Cotylidia macrosporum (Rickenellaceae, Hymenochaetales), a new species from Shandong Province, China

A new species, Cotylidia macrosporum, is described and illustrated from Puzhao Temple of Mount Tai Scenic Area (Tai’an City, Shandong Province, China) and Longdong Scenic Area (Ji’nan City, Shandong Province, China). It is described as a new species based on morphological, molecular and ecological evidence. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 with the 5.8S rDNA (ITS) and large subunit of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrLSU) support the inclusion of this new species in the genus Cotylidia as it forms an independent clade in the phylogenetic tree.

Morphologically, Cotylidia macrosporum differs from any known species by the combination of basidiome growing on soil, light brownish white pileus on the surface, and relatively big basidiospores (x = 6.17 ± 0.54 × 4.0 ± 0.47 μm; Q = (1.16–) 1.31–2.0 (–2.37), Q m = 1.57 ± 0.22). We present this new species with illustrated morphological description, phylogeny and comparison with morphologically similar or phylogenetically related species.

Key word s: Fungal taxonomy, Hymenomycetes clade, Phylogeny