Entyloma scandicis, a new smut fungus on Scandix verna from Mediterranean forests of Israel

The morphology and phylogeny of a species of Entyloma on Scandix verna (Apiaceae, Apioideae, Scandiceae) collected in the Mount Carmel and Lower Galilee regions of Israel were studied using light microscopy and ITS rDNA sequence analyses. The fungus differs morphologically from other species on hosts of subfamily Apioideae: E. bupleuri, E. helosciadii s.l., E. kundmanniae, E. magocsyanum, and E. pastinacae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that all specimens of Entyloma from Scandix represent a monophyletic lineage, sister to E. magocsyanum. As a result, the smut in leaves of Scandix verna is described and illustrated here as a new species, Entyloma scandicis.