Hebeloma squamulosum - A non-current Hebeloma species

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

Full name: Hebeloma squamulosum Velen. (1920)
Published: Ceske Houby: 392 (1919) ["1920"]
Taxonomic status: We have not been able to unambiguously determine the current genus of this name.
Types: CZECH REPUBLIC: Slivenec (approx. 50.02°N, 14.36°E, alt. approx. 345 m a.s.l.), Nov. 1918, J. Velenovsky (Neotype. herbarium acc. no. PRC B36, HJB1000239). Neotype designated by Beker et al., Hebeloma (Fr.) P. Kumm.: (2016) page 641 (MBT202539).

It cannot be certain that the neotype is is original material as there is no indication of the locality on the bottle. However, it is very likely that it is and this material is suitable as a neotype, but it could even be the holotype or lectotype as it was collected two years before the species was described.

Original diagnosis: Pileo 3-6 cm diam., explanato, vix umbonato, crasse carnoso, centro sordide alutaceo, ceterum albo, glabro, conspecte viscido. Stipite longo, 1 cm crasso, elastico, firmo, farcto, basi haud incrassato et ibi obscure fusco, apice albido, in superficie levi squamis confertis, membranaceis, albis tecto. Lamellis confertis, subangustis, postice rotundato-liberis, argillaceis, tum cinnamomeofuscis, acie albis denticulatisque. Carne odorem debilem dulcem exhalanti. Sporis habitu et magnitudine dimorphibus, nonnullis 12-16 μm, sed multis 6-8-10 μm, maxima ex parte fusoideis, aliis ovoideis, omnibus in apiculum contractis, fuscis. Cystidiis longe filiformibus, rotundatis. In piceto solo diabasico prope Slivenec, novembri 1918. Hebelomati firmo affine, sed colore et squamis in superficie stipitis planis discrepat.

English translation: Pileus 3–6 cm diam., expanded, hardly umbonate, thick-fleshed, at centre sordid yellowish, elsewhere white, clearly viscid. Stipe long, 1 cm thick, elastic, firm, stuffed, not broadened at base, and there dark brown, apex white, surface covered with crowded, small membranaceous squamules. Lamellae crowded, narrowish, rounded-free, clay-coloured then cinnamon-brown, with denticulate, white edge. Context with weak sweetish odour. Spores of dimorphous size and shape, some 12–16 μm, but many 6–8–10 μm, mostly fusoid, some others ovoid, all with distinct apiculus, brown. Cystidia long, filiform, rounded. In Picea forest on basic soil near Slivenec, Nov. 1918. Close to Hebeloma firmum, but distinctly differing by the colour and squamulose surface of the stipe.

Commentary: The ‘original diagnosis’ above is the translation into Latin from the original Czech by Pilat, Opera Bot. Čechica 6: 135 (1948). It is not possible to be certain that the authentic material is from the locality mentioned in the protologue (near Slivenec) and it is therefore designated as neotype. The protologue may well appear to represent Hebeloma laterinum (Batsch) Vesterh., however, we have examined the neotype and found that the spores, which measure on average 11.2 × 5.8 µm, have a distinct germ pore, hence this cannot be a Hebeloma

Full name: Hebeloma squamulosum W.F. Chiu (1973)
Published: Acta Microbiol. Sin. 13 (2): 133 (1973)
Taxonomic status: This is a Pholiota.
Notes: Nom. illegit. (Art. 53.1 - Melbourne), non Hebeloma squamulosum Velen. (1920).

Types: CHINA: Yunnan: Shishan, Kunming (approx. 24.7676°N, 103.267°E, alt. approx. 1680 m a.s.l.), 4 Sep. 1943, W.F. Chiu (WFC8380) (Holotype. herbarium acc. no. HMAS 4380, HJB1000597).

Original diagnosis: Pileo 4-8 cm. lato, conieo dein plano-convexo, “Ochraceous orange“, fibrilloso vel squamuloso, glabrescenti, plus minusv nitido, margine irregular; lamellis "Pinkish cinnamon", ventricolosis, usque 5 mm. latis, unaequalis, subconfertis, sinuatis; stipite 4-5 cm. longo, 10-13 mm. crasso, subaequali, albo, fibrilloso, brunneiscenti; caro alba, brunneiscente; sporis ochraceis, leniter verrucosis, ellipticis, 5-7 x 3-4 μ. fig. 8 Shishan, Kunming, China. Sept. 4, 1943, W. F. Chiu (8380) Type.

English translation: Pileus 4-8 cm broad, conical then plano-convex, “Ochraceous orange”, fibrillose or squamulose, becoming glabrous, more or less shining, margin irregular; lamellae “Pinkish cinnamon”, ventricose, up to 5 mm broad, unequal, subcrowded, sinuate; stipe 4-5 cm long, 1’-13 mm thick, almost cylindraceous, white, fibrillose becoming brown; context white, becoming brown; spores ochraceous, slightly verrucose, elliptic, 5-7 x 3-4 μ. Fig. 8

Commentary: TThe spores are ellipsoid, ornamented, on ave. 6.6 x 4.4 μm. Although the material is in rather bad condition, there do appear to be chrysocystidia. Thiis is not a Hebeloma and more likely to be a Pholiota.