The identity of Ganoderma applanatum (Basidiomycota)

A proposal was recently made (Redhead & al. in Taxon 55. 2006) to conserve the name Boletus applanatus Pers., and a neotype was selected for it. However, two externally almost indistinguishable species occur ill Europe: Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat. as commonly understood, and G. adspersum (Schulzer) Donk. In this paper we examine the selected neotype of Boletus applanatus and determine that it conforms to the current European concept of G. up applanatum rather than to the superficially similar G. adspersum.