Wulingshen, the massive Xylaria sclerotia used as traditional Chinese medicine, is produced by multiple species

Abstract

ABSTRACT Wulingshen, massive Xylaria sclerotia, was originally reported from Chengdu Plain in western Sichuan of China for medicinal application. Xylaria nigripes is commonly connected to these massive sclerotia produced within abandoned underground macrotermitine termite nests. We sequenced 54 Wulingshen samples procured from traditional Chinese medicine markets in Chengdu Plain and connected them to six different Xylaria species: X. nigripes, X. subescharoidea, two species newly described herein—X. neonigripes and X. rogersionigripes, and two species that are known only as sclerotia thus far. Only teleomorphs of X. subescharoidea and X. rogersionigripes have been collected in Chengdu Plain thus far. In Taiwan, teleomorphs of four of the six species, except for the two only known in sclerotial form, have been collected, and their cultures were obtained; we thus designate the holotypes of X. neonigripes and X. rogersionigripes on the basis of Taiwan specimens. During the collecting activities carried out in Chengdu Plain, a Xylaria species, which is newly described as X. mianyangensis herein, was also collected from termite nests but lacks a known connection to Wulingshen.