Over 4000 records of the six European v4rwz//i2rM species were compiled to give distribution maps and host lists for each species. Differences in eeographical and altitudinal distribution, pathogenicity, dissemination and ecological role are discussed.

SUMMARYFour forests each of 4-8 ha were investigated in Central France; (1) a pure beech stand harbouring only the saprophytic species Armillaria gallica and A. cepistipes; (2) a pure beecb stand -ti'ith the same species plus A. ostoyae; (3) an ancient beecb stand to whicb conifers had been introduced 60 yr ago, and in wbich A. ostoyae -was becoming the dominant speci'es -with A. gallica and A. cepistipes still present; (4) a young pine stand on an old conifer site, -ivbere A. ostoyae was exclusive and patbogenic. A total of 764 isolates was obtained from rbizomorpbs, fruiting bodies and mycelia from stumps. Mapping of genets of tbe different Armillaria ispecies was carried out on the four sites by testing for somatic incompatibility. Tbis allowed comparison of tbe number, area and distribution of the genets of tbe different species. Tbere was complete overlap of tbe genets oi A. ostoyae witb tbose of A. cepistipes or A. gallica, suggesting different colonization strategies. By contrast, the genets of A. gallica and A. cepistipes overlapped only rarely, isuggesting similar colonization strategies. T-wo different genets of the same species intermingled only in a limited area along their border. In the conifer plantation, A. ostoyae tended to colonize tbe stumps wbereas the otber two species prevailed as rhizomorpbs in tbe litter, but tbe competition was evolving in favour of A. ostoyae. At tbe fourth site, where tbe stumps bad been uprooted and tbe pine seedlings bad been left to grow, a large number of small genets of A. ostoyae was observed, suggesting recent infection by basidiospores.

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Several species of Achnatherum (grass tribe Stipeae) and Melica (tribe Meliceae) typically are infected by nonpathogenic, seed-transmissible fungi with characteristics of Neotyphodium species (anamorphic Clavicipitaceae). Molecular phylogenetic studies clearly have distinguished the endophytes from Achnatherum inebrians (from Xinjiang Province, China), A. robustum and A. eminens (both from North America) and indicate that the A. inebrians endophyte comprises a unique nonhybrid lineage within the Epichloe and Neotyphodium phylogeny, whereas the endophytes of A. robustum, and A. eminens are hybrids with multiple EpichlooY species (holomorphic Clavicipitaceae) as ancestors. Likewise distinct hybrid origins are indicated for Neotyphodium species from the European Melica species, M. ciliata and M. transsilvanica, the South African species M. decumbens and M. racemosa, and the South American species M. stuckertii. Neotyphodium species have been described from A. inebrians from Gansu Province, China, (N. gansuense), A. eminens (N. chisosum), M. stuckertii (N. tembladerae) and the South African Melica species (N. melicicola). However the endophytes from A. robustum and the European Melica species have not been described and the phylogenetic relationships of N. gansuense have not been investigated. Here we report a comprehensive study of morphological features and phylogenetic analyses of beta -tubulin and actin gene sequences on an expanded collection of endophytes from the Stipeae and Meliceae. These data provide a firm foundation for the description of two new Neotyphodium species, N. guerinii from M. ciliata and M. transsilvanica, and N. funkii from A. robustum. We also propose the new variety, N. gansuense var. inebrians for endophytes of A. inebrians from Xinjiang Province, which are morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from, yet clearly related to, N. gansuense from Gansu Province.

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