Hebeloma mediterraneum - A non-current Hebeloma species

According to our data Hebeloma mediterraneum is not the name of a current valid species of Hebeloma. Our database has records for the following similar names

Full name: Hebeloma mediterraneum (A. Gennari) Contu (2008)
Published: Bollettino della Associazione Micologica ed Ecologica Romana 73-74 (1-2): 16 (2008)
Taxonomic status: Heterotypic synonym of H. velutipes
Basionym: Hebelomina mediterranea A. Gennari (2002)

Types: ITALY: Tuscany, Civitella in Val di Chiana, Arezzo (approx. 43.41°N, 11.72°E, alt. approx. 435 m a.s.l.) in Mediterranean woodland under Arbutus unedo, Cistus monspeliensis, Cistus salviifolius, Quercus ilex and Quercus pubescens, 15 Oct. 2002, S. Urci, det: A. Gennari (Holotype. herbarium acc. no. MCVE 669, HJB1000075).

Original diagnosis: Pileus 5-7 cm, convexus dein explanatus et obtuse umbonatus, albo-lacteus, ad medium cremeo-ochraceus, iove pluvio viscidulus. Lamellae confertae, adnexo-uncinatae, albidae deinde leviter cremeo-tinctae, haud plorantes. Stipes 5-7 x 1-1,3 cm, cylindraceo-clavatus, plenus deinde fistulosus, albidus, tactu ochrascens, velo destituto. Caro albida, fibrosa, amariuscula, adore raphanoideo. Sporarum pulvis cremeo-albida. Sporae 9-11 (-12) x 6-8 (-8,5) μm, hyalinae, citriformes vel subamygdaliformes, leves, crassotunicatae, dextrinoideae. Basidia 30-37 x 9,5- 12 μm, tetraspora, fibulata. Cheilocystidia 32-90 x 4-9 μm, abundantia, subclavata vel cylindraceo-elongata, tenuitunicata. Pilei cutis ex hyphis cylindricis radialibus constituta, suprapellis in ixocute efformata. Fibulae numerosae. Hab.: species terricola, in mediterraneis fruticibus cum Quercus ilex, Quercus pubescens, Arbutus unedo, Erica scoparia, Cistus monspeliensis, Cystus salvifolius, etc. collecta.

English translation: Pileus 5–7 cm, convex then expanding and bluntly umbonate, milky-white, at centre cream-ochre, viscid after rain. Lamellae crowded, adnexed, uncinate, white then slightly cream-coloured, not weeping. Stipe 5–7 × 1–1.3 cm, cylindrical-clavate, solid then hollow, white, turning ochre when bruised, without veil. Context white, fibrous, slightly bitter, with raphanoid odour. Spore print whitish cream. Spores 9–11(–12) × 6–8(–8.5) μm, hyaline, citriform or subamygdaloid, smooth, thick-walled, dextrinoid. Basidia 30–37 × 9.5–12 μm, fourspored, clamped. Cheilocystidia 32–90 × 4–9 μm, abundant, subclavate or elongate-cylindrical, thin-walled. Pileus a cutis of radially arranged hyphae, suprapellis in the form of an ixocutis. Clamp connections abundant. Growing on the soil, collected in Mediterranean scrub, consisting of Quercus ilex, Quercus pubescens, Arbutus unedo, Erica scoparia, Cistus monspeliensis, Cistus salviifolius, etc.

Commentary: This species was originally described in Hebelomina and has spores typical of such collections, where the exospore and perispore have not formed, leaving smooth spores. Otherwise, including the spore length, morphologically and molecularly this is Hebeloma velutipes Bruchet. In Grilli et al. (2016) this was synonymised with Hebeloma velutipes Bruchet.