Myxomycetes of Maharashtra: two new species of Diderma Pers

Abstract The present paper provides the description and illustrations of two new species of Diderma (D. non-columellata sp. nov. and D. physarinum sp. nov.) that are characterized by the absence of columella in the first instance and the presence of a large columella bearing a number of peg-like protuberances running through the sporangial cavity up to the peridium in the second instance. The latter condition is similar to what is found in the genus Physarina respectively. Key words -columella -peg like protuberances -peridium -Physarina Introduction Diderma is one of the genera in the family Didymiaceae of the order Physarales and is represented by more than 75 species distributed throughout the world. The genus is characterized by having fruiting bodies with a typically double layered peridium of either a calcareous or cartilaginous nature and only rarely single or triple peridium. The other characters include the usually well developed and calcareous columella, the limeless capillitial threads and dark coloured spores. However, the two new species of the genus described herein are unique in their characters