New records of polypores (Basidiomycota: Aphyllophorales) from the southern Western Ghats with an identification key for polypores in Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India

Abstract

The present study reports new distribution records of two species of polypores; Pycnoporus cinnabarinus (Jacq.) P. Karst. and Datronia mollis (Sommerf.) Donk under family polyporaceae from the moist deciduous forests of southern Western Ghats, Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. This paper also provides detailed macro-morphology and micro-morphology of newly recorded fungi and key for identification of polypores reported from the study area. An opportunistic sampling was carried out along with the plot based sampling in order to maximize the documentation of polypore distribution. A total of 36 polypore species in 21 genera belonging to six families were recorded throughout the entire study period of 2012-2014. Out of these, 26 species were annuals and 10 species perennials. Thirty-four polypores were identified as white rotting and two species were brown rotting.