Pholiota olivaceophylla, a forgotten name for a common snowbank fungus, and notes on Pholiota nubigena

A name has been found for a common species in Pholiota subg. Flammuloides fruiting during and soon after snowmelt in the subalpine Abies forests of California: Pholiota olivaceophylla is characterized by rather pale slime-covered basidiocarps, relatively pale brown ellipsoid to slightly phaseoliform spores, 6.0-8.5 x 3.5-5.0 mu m, with an inconspicuous germ pore, and abundant lageniform pleurocystidia. The ITS sequence of the type collection of Ph. olivaceophylla matches those of recent collections. From phylogenetic analyses and morphology, it is clear that the secotioid Nivatogastrium nubigenum [=Pholiota nubigena] is nested within Pholiota; this species has retained ballistospores and the typical curved sterigmata for active spore dispersal.