New collection, iconography and molecular evidence for Tylopilus neofelleus (Boletaceae, Boletoideae) from southwestern China and the taxonomic status of T. plumbeoviolaceoides and T. microsporus

Abstract

Tylopilus neofelleus, a bolete belonging to Tylopilus s. str. and originally reported from Japan, is extensively revisited and illustrated. Based on a recent fresh collection from southwestern China, an exhaustive macro- and micromorphological description is provided and supported by molecular analyses of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU) sequences. Color pictures of both fresh basidiomes in habitat and dried material along with photomicrographs and line drawings of the main anatomical features and a comprehensive phylogram are provided, supported by comparative notes on lookalike and closely related species. Original materials of the Chinese T. microsporus and T. plumbeoviolaceoides were successfully sequenced and a type revision of T. microsporus and T. neofelleus is presented. Based on molecular inference the holotype of T. microsporus is conspecific with Japanese samples of T. neofelleus and must be considered a posterior synonym. Phylogenetic data also demonstrate evidence for the presence of T. neofelleus in China and for a separation from the allied Chinese taxon T. plumbeoviolaceoides. Furthermore, morphological differences separate T. neofelleus from all other unsequenced species of the same consortium.