Hymenopellis areolata F.Razzaq & Khalid, 2024

Razzaq, Fauzia, Khalid, Abdul Nasir & Ullah, Zia, 2024, Hymenopellis areolata (Physalacriaceae: Agaricales), a new species from Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad, Pakistan, European Journal of Taxonomy 921, pp. 236-250 : 243-246

Hymenopellis areolata F.Razzaq & Khalid sp. nov.

MycoBank: MB 847568

Figs 3–4

Diagnosis

Differs from H. japonica and H. raphanipes by its smaller basidiospores (11.5–17.5 × 10.0–16.0 µm). It differs from H. japonica in having an areolate pileus surface, and transitional pileipellis (hymeniderm and epithelium), and differs from H. raphanipes in having a subumblicate, applanate pileus, along with the color and presence of clamp-connections.

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ areolata ’ refers to the areolate surface of the pileus.

Type material

Holotype

PAKISTAN • Punjab Province, Margalla Hills, Islamabad , 72°55 E, 33°43 N, at 1580 m a.s.l.; Aug. 2019; Abdul Nasir Khalid, MH-691 ( LAH37573 ); GenBank (ITS: OQ438118 , LSU: OQ438162 ).

Additional specimen examined

PAKISTAN • Punjab Province, Margalla Hills , 72°55 E, 33°43 N, at 1580 m a.s.l.; sub-tropical, found on moist and calcareous soil, during monsoon season, solitary or in small groups; Sep. 2019, Abdul Nasir Khalid, MH69 ( LAH37574 ); GenBank ( OQ438119 ) .

Description

Basidiomata medium-sized to large, solitary, and radicating. Pileus 8.0–10.0 cm in diam., planoconcave to applanate, subumbilicate at the center, covered with flat scales, uplifted, irregular, dark brown (7.5YR3/4) to dull brown (7.5YR5/4), hard, surface dry and dull, areolate, margins striate ( Fig. 3A, C ). Lamellae adnate with teeth, close to subdistant, ventricose, broad, cream to whitish in color, thick, margins entire. Lamellulae frequent, 5.0–7.0 between two lamellae ( Fig. 3B ). Stipe 8.0–16.0 × 0.7–1.0 cm including pseudorhizae, central, equal but slightly broader towards the base, cylindrical, light gray (2.5Y8/1) to dark grayish yellow (2.5Y4/2), whitish in upper part and with no or very small scales, strigose and rigid, short pseudorhizae present ( Fig. 3D ). Annulus and volva absent. Taste and odor were not observed.

Basidiospores (11.5–)12.5–17(–17.5) × (10.0–)11.0–16.0 µm, avl × avw = 14.8 × 12.3 µm, Q = 1.02– 1.42 µm, Qav = 1.20 µm, broadly ellipsoidal to subglobose, apiculate, multiguttulate, smooth, thin-walled, pale yellow in 5% KOH ( Fig. 4A ). Basidia (35.5–)37.0–56.0(–59.0) × (10.5–)10.5–18 (–18.5) µm, clavate, with 2–4 sterigmata, guttulate, with basal clamp, thin-walled, pale yellow in 5% KOH ( Fig. 4B ). Cheilocystidia (30.0–)31.0–118.0(–122.0) × (7.5–)9.0–27.0(–33.0) µm, avl × avw = 68.2 × 15.8 µm, polymorphic, narrowly utriform to utriform, narrowly clavate, lageniform, capitate, pale yellow in 5% KOH, thin-walled ( Fig. 4C ). Pleurocystidia (25.0–)27.0–39.0(–41.0) × (7.0–) 8.0– 10.5(–12.0) µm, avl × avw = 31.8 × 8.7 µm, utriform to narrowly utriform, conical, capitate, sometimes cylindrical, with basal clamp, pale yellow in 5% KOH and thin-walled ( Fig. 4D ). Pileipellis a transition between hymeniderm and epithelium, mostly sphaeropedunculate to subglobose, few clavate pileocystidia, 26.5–49 × 17–31.0 µm, hyphae 16.0–26.0 µm in diam., avw = 20.3 µm, septate, smooth, thin-walled, brown pigmented in 5% KOH, some hyaline, hyphal structures hyaline ( Fig. 4E ). Stipitipellis made up of septate hyphae, cylindrical, 5.0–9.0 µm in diam., avw = 6.78 µm, parallel in arrangement, clamp-connections present, pale yellow in 5% KOH. Caulocystidia (44.0–)47.0–71.0 (–73.0) × (8.5–)9.0–11.0 µm, avl × avw = 57.6 × 9.8 µm, narrowly clavate, thick-walled, with brown vacuolar pigment; clamp connections present ( Fig. 4F ).

Habitat

Saprobic, solitary on moist and calcareous soil.

Distribution

The new species is known only from Margalla Hill National Park in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Figures

Fig. 3. Basidiocarps of Hymenopellis areolata F.Razzaq & Khalid sp. nov., holotype (LAH37573). Photos by Abdul Nasir Khalid.

Fig. 4. Microscopic features of Hymenopellis areolata F.Razzaq & Khalid sp. nov., holotype (LAH37573). A. Basidiospores. B. Basidia. C. Cheilocystidia. D. Pleurocystidia. E. Pileus elements. F. Stipitipellis with caulocystidia. Photos by Fauzia Razzaq.