NEW LOCALITIES AND HABITAT CONDITIONS FOR CHOIROMYCES MEANDRIFORMIS VITT. (ASCOMYCOTA, FUNGI) IN NORTHERN ROMANIA

Although Choiromyces meandriformis is considered as a wide-spread fungus species in forest habitats of Europe, still it is listed as rare, endangered and even critically threatened in some countries. In Romania the species is sporadically spread throughout the Carpathian Mountains and surrounding areas, in soils under both deciduous and coniferous species. In this study there are presented two new localities for Choiromyces meandriformis in northern part of Romania, where the species was identified in spruce communities. The specimens were macroscopically and microscopically characterized and soil analyses were performed. Also, a phytosociological investigation of the forest habitat was performed. Soil analysis highlighted the species preference for acidic soils, with a medium content of humus, total nitrogen, potassium and total phosphorus, and a reduced amount of organic matter. The forest community (Hieracio transsivanici-Piceetum) was characterized by a uniform and species-poor floristic composition.