Synonymy between Battarrea phalloides and B. stevenii (ENRR625)

Battarrea phalloides, the sandy stiltball, is one of four non-lichenised fungi afforded legal protection by being included in Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Battarrea phalloides is classified as endangered in the GB provisional Red Data List and is subject to a Priority Species Action Plan, under United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan. Battarrea phalloides and B. stevenii are morphologically similar, and limited molecular data has recently suggested they could be considered as synonyms. This study used traditional and molecular methods to compare field-collected English specimens and an extensive range of herbarium material in order to resolve the question of conspecificity.