Two new species of the genus Conocybe (Agaricales, Bolbitiaceae) from Punjab, Pakistan

In this study, two new species of genus Conocybe are described, based on morpho-anatomical and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and LSU (28 S) regions. According to phylogenetic analyses, Conocybe kotadduensis & C. safariensis make a separate clade with a strong bootstrap value from the closest species of the genus Conocybe, sect. Pilosellae.

Conocybe kotadduensis is closest to C. nitrophila, while C. safariensis is closer to C. ceracea. Conocybe kotadduensis differs from C. nitrophila due to pale yellow, parabolic pileus with velvety surface, scabrous surface of stipe, amygdaliform to ovoid, yellowish basidiospores, broad, fusiform, cylindrical cells of lecythiform cheilocystidia, sphero-pedunculate to obovoid, globose to sub-globose pileipellis elements. Conocybe safariensis can be distinguished from C. ceracea in having a conical to convex pileus, orange to light gray stipe, fusiform to lacrymoid basidiospores, obovoid to subglobose basidia, ellipsoid to globose cheilocystidia, and absence of pleurocystidia.