Amanita stubbosa, a new non amatoxin nor phallotoxin-containing species within Amanita sect. Phalloideae (Amanitaceae, Agaricales), from West Africa

Abstract

Amanita stubbosa, a new species in subclade III of A. sect. Phalloideae, is described from West Africa based on morphological and molecular evidence. The species is characterized by a white pileus covered with small white broadly adherent squamules or greyish to whitish erected, pyramidal, subconical, patchy universal veil, a slightly striate pileal margin, a marginate basal bulb, and broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid, weakly amyloid basidiospores. Phylogenetic analyses based on three gene regions (nrLSU, RPB2, and TEF1-α) revealed that A. stubbosa is a distinct species closely related to A. bulbulosa. Moreover, A. stubbosa was reported to lack the most notorious toxins (amatoxins and phallotoxins). A detailed description, illustrations, and comparisons with morphologically and phylogenetically closely related species are provided.