Research Article |
Corresponding author: Zhu-Liang Yang ( fungi@mail.kib.ac.cn ) Academic editor: Kentaro Hosaka
© 2025 Liu-Kun Jia, Zi-Rui Wang, Zhu-Liang Yang.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Jia L-K, Wang Z-R, Yang Z-L (2025) Five new species of Cortinarius (Cortinariaceae) from Yunnan, China, based on molecular and morphological evidence. MycoKeys 116: 145-166. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.116.146710
|
Cortinarius is a globally distributed, exceptionally species-rich genus of Cortinariaceae, serving as important ectomycorrhizal fungi. Yunnan province, located in southwestern China, boasts a vast array of environmental conditions and fungal resources, with numerous new Cortinarius species yet to be discovered. Based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic inference using a two-locus dataset, five novel species have been identified within the genus, namely C. brunneoverrucosus, C. coriaceus, C. fuscocandidus, C. neodisjungendus, and C. sinoconfirmatus. Notably, two of these species (C. brunneoverrucosus and C. neodisjungendus) occur in subtropical areas, while the other three species (C. coriaceus, C. fuscocandidus, and C. sinoconfirmatus) inhabit subalpine temperate areas. Taxonomic descriptions for these five species are provided.
Diversity, morphology, new taxa, phylogeny, taxonomy
Cortinarius (Pers.) Gray, belonging to the order Agaricales, is the most species-rich genus within the family Cortinariaceae. Currently, over 2,000 species have been formally described (
Cortinarius s.s., typified by C. violaceus (L.) Gray, has several distinguishing features. These include a pileus adorned with fibrillose squamules, a fibrillose cortina, a negative KOH reaction, and rusty brown basidiospores with weakly to strongly verrucose ornamentations. Additionally, it features a duplex pileipellis with a hypoderm that is variably developed. The basidiomata vary widely in size, ranging from very small to large, and can be dry to glutinous in texture. They exhibit a diverse array of colors, with brown being the most common (
The research on the genus Cortinarius primarily originated and has remained concentrated in Europe, North America, and Oceania (
In this study, five Cortinarius species new to science were identified in Yunnan, southwestern China. Based on a combination of morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis, we provide descriptions of these species.
Macro-morphological characteristics were described based on fresh basidiomata, detailed field notes, and photographs taken in situ. Colors in the descriptions were coded following
Microscopic structures were observed with light microscopy under a ZEISS Axiostar Plus microscope. Dried specimens were sectioned and mounted in a 5% KOH solution or Melzer’s reagent. Congo Red staining was applied when necessary. For observing basidiospore ornamentations, small hymenophoral fragments were taken from dried specimens, mounted on aluminum stubs with double-sided adhesive tape, coated with gold-palladium, and then observed under a ZEISS Sigma 300 scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In the descriptions of basidiospores, the abbreviation [n/m/p] indicates that ‘n’ basidiospores were measured from ‘m’ basidiomata of ‘p’ collections. Dimensions are presented in the form (a–)b–c(–d), where the range ‘b–c’ includes a minimum of 90% of the measured values, with extreme values “a” or ‘d’ given in parentheses. The ratio of basidiospore length to width in side view is represented by Q. The mean values and average Q of basidiospores, along with standard deviations, are indicated as “av.” and ‘Qav.’, respectively. Basidiospore shapes were determined based on descriptions by
The studied collections were deposited in the
Cryptogamic Herbarium of Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (
Total genomic DNA was extracted from dried specimens using an Ezup Column Fungi Genomic DNA Purification Kit (Sangon Biotech, Shanghai, China). The ITS region was amplified using the primers ITS1F/ITS4. For older specimens, primer combinations ITS1F/ITS2 and ITS3/ITS4 were also employed (
PCR reactions were conducted using an ABI 2720 Thermal Cycler, VeritiTM Dx 96-Well Thermal Cycler, or SimpliAmpTM Thermal Cycler (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The PCR settings for the ITS1F/ITS4 were 94 °C for 5 min, followed by 35 cycles of 94 °C for 40 s, 52 °C for 40 s, and 72 °C for 1 min, with a final extension at 72 °C for 8 min. For the LROR/LR5 primers, the settings were 94 °C for 5 min, followed by 35 cycles of 94 °C for 40 s, 50 °C for 40 s, and 72 °C for 1 min, with a final extension at 72 °C for 8 min.
The PCR products were purified using a Gel Extraction and PCR Purification Combo Kit (Spin-column) (Bioteke, Beijing, China). After purification, the products were sequenced on an ABI-3730-XL DNA Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) using the same primer combinations as those used for the PCR.
Forward and reverse sequences were assembled and edited with SeqMan (DNA STAR package; DNAStar Inc., Madison, WI, USA). The ITS sequences were used to infer related taxa through a BLASTn search in GenBank (https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi). The top hits in the BLASTn results confirmed that our specimens belonged to the genus Cortinarius. Related species were selected for the phylogenetic analyses based on BLASTn results (> 90% identity) and references from publications by
Alignments were constructed using MAFFT v7.3.10 (
Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods, implemented in IQ-TREE v2.2.0 (
DNA substitution models selected for phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS-nrLSU matrix.
Loci | Models for maximum likelihood (IQ-TREE) | Models for Bayesian inference (MrBayes) |
---|---|---|
ITS | TIM2+F+I+R2 | lset applyto = (ITS) nst = 6 rates = Invgamma |
nrLSU | TN+F+I | lset applyto = (nrLSU) nst = 2 rates = Propinv prset applyto = (all) statefreqpr = Dirichlet(1,1,1,1) |
The dataset comprised a total of 78 sequences, including 24 newly generated and 54 downloaded sequences (64 ITS, 14 nrLSU) from 64 collections representing 57 species (Table
Voucher information, GenBank accession numbers of the samples used in the phylogenetic analysis.
Taxa | voucher | Status | Locations | Section | GenBank Accession No. | Sequence origin | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ITS | nrLSU | ||||||
Cortinarius aff. leucophaeatus | S: CFP536 | Sweden | Telamonia | KC608590 | in ITS |
|
|
C. aff. tenebricus | G: 056 | France | Verni | MT935483 | - |
|
|
C. albolens | PC: A. Bidaud 97-10-368 | Holotype | France | Hinnulei | MT934855 | in ITS |
|
C. ammophiloides | BP: 57443 | Holotype | Hungary | Verni | NR_171309 | - |
|
C. badioflavidus | WTU: JFA13668 | Holotype | USA | Hinnulei | KU041723 | in ITS |
|
C. boulderensis | MICH: AHS17461 | Holotype | USA | Boulderenses | DQ499466 | in ITS |
|
C. brunneofibrillosus | WTU: JFA13654 | Holotype | USA | Leprocybe | MW009188 | - |
|
C. brunneoverrucosus |
|
Holotype | China | Dulciolentes | PQ772212 | PQ772224 | This study |
C. brunneoverrucosus |
|
China | Dulciolentes | PQ772211 | PQ772223 | This study | |
C. claroplaniusculus | PC: RH2334 | Holotype | France | Disjungendi | NR_131844 | - |
|
C. confirmatus | PC: RH84/159 | Italy | Saturnini | KX964440 | in ITS |
|
|
C. confirmatus | PC: RH3195 | Holotype | France | Saturnini | KX964438 | in ITS |
|
C. coriaceus |
|
China | Telamonia | PQ772201 | PQ772213 | This study | |
C. coriaceus |
|
China | Telamonia | PQ772203 | PQ772215 | This study | |
C. coriaceus |
|
Holotype | China | Telamonia | PQ772202 | PQ772214 | This study |
C. corrugatus | IB: 2000544 | North America | Dulciolentens | AF325611 | in ITS |
|
|
C. disjungendulus | H: IK98-861 | Holotype | Sweden | Disjungendi | NR_131838 | - |
|
C. disjungendus | H: PAK4370 | Holotype | Finland | Disjungendi | KP013190 | in ITS |
|
C. dulciolens | PDD: 68471 | Holotype | New Zealand | Dulciolentens | NR_157914 | - |
|
C. flavifolius | EH230 | Epitype | USA | Leprocybe | MW009217 | in ITS |
|
C. fructuodorus | H: 7001104 | Holotype | USA | Telamonia | NR_131827 | in ITS |
|
C. fulvopaludosus | H: 6033460 | Holotype | Finland | Hinnulei | MG136823 | in ITS |
|
C. fuscocandidus |
|
China | Hinnulei | PQ772209 | PQ772221 | This study | |
C. fuscocandidus |
|
Holotype | China | Hinnulei | PQ772210 | PQ772222 | This study |
C. fuscovelatus | H: IK00-036 | Holotype | Sweden | Boulderenses | NR_131888 | - |
|
C. hinnuleus | TUB: 011905 | Sweden | Hinnulei | AY669667 | in ITS |
|
|
C. hughesiae | WTU: JFA13086 | Holotype | USA | Leprocybe | MW009224 | in ITS |
|
C. imbutus | H: IK97-1162 | Neotype | Finland | Saturnini | KX964498 | in ITS |
|
C. ionophyllus | IB: MM1949-0052 | Holotype | Austria | Telamonia | MT935168 | - |
|
C. leproleptopus | PC: RH84-109 | Holotype | France | Leprocybe | MW009226 | in ITS |
|
C. leucophaeatus | H: IK97-138 | Finland | Telamonia | MT935196 | in ITS |
|
|
C. lucorum | S: CFP490 | Neotype | Norway | Saturnini | KX964585 | in ITS |
|
C. malachius | G: 452 | France | Malachii | MT934962 | - |
|
|
C. melanotus | S: CFP1101 | Epitype | France | Leprocybe | MW009230 | - |
|
C. montebelloensis | H: TN10-149 | Holotype | Canada | Disjungendi | KP114459 | in ITS |
|
C. neodisjungendus |
|
Holotype | China | Cinnabarini | PQ772207 | PQ772219 | This study |
C. neodisjungendus |
|
China | Cinnabarini | PQ772208 | PQ772220 | This study | |
C. niveotraganus | H: IK98-033 | Holotype | Finland | Telamonia | NR_131842 | - |
|
C. odoritraganus | H: 7057490 | Holotype | Canada | Telamonia | MT112154 | - |
|
C. odoritraganus | MICH: 10398/G: 00121 | USA | Telamonia | NR_170852 | MK277857 |
|
|
C. olididisjungendus | H: 7000854 | Holotype | Canada | Disjungendi | NR_131839 | - |
|
C. orasericeus | PC: RH70239 | Holotype | France | Disjungendi | KP013203 | in ITS |
|
C. peraurantiacus | PDD: 70818 | New Zealand | Dulciolentens | KC520543 | in ITS |
|
|
C. piceidisjungendus | H: TN11-443 | Holotype | USA | Disjungendi | NR_131840 | - |
|
C. pisciodorus | PDD: 27062/JAC 13813 | Holotype | New Zealand | Dulciolentens | MN492664 | MH108417 |
|
C. psammocola | H: IK99-722 | Holotype | Finland | Verni | MG136821 | - |
|
C. pseudobovinus | IB: MM1989-0300 | Holotype | USA | Boulderenses | DQ499465 | in ITS |
|
C. roseonudipes | G: 37 | Holotype | France | Hinnulei | MT935391 | - |
|
C. rubrovioleipes | GK: 13271/635a | Switz | Boulderenses | MT934924 | in ITS |
|
|
C. saturninus | S: CFP514 | Neotype | Sweden | Saturnini | KX964584 | in ITS |
|
C. semiodoratus | TUB: 011512 | - | Hinnulei | AY669665 | in ITS |
|
|
C. sinoconfirmatus |
|
China | Saturnini | PQ772206 | PQ772218 | This study | |
C. sinoconfirmatus |
|
China | Saturnini | PQ772204 | PQ772216 | This study | |
C. sinoconfirmatus |
|
Holotype | China | Saturnini | PQ772205 | PQ772217 | This study |
C. suberi | S: F16406 | Holotype | Sweden | Malachii | MT935480 | - |
|
C. suberi | S: F14331 | Sweden | Malachii | MT934927 | in ITS |
|
|
C. subionophyllus | H: TN06-050 | Holotype | Norway | Telamonia | MF379634 | - |
|
C. subpulchrifolius | MICH: 10419 | Lectotype | USA | Telamonia | NR_170855 | in ITS |
|
C. tigrinipes | G: 874 | Holotype | France | Telamonia | MT935549 | in ITS |
|
C. torvus | S: CFP778 | Epitype | Sweden | Telamonia | MT935556 | in ITS |
|
C. veneto-occidentalis | H: TN11-051 | Holotype | USA | Leprocybe | MW009243 | in ITS |
|
C. vernus | BP:58132 | Hungary | Verni | MT935033 | in ITS |
|
|
C. vernus | CHEV 3130-T | France | Verni | FN429003 | - |
|
|
C. venustus | H: PAK3234 | Holotype | Finland | Telamonia | MT935132 | in ITS |
|
The epithet “brunneoverrucosus” (Lat.) refers to the pileus with brown verrucose squamules of this species.
China • Yunnan Province: Pu’er City, Jingdong Yi Autonomous County Ailao Mountain Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a subtropical broad-leaved forest with trees of Lithocarpus, 24°32.57'N, 101°1.62'E, elevation 2,491 m, 23 July 2013, Yang-Yang Cui 32 (
Cortinarius brunneoverrucosus is sister to C. corrugatus Peck but differs by its yellowish brown to brown pileus with brown verrucose squamules, more robust stipe, relatively wider basidiospores, and exclusive occurrence in subtropical broad-leaved forest with trees of Lithocarpus and Quercus (
Basidioma large. Pileus 8–10.5 cm diam, hemispherical, viscid, verrucose; yellow-brown to brown (5B7–5C7), darker towards the center (5D8), paler towards the margin (5B3–5B5); covered with brown (5C7) to dark brown (5D8–5E8) verrucose to floccose squamules; margin with innate radial stripes, occasionally with pale yellow (4A2) floccose squamules; context of pileus white (1A1). Lamellae adnate with decurrent tooth, crowded (L = 64–73, l = 33–38), pale brown (6A2–6A4) with a faint pale pinkish (12A2) tint. Stipe 8.5–18 × 1.2–2 cm, tapering upwards, pale brown (6A2–6A4) to pale yellow (3A2–3A4), covered with brown (6C4) to orange-brown (5A8) fibrillose squamules; context of stipe white (1A1); basal mycelium white (1A1) with a faint pale pinkish (12A2) tint.
Basidiospores [60/2/2] (12.5–)15–16.5(–17.5) × (10–)11.5–12.5(–15) μm, Q = 1.2–1.5(–1.75), av. = 15.64 ± 1.61 × 12.31 ± 1.48 μm, Qav. = 1.27 ± 0.12, broadly ellipsoid to broadly amygdaliform, strongly verrucose, inamyloid. Basidia 37.5–50 × 7.5–10 μm, 4-spored, clavate. Trama of lamellae regular, composed of colorless to yellowish, smooth hyphae 10–12.5 μm wide. Cystidia absent. Pileipellis duplex: epicutis weakly developed, 12–15 μm thick, composed of only 3–5 layers of interwoven to parallel, colorless to yellowish, smooth, thin-walled, long-celled hyphae 2.5–4 µm wide; hypocutis composed of parallel, colorless to yellowish brown, cylindrical, thin-walled hyphae 12.5–20 μm wide. Clamp connections common in all parts of basidioma.
Summer to autumn. Solitary on soil in subtropical broad-leaved forests with trees of Fagaceae.
Currently known from southwestern China.
China • Yunnan Province: Pu’er City, Jingdong Yi Autonomous County, Ailao Mountain Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a subtropical broad-leaved forest with trees of Quercus, 24°32.57'N, 101°1.62'E, elevation 2,424 m, 8 October 2021, Jian-Wei Liu 2440 (
Cortinarius brunneoverrucosus is characterized by its hemispherical, viscid, verrucose pileus, pale brown lamellae with a slightly pale pinkish tint, and relatively larger, broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores.
Cortinarius brunneoverrucosus is sister to C. corrugatus Peck, originally described from the highlands in the United States, under Aalmia latifolia, but C. brunneoverrucosus is only found in subtropical China, under trees of Lithocarpus or Quercus. Moreover, C. corrugatus differs from C. brunneoverrucosus by its convex to broadly convex pileus with distinctively corrugated-wrinkled, thinner stipe, amygdaliform, relatively narrower basidiospores (12–15 × 8–10 μm) (
Cortinarius brunneoverrucosus belongs to sect. Dulciolentes Soop, a small section that has previously included only seven species, mainly distributed in Australia, inhabiting forests with Fagaceae, Nothofagaceae, and Myrtaceae (
The epithet “coriaceus” (Lat.) refers to the brown pileus with a leathery texture of this species.
China • Yunnan Province: Lijiang City, Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang Alpine Botanical Garden, in a subalpine temperate broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest with trees of Quercus and Pinus, 27°0.21'N, 100°10.71'E, elevation 3,340 m, 7 August 2023, Dong-Mei Li 299 (
Cortinarius coriaceus looks like C. odoritraganus Niskanen, Liimat. & Ammirati, but differs in its emarginate lamellae, cylindrical stipe, and relatively larger basidiospores (
Basidioma medium-sized to large. Pileus 3 cm diam when young, 4.5–7 cm diam when mature, initially slightly campanulate, becoming plano-convex, occasionally with slightly subumbonate center, viscid, with a leathery texture; brown (6C4–6C7), paler (6A2–6A4) towards the center, covered with white (1A1) fibrillose squamules when young; pale brown to brown (6A4–6C4), pale brown (6A2), or dark brown (6D4–6D6) towards the center when mature; margin incurved, with innate radial brownish (6C2–6C3) stripes when young; context of pileus pale brown to brown (6A3–6B3, 6C6). Lamellae emarginate, medium-spaced (L = 38–52, l = 27–36), pale brown (6A4) with a faint pinkish (12A2) tint when young, later brown (6C4–6C7). Stipe 4.5–6 × 0.7–1.2 cm, cylindrical, dirty white (1A1–1B1) and pale violaceous (16A2–16A4), with more and more violaceous (16A4) tint towards the stipe apex when young, later dirty white (1A1–1B1), pale brown (6B2–6B4), covered with brown (6C6) to dark brown (6D6) fibrillose squamules; annulus cortinate; context of stipe dirty white (1A1–1B1) with brown (6C6); basal mycelium white (1A1).
Basidiospores [60/3/3] (10–)11.5–12.5(–14) × (5–)7.5–10 μm, Q = 1.25–1.43(–1.66), av. = 12.06 ± 0.85 × 8.33 ± 1.48 μm, Qav. = 1.48 ± 0.24, ellipsoid to amygdaliform, moderately to strongly verrucose, inamyloid. Basidia 37.5–43 × 7.5–10 μm, 4-spored, clavate. Trama of lamellae regular, composed of colorless to yellowish, smooth hyphae 12.5–15 μm wide. Cystidia absent. Pileipellis duplex: epicutis weakly developed, 15–20 μm thick, composed of only 2–3 layers of interwoven to parallel, colorless, smooth, thin-walled, long-celled hyphae 3–7.5 µm wide; hypocutis composed of interwoven to parallel, colorless, cylindrical, thin-walled hyphae 12.5–17.5 μm wide. Clamp connections common in all parts of basidioma.
Summer. Solitary or gregarious on soil in subalpine temperate broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forests with trees of Quercus and Pinus.
Currently known from southwestern China.
China • Yunnan Province: Lijiang City, Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang Alpine Botanical Garden, in a subalpine temperate broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest with trees of Quercus and Pinus, 27°0.21'N, 100°10.71'E, elevation 3,340 m, 7 August 2023, Guan-Rui Li 328 (
Cortinarius coriaceus is characterized by its brown, leathery-wrinkled pileus, pinkish-tinted lamellae, and relatively larger basidiospores.
Cortinarius coriaceus is phylogenetically closely related to and morphologically similar to C. odoritraganus, known from Eastern North America and Costa Rica, in mixed temperate forest with Abies and Betula or mountain Quercus forest. However, C. odoritraganus differs in its paler pileus, adnexed, purple-brown to brown lamellae, longer and thicker stipe (5–10 × 1–2 cm), and relatively smaller basidiospores (9.5–11.5 × 6–7.5 μm) (
The epithet “fuscocandidus” (Lat.) refers to the dark brown pileus with a white margin of this species.
China • Yunnan Province: Lijiang City, Ninglang Yi Autonomous County, Xinyingpan Township, in a subalpine temperate broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest with trees of Quercus and Pinus, 27°9.9'N, 100°55.63'E, elevation 2,700 m, 7 August 2011, Qing Cai 602 (
Cortinarius fuscocandidus resembles C. fulvopaludosus Kytov., Niskanen & Liimat. (
Basidioma small. Pileus 1.8–2 cm diam, applanate to plano-convex with a papilla, viscid; dark brown (6E7); margin white (1A1), sparsely covered with brown (6C6) fibrillose squamules; context of pileus brown (6D7). Lamellae emarginate with decurrent tooth, medium-spaced (L = 25–33, l = 9–12), pale brown (6B4) with a somewhat pale violaceous (16A2) tint. Stipe 5–7 × 0.3–0.6 cm, cylindrical, white (1A1) with a somewhat pale violaceous (16A2) tint, pale brown (6B2–6B4) when damaged; annulus cortinate; context of stipe not observed; basal mycelium white (1A1) with a somewhat pale violaceous (16A2) tint.
Basidiospores [60/2/2] 7.5–10.5 × (5–)7–10 μm, Q = 1.07–1.5(–1.65), av. = 8.19 ± 1.24 × 6.99 ± 1.26 μm, Qav. = 1.29 ± 0.18, broadly ellipsoid to amygdaliform, occasionally subglobose, strongly verrucose, inamyloid. Basidia 20–22.5 × 7.5–10 μm, 4-spored, clavate. Trama of lamellae regular, composed of colorless, smooth hyphae 7.5–10 μm wide. Cystidia absent. Pileipellis duplex: epicutis weakly developed, 11–15 μm thick, gelatinous, composed of interwoven to parallel, colorless, smooth, thin-walled, long-celled hyphae 2.5–5 µm wide, with brownish incrustation; hypocutis composed of only 3–5 layers of interwoven to parallel, colorless, cylindrical, thin-walled hyphae 7.5–15 μm wide. Clamp connections common in all parts of basidioma.
Summer. Gregarious on soil in subalpine temperate broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forests with trees of Quercus and Pinus.
Currently known from southwestern China.
China • Yunnan Province: Lijiang City, Gucheng District, Jinshan Township, in a subalpine temperate broad-leaved and coniferous mixed forest with trees of Quercus and Pinus, 26°54.55'N, 100°18.44'E, elevation 2,145 m, 28 July 2011, Li-Ping Tang 1331 (
Cortinarius fuscocandidus is characterized by its dark brown, papillate pileus with a white margin, pale brown lamellae with a somewhat pale violaceous tint, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores.
Phylogenetically, C. fuscocandidus belongs to sect. Hinnulei and is closely related to C. fulvopaludosus. However, the phylogenetic tree shows low support between these two similar species, which can only be distinguished by their margin coloration and basidiospore size (
Morphologically, C. fuscocandidus looks like a typical member of sect. Hinnulei (
The epithet “neodisjungendus” (Lat.) refers to its similarity to C. disjungendus.
China • Yunnan Province: Pu’er City, Jingdong Yi Autonomous County Ailao Mountain Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a subtropical broad-leaved forest with trees of Quercus, 24°32.57'N, 101°1.62'E, elevation 2,532 m, 8 October 2021, Jian-Wei Liu 2505 (
Cortinarius neodisjungendus differs from other species within sect. Disjungendi by its plano-convex pileus with an umbo, pale brown coloration, and relatively larger basidiospores (
Basidioma medium-sized. Pileus 3.5–4.2 cm diam, applanate to plano-convex with an umbonate center, viscid with hygrophanous streaks; pale brown to brown (6D3–6D4), dark brown (6E6) towards the center, white (1A1) to pale brown (6B2) towards the margin, sparsely covered with white (1A1) fibrillose squamules; context not observed. Lamellae emarginate, crowded (L = 52–61, l = 48–53), pale brown (6B4) to brown (6D6). Stipe 8–10 × 0.5–0.8 cm, cylindrical with a subbulbous base 1–1.5 cm wide, white (1A1) to pale brown (6B2–6B4), base sparsely covered with brown (6C5) fibrillose squamules; basal mycelium white (1A1).
Basidiospores [60/2/2] 11–13.5(–15) × (5–)7.5–9 μm, Q = 1.43–1.71(–2), av. = 12.73 ± 0.93 × 7.52 ± 0.96 μm, Qav. = 1.71 ± 0.2, broadly amygdaliform, strongly verrucose, inamyloid. Basidia 32.5–40 × 7.5–10 μm, 4-spored, clavate. Trama of lamellae regular, composed of colorless to brownish, smooth hyphae 10–12.5 μm wide. Cystidia absent. Pileipellis duplex: epicutis weakly developed, 8.5–15 μm thick, composed of only 3–5 layers of interwoven to parallel, colorless to brownish, smooth, thin-walled, long-celled hyphae 2.5–5 µm wide; hypocutis composed of interwoven to parallel, colorless to pale brownish, cylindrical, thin-walled hyphae 12.5–15 μm wide. Clamp connections common in all parts of basidioma.
Autumn. Solitary on soil in subtropical broad-leaved forests with trees of Quercus.
Currently known from southwestern China.
China • Yunnan Province: Pu’er City, Jingdong Yi Autonomous County Ailao Mountain Subtropical Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a subtropical broad-leaved forest with trees of Quercus, 24°32.57'N, 101°1.62'E, elevation 2,532 m, 8 October 2021, Jian-Wei Liu 2529 (
Cortinarius neodisjungendus is characterized by its hygrophanous, pale brown to brown pileus with a whitish margin, whitish stipe, and relatively larger basidiospores. All other species in sect. Disjungendi have a brownish pileus lacking a white margin, a brown stipe, and smaller basidiospores (range from 9–11 μm long, 6–7 μm wide) (
The epithet “sinoconfirmatus” (Lat.) refers to the species in China that is similar to C. confirmatus.
Cortinarius sinoconfirmatus looks like C. confirmatus Rob. Henry, but differs in its dark brown pileus center, more brown lamellae, thinner stipe, and larger basidiospores (
Basidioma medium-sized. Pileus 1.2 cm diam when young, 3–4.3 cm diam when mature, hemispherical when young, later convex, viscid; pale brown (6B2–6B4) to brown (5C6–5C7), covered with white (1A1) fibrillose squamules when young; brown (6C4–6C6), pale brown (6B2–6B4) towards the margin, dark brown (6E7) towards the center when mature; margin covered with brown (6C7) fibrillose squamules; context of pileus gelatinous, pale brown (6B2–6B4) to brown (6C7). Lamellae emarginate, crowded (L = 74–95, l = 46–52), pale brown (6B2–6B3) with a faint pinkish (12A2) tint when young, later brown (6B6–6C6). Stipe 5–7 × 0.5–0.7 cm, cylindrical, dirty white (1A1–1B1), pale brown (6B2–6B3) to brown (6C6), with a pale violaceous (16A2–16A3) tint at the stipe apex when young, later the upper 1/2 stipe dirty white, pale brown (6B2–6B3) to brown (6C6) with a pale violaceous (16A2–16A3) tint, covered with brown (7C4) fibrillose squamules, the lower 1/2 brown to dark brown (7B4–7E4); context of stipe dirty white (1A1–1B1) and brown (7C6); basal mycelium white (1A1).
Basidiospores [60/3/3] 7.5–11.5 × 4–5(6) μm, Q = (1.5–)2–3.13, av. = 9.92 ± 1.19 × 4.85 ± 0.59 μm, Qav. = 2.06 ± 0.28, ellipsoid to narrowly ellipsoid, moderately to strongly verrucose, inamyloid. Basidia 27.5–35 × 5–7.5 μm, 4-spored, clavate. Trama of lamellae regular, composed of pale yellowish, smooth hyphae 12.5–15 μm wide. Cystidia absent. Pileipellis duplex: epicutis weakly developed, 10–14 μm thick, gelatinous, composed of only 2–4 layers of interwoven to parallel, colorless to pale yellow, smooth, thin-walled, long-celled hyphae 2.5–5 µm wide; hypocutis composed of interwoven to parallel, colorless, cylindrical, thin-walled hyphae 12.5–17.5 μm wide. Clamp connections common in all parts of basidioma.
Summer. Gregarious on soil in subalpine temperate coniferous forests with trees of Pinus.
Currently known from southwestern China.
China • Yunnan Province: Lijiang City, Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Taian Township, in a subalpine temperate coniferous forest with trees of Pinus, 26°48.91'N, 100°5.96'E, elevation 2,633 m, 9 August 2023, Zi-Rui Wang 154 (
Cortinarius sinoconfirmatus is closely related to C. confirmatus, but the latter differs from the former by its paler pileus with vinaceous or violaceous tints, paler, adnate lamellae, more robust stipe, and narrower basidiospores (8.8–10 × 5.2–5.6 μm, Q = 1.55–1.9) (
Morphologically, C. sinoconfirmatus looks like C. lucorum (Fr.) E. Berger, but the latter differs from the former by its pileus with marble-like stripes and more prominent bulbous stipe base (
In this study, five species of Cortinarius are described as new to science based on phylogenetic evidence and morphological characteristics. Our phylogenetic tree reveals that four of these species—C. coriaceus, C. fuscocandidus, C. neodisjungendus, and C. sinoconfirmatus—belong to subgen. Telamonia, while the relationships between C. coriaceus and C. niveotraganus, as well as C. sinoconfirmatus and C. confirmatus, have been resolved (Fig.
Ecologically, the five species fall into two categories: Cortinarius coriaceus, C. fuscocandidus, and C. sinoconfirmatus inhabit subalpine temperate areas, whereas C. brunneoverrucosus and C. neodisjungendus are restricted to subtropical areas. Notably, within sect. Dulciolentes, three sequestrate species—C. peraurantiacus, C. pisciodorus, and C. dulciolens—are known only from Oceania, while the agaricoid C. corrugatus occurs in North America (
The authors thank Dr. Li-Ping Tang, Dr. Qing Cai, Dr. Yang-Yang Cui, Dr. Jian-Wei Liu, Ms. Dong-Mei Li, and Ms. Guan-Rui Li (Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences) for providing valuable specimens on loan, and Mr. Zhi-Jia Gu (Kunming Institute of Botany) for assistance with SEM. The authors are grateful to Ms. Xue Xiao (Yunnan Agricultural University) and Mr. Jing-Jie Chen (Yunnan University) for experimental support and contributions to phylogenetic analyses.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
This study was supported by the Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program: Science & Technology Champion Project (202305AB350004) and the Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Yunnan Provincial Government (U2202205).
Zhu L. Yang conceived and designed the study. Liu-Kun Jia and Zi-Rui Wang collected specimens from China and generated the DNA sequence data. Zhu L. Yang, Liu-Kun Jia, and Zi-Rui Wang analyzed the data and checked issues related to nomenclatural articles. Liu-Kun Jia and Zi-Rui Wang wrote the manuscript draft. Zhu L. Yang, Liu-Kun Jia, and Zi-Rui Wang revised the draft.
Liu-Kun Jia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3180-5077
Zi-Rui Wang https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4564-1904
Zhu-Liang Yang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9745-8453
Sequence alignments were deposited in TreeBASE (Study ID: TB2:S31924; URL: http://purl.org/phylo/treebase/phylows/study/TB2:S31924). DNA sequences (Table