Discovery of a rare stiped puffball Calostoma junghuhnii in Neora Valley National Park, India: A new record for West Bengal, India

Abstract

Majumdar S, Rai BS, Rai A, Ghosh U, Bhattacharyya S, Bose A, Goswami N, Chakraborty D, Sarkar J, Mukherjee S, Acharya K, Pradhan P. 2022. Discovery of a rare stiped puffball Calostoma junghuhnii in Neora Valley National Park, India: A new record for West Bengal, India. Asian J For 6: 9-14. The varied topography, soil, and climate of West Bengal, India, make conducive conditions for nurturing the magnificent diversity of macrofungi and their habitats. During an exploration of macro-fungal diversity in Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal, India, in 2021, basidiocarps of Calostoma (Calostomataceae) were collected and photographed, along with macro-morphological and ecological notes were taken. The specimens were identified through macro and micro-morphological characters following standard literature. Amplified description of Calostoma junghuhnii (Schltdl. & Müll. Berol.) Massee, along with necessary figures and photographs, is presented in this paper. A literature survey revealed that C. junghuhnii is a new record for West Bengal. The outcome of the present study would enrich data related to the macro-fungal diversity in the state of West Bengal, India.