Volvariella caesiotincta P. D. Orton, a new species  
in the mycobiota of Poland

MAREK HALAMA

Museum of Natural History, Wrocław University 
Sienkiewicza 21, PL-50-335 Wrocław, marhalam@biol.uni.wroc.pl

Halama M.: Volvariella caesiotincta P. D. Orton, a new species in the mycobiota of Poland. Acta 
Mycol. 44 (1): 43–48, 2009.

The article presents the first record of Volvariella caesiotincta P.D. Orton in Poland. Fruit 
body of the species was found on 22nd July 2002 in an oak-hornbeam/elm-ash municipal wood 
in the eastern part of Wrocław. The saproxylic Volvariella caesiotincta produced its carpophore 
on the base of rotten log of Quercus robur. The article brings closer taxonomic profile, 
ecological requirements and distribution pattern of the species. It also describes macroscopic 
and microscopic characteristics of the discovered specimens and presents the specification of 
habitat the fungus concerned.
Key words: Volvariella caesiotincta, macromycetes, urban greenery, Wrocław, SW Poland

INTRODUCTION

The genus Volvariella Speg. includes fungi with pluteoid habit of the carpophores, 
forming distinctive saccate velum universale at the base of central stipe. The sac-
cate velum forms distinct memebranous volva, that usually breaks up into lobes with 
time (Boekhout 1990; Skirgiełło 1999). The genus includes species which are sapro-
trophic, terrestrial, wood occupying, or living on decaying agarics, cosmopolitan, or 
nearly so fungi. There are c. 50 described Volvariella species worldwide and 13 of 
them occuring in Europe (Kirk et al. 2008; Horak 2005; Singer 1986; Krieglsteiner 
2003). There have been reported 9 species of the genus from Poland so far, i.e.: V. 
bombycina (Schaeff.: Fr.) Singer, V. gloiocephala (DC.: Fr.) Boekhout & Enderle, V. 
hypopithys (Fr.) M. M. Moser, V. media (Schumach.: Fr.) Singer, V. murinella (Quél.) 
M. M. Moser, V. pusilla (Pers.: Fr.) Quél., V. surrecta (Knapp) Singer, V. taylorii (Berk. 
& Broome) Singer, and V. volvacea (Bull.: Fr.) Singer (Wojewoda 2003). Seven of the 
species mentioned above are on the red list of the macrofungi in Poland (Wojewoda, 
Ławrynowicz 2006). Volvariella caesiotincta P.D. Orton has never previously been 

 ACTA MYCOLOGICA
 Vol. 44 (1): 43–48
 2009



44 M. Halama 

found in Poland. However it should be noted, that after the author’s record, V. cae-
siotincta was reported at least from one other (not legitimately published) locality 
within Polish area (Puszcza Niepołomicka Forest; Karasiński 2006).

METHODS

Material was gathered within urban greenery of Wrocław. The investigated habitat 
was illustrated with a phytosociological record. The floristic composition and diver-
sity of the forest community were studied using the Brown-Blanquet method. The 
nomenclature of forest communities follows Matuszkiewicz (2007); that of vascular 
plants follows Mirek et al. (2002). Microscopical slides of dried material were pre-
pared with 5% NH4OH and Congo red in 1% ammonia. The microcharacters of one 
recorded basidioma were observed and measured under a standard light microscope. 
Morphological measurements were quoted according to Breitenbach & Kränzlin 
(1991). Terminology of morphological and anatomical elements was adapted from 
Vellinga (1988). Size of spores, basidia, cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia, as well as 
pileipellis elements dimensions were correspondingly based on: 51, 31, 31, 21 and 
21 measurements. Drawings were made with the aid of a drawing tube under an oil-
immersion objective. The collected specimen is deposited in the Herbarium of the 
Museum of Natural History, Wrocław University, Wrocław (WRSL).

RESULTS

The occurrence of Volvariella caesiotincta carpophore was discovered on 12th July 
2002 in Las Wojnowski municipal forest. The forest area where the fungus occurred is 
surrounded by fields under cultivation and is situated in the eastern part of Wrocław 
(Fig. 1). A potential plant community there in the area is elm-ash community (Ma-(Ma-Ma-
tuszkiewicz 2007). Analysis of phytosociological relevés made within the area did 
not allow to determine an unambiguous association character of the forest commu-
nity. Representative plants of Ficario-Ulmetum minoris Knapp 1942 em. J.Mat. 1976 
association have been left their stamp on floristic composition profile, but distinct 
participation of key species from Carpinion betuli Issl. 1931 em. Oberd. 1953 alliance 
is evident too. The dominant species of the tree layer at the community where the 
fungus occurred are: Carpinus betulus, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus robur and Tilia cor-
data. The shrub layer includes mainly: Carpinus betulus, Corylus avellana, Sambucus 
nigra and Padus avium. In the herb layer, Ficaria verna, Anemone nemorosa, Milium 
effusum and Maianthemum bifolium grow abundantly during spring season.

In the course of field working only one specimen of Volvariella caesiotincta was 
found. The carpophore of the fungus occupied the base part of distinct rotten log of 
Quercus robur. Further observations at the investigated site were conducted in July 



 Volvariella caesiotincta 45

2003 and July 2004, but no V. caesiotincta carpophores were observed. The location 
of the species has been carefully marked and will be monitored in the future.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIMENS

Volvariella caesiotincta P.D. Orton, Bull. mens. Soc. linn. Lyon 43: 319. 1974. – 
Pluteaceae, Agaricales, Agaricomycetidae, Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota, Dikarya, 
Fungi (Kirk et al. 2008; Hibbett et al. 2007).

Macroscopic and Microscopic characters. Pileus 44 × 39 × 11.5 mm, applanate, with 
an obtuse umbo and slightly inflexed margin, fleshy, surface finely radially fibrillose at 
margin to nearly strigose at the central part, dry and mat, ± white, greish white, paler 
towards margin, with slight olivaceous tinge at the central part. Lamellae crowded, free, 
thin, broadly ventricose, rounded at margin of pileus, flesh-pink, with whitish flocculose 
edge. Stipe 52 × 5.0 mm, tapering upwards, with slightly bulbous base (up to c. 9.5 mm 
wide) enclosed by 3-lobed, greyish white to greyish brown, membranous volva (up to 
c. 21 mm high), solid, extremely fragile, glabrous to fibrillose-striate, translucent white. 
Context in pileus and stipe quite compact, fragile, whitish (Fig. 2). Smell rather strong, 
reminding Geranium robertianum odour. Taste moderately strong, unpleasant, rather as-
tringent. Colour of spore print was not recorded. 

Spores (6.2) 6.7 ± 0.3 (7.7) × (4.2) 4.6 ± 0.3 (5.4) µm, Q = (1.21) 1.46 ± 0.08 (1.64), 
ellipsoid, oblong to oblong-ovoid, not ornamented. Basidia 21-28 × 6.5-9.0 µm, clavate, 
with 4 sterigmata, without basal clamp. Cheilocystidia 34-65 × 9.6-19 µm, ± clavate, 
frequently with apical papilla or up to 15 µm long, finger-like appendage, or lageniform 
to utriform. Pleurocystidia 35-46 × 10-25 µm, clavate, lageniform to utriform, very rare. 
Pileipellis: a cutis, made up of cylindrical elements (15-27 µm width), with intracellular, 
pale (yellow) pigment (Fig. 3). Observed septa without clamps.

Fig. 1. The location of the Volvariella caesiotincta: A – site in Wrocław; B – in Poland (based 
on a 100 km ATPOL grid); 1 – urban boundary, 2 – municipal forests and parks, 3 – locality 
of the species.



46 M. Halama 

Material exaMined. Wrocław (Poland), Las Wojnowski Forest, distinctly rotten 
log of Quercus robur, 12.07.2002, coll. M. Halama, WRSL.

taxonoMical reMarks. Nearly identical carpophores produces V. murinella, 
which can be separated with certainty from V. caesiotincta only on the base of mi-
croscopic characters. As it was emphasized by Breitenbach et Kränzlin (1995), in 
contrast to V. caesiotincta, V. murinella has cheilocystidia without the conspicuous fin-
ger-like and occasionally forked apical projection. Moreover, there is an ecological 
difference between the two species, i.e. V. caesiotincta grows on wood or is associated 
with wood, while the latter occurs on humus rich soil or remains of leaves or plants 
and among grass. Volvariella pusilla var. taylorii (Berk. & Broome) Boekhout also 
resembles V. caesiotincta, from which it mainly differs in habitat (terrestrial fungus 
occurs mainly in grasslands on clayey soil), sweet and fungoid smell, indeterminate 
taste, and smaller size of carpophores (cf. Boekhout 1990; Skirgiełło 1999).

Habitat and general distribution. Carpophores of Volvariella caesiotincta al-
most exclusively appears in summer to early fall season (July-September), solitary 
or more rarely gregarious, on distinctly rotten wood (of optimal and terminal decay 
phase) of broadleaved trees, i.e. on logs and stumps of Carpinus, Fagus, Tilia, Ulmus, 
Fraxinus and Quercus (Boekhout 1990; Krieglsteiner 2003).

Volvariella caesiotincta is reported from North Africa (Marocco) and Europe. 
In Europe it is widely distributed and is known from Spain, Italy, France, Liech-
tenstein, Austria, Hungary (Krieglsteiner 2003), Holland (Boekhout 1990), Great 

Fig. 3. A – spores; B – basidia; C – cheilocystidia of Volvariella caesiotincta recorded in Wrocław 
(drawn by M. Halama).



 Volvariella caesiotincta 47

Britain (B.M.S. 2004), Switzerland (Breitenbach, Kränzlin 1995), Czech Republic 
(Antonín et al. 1995), Slovakia (Lizoň 2001), Germany (Krieglsteiner 1991), Den-
mark (Vesterholt et al. 1998), Sweden (Gärdenfors 2005), Norway (Bendiksen et 
al. 1999) and Finland (Rassi et al. 2001). The fungus is recognized all over as a rare 
species (Krieglsteiner 2003) and is included in the red lists of number of European 
countries. For example, in Sweden it is included in indeterminate category of threat 
(DD) (Gärdenfors 2005), in Slovakia – in near threatened category (LR) (Lizoň 
2001), in Denmark and Norway – in vulnerable category (V) (Vesterholt et al. 1998; 
Bendiksen et al. 1999), in Finland – is treated as critically endangered species (cat-
egory CR) (Rassi et al. 2001) and in Germany it appears in group of very rare species 
(category R) (Benkert at al. 1992).

Acknowledgment. Financial support within a grant no. 6P04F01720 awarded by the State Committee for 
Scientific Research is gratefully acknowledged.

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Volvariella caesiotincta, nowy gatunek dla mikobioty Polski

Streszczenie

W artykule przedstawiono pierwsze w Polsce stanowisko pochwiaka błękitnawego Volvariella 
caesiotincta. Dnia 22 lipca 2002 roku znaleziono owocnik V. caesiotincta na silnie zbutwiałej 
kłodzie Quercus robur w zbiorowisku grądowo-łęgowym na terenie lasu Lasu Wojnowskiego 
we Wrocławiu. W pracy przedstawiono charakterystykę cech makroskopowych i mikroskopo-
wych zebranego okazu, zaprezentowano charakterystykę siedliskową odnotowanego stanowi-
ska, a także przybliżono specyfikę taksonomiczną, ekologiczną i chorologiczną odnotowanego 
gatunku.



Fig. 2. Fruitbody of Volvariella caesiotincta recorded in Wrocław (22. July 2002; photo and 
scans by M. Halama).


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