Anthracoidea caricis-meadiiis a new North American smut fungus on Carexsect. Paniceae

The morphology and phylogeny of Anthracoideaon Carex meadii(sect. Paniceae) collected in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, USA, were studied by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and LSU rDNA sequence analyses. As a result A. caricis-meadiisp. nov. is described. The fungus differs morphologically from Anthracoidea laxaeand A. paniceae, which also occur on sedges from the section Paniceae. Molecular analyses support the placement of the latter species and Anthracoidea caricis-meadiiin different phylogenetic lineages. Because of morphological discrepancies in the literature, A. laxaeand A. paniceaealso are described and illustrated based on re-examination of respective holotype and isotype specimens.