an example for redlisting of microscopic fungi), evaluated with IUCN criteria, is proposed, including 16 species: two Regionally Extinct (RE) (Ustilago bulgarica and Doassansia punctiformis), four Critically Endangered (CR) (Entyloma urocystoides, Urocystis aquilegiae, Microbotryum holostei, and M. jehudanum), three Endangered (EN) (Schizonella intercedens, Sporisorium schweinfurthianum, and Urocystis leimbachii), two Vulnerable (VU) (Microbotryum violaceo-verrucosum and Thecaphora thlaspeos), and five Data Deficient (DD) (Entorrhiza casparyana, Entyloma corydalis, Schizonella cocconii, Urocystis eranthidis, and U. junci). Information about their distribution, threats, and conservation actions is also given.

Two new species of smut fungi, Macalpinomyces tilletioides and Sporisorium penniseticola, are described and illustrated, both on Pennisetum sphacelatum from Ethiopia.

A new smut fungus, Macalpinomyces arundinellae-setosae, is described on the grass Arundinella setosa from Queensland, Australia. It is compared with the eight known smut fungi on Arundinella and a key for identifying these species is given.

A new genus, Eriomoeszia, is described for Tolyposporium eriocauli (Moesziomyces eriocauli) on Eriocaulon. It is compared with Moesziomyces bullatus, the type species of the genus Moesziomyces, found on Echinochloa and other grass genera.

Two new genera, Eriocaulago and Eriosporium are described. The following new combinations are proposed: Eriocaulago eriocauli, Eriocaulago jagdishwari, Eriosporium hessii, and Eriosporium mesanthemi. Lectotype is designated for Eriosporium mesanthemi.

Phylogenetic analysis of four species of Lundquistia revealed the genus to be polyphyletic. Morphological characters and phylogenetic relationships demonstrate that Lundquistia should be reduced to synonymy with Sporisorium. Three new combinations are proposed: Sporisorium dietelianum, S. duranii, and S. mexicanum. Sporisorium fasicularis is considered a synonym of S. panici-leucophaei.

The 470 smut fungi, published in the book European smut fungi by Vánky (1994), and a further fourteen species, missed or recorded after 1994, are listed according to their recent nomenclature. Extensive changes in the classification and nomenclature of the smut fungi has resulted in changed generic names of one third of the European smut fungi since 1994.

Silene thymifolia is reported as a new host of Thecaphora saponariae.

A new smut fungus, Sporisorium cymbopogonis-bombycini, is described on the grass Cymbopogon bombycinus from Australia. The fourteen known smut fungi, all Sporisorium species, on Cymbopogon are enumerated with their taxonomic synonyms, host plant range and distribution. A key for identifying and differentiating these fungi, and a host plant – smut fungus list are given.

Based on molecular sequence data and morphological characters of the sori a new genus, Pilocintractia, is described for Cintractia fimbristylidicola. The importance of sterile fungal filaments between mature spores for the classification of smut fungi is discussed. Presence of gelatinised fungal filaments between spores is a useful tool for separating Pilocintractia from other genera of the Cintractia sensu lato group.

The alarming loss of biodiversity of the earth is briefly mentioned, to show the importance of herbaria in the inventory and conservation of gene-pools of plants and fungi in general, and those of smut fungi by the activity of H.U.V. (Herb. Ustil. Vánky) in special.

After a short historical review, taxonomy and nomenclature of the genus Microbotryum in general, and those of the anther smuts of Caryophyllaceae in special, are presented. Problems in species delimitation of these smut fungi are discussed, which is still not solved satisfactorily. Until a better classification of the anther smuts of Caryophyllaceae will be elaborated, the use of the name of M. violaceum s. lat. is proposed for M. dianthorum, M. lychnidis-dioicae, M. silenes-inflatae, Ustilago coronariae, U. silenes-nutantis, and U. superba.

Entorrhiza casparyana is reported as new for Austria. This is the third report of this smut on Juncus tenuis.