Hygrophorus parvirussula sp. nov., a new edible mushroom from southwestern China

Abstract

A Chinese species of Hygrophorus with a purplish red or pinkish red pileus, treated as “H. russula” is taxonomically reevaluated, including sequences of “H. russula” from GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region indicated that “H. russula” from different continents is a complex of at least eight phylogenetic species. Chinese entities are distinct from previously described species of Hygrophorus, including the European H. russula. Therefore, we describe it as a new species, namely H. parvirussula sp. nov., which differs from H. russula by its smaller basidiomata, slightly larger basidiospores, and the presence of cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia.