Three new species of Agaricus from Baiyun Mountain, Guangzhou, China

Abstract

ABSTRACT Agaricus is a species-rich genus with more than 600 species around the world. In this work, three new species, Agaricus cacainus, A. baiyunensis, and A. praeclarefibrillosus are described from the specimens collected at Baiyun Mountain, Guangzhou, China, a subtropical area with a monsoon maritime climate, based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological examinations of internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA (28S), and a part of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1). Agaricus cacainus in A. sect. Amoeni is characterized by a parabolic to applanate, slightly depressed pileus covered with chocolate brown, appressed, triangular squamules against white background, a white, furfuraceous stipe, an unchanging context when cut, a fragile and evanescent annulus, usually 4- or 2-spored basidia, and mostly pyriform cheilocystidia. Agaricus baiyunensis in A. sect. Minores has a pileus with a slightly truncate top covered with light brown, downy-wooly fibrillose scales and a light yellowish stipe with membranous annulus. Agaricus praeclarefibrillosus in A. sect. Brunneopicti is characterized by a pileus surface with brownish, triangular, recurved scales and longitudinally splitting lines toward margin, a cottony stipe with white, tiny, recurved fibrils, a single annulus, and variously shaped cheilocystidia, with sparsely ornamented basidiospores. The detailed comparison of their morphological characteristics with closely related species is provided.