A phylogenetic and taxonomic revision of sequestrate <i>Russulaceae</i> in Mediterranean and temperate Europe

Abstract

A comprehensive morphological and genetic study of type material and new collections of sequestrate <i>Russulales</i> species formerly belonging to the genera <i>Arcangeliella</i>, <i>Elasmomyces</i>, <i>Gymnomyces</i>, <i>Hydnangium</i>, <i>Hymenogaster</i>, <i>Macowanites</i>, <i>Martellia</i>, <i>Secotium</i> and <i>Zelleromyces</i> is here undertaken, for the purpose of providing a complete taxonomical revision of sequestrate <i>Russulaceae</i> species in the Mediterranean and temperate regions of Europe. As a result, seven distinct taxa in the genus <i>Lactarius</i> and 18 in the genus <i>Russula</i> are identified. Six of them are new species: <i>L. populicola</i>, <i>L. subgiennensis</i>, <i>R. bavarica</i>, <i>R. candidissima</i>, <i>R. hobartiae</i> and <i>R. mediterraneensis</i>, and seven represent new combinations: <i>L. josserandii</i> (≡ <i>Zelleromyces josserandii</i>), <i>L. soehneri</i> (≡ <i>Hydnangium soehneri</i>), <i>R. candida</i> (≡ <i>Hydnangium candidum</i>), <i>R. cerea</i> (≡ <i>Hydnangium cereum</i>), <i>R. messapica</i> var. <i>messapicoides</i> (≡ <i>Macowanites messapicoides</i>), <i>R. meridionalis</i> (≡ <i>Zelleromyces meridionalis</i>) and <i>R. neuhoffii</i> (≡ <i>Hydnangium neuhoffii</i>). Twenty-two of the 25 taxa are illustrated, while descriptions, microscopy images, as well as extensive information on the ecology, chorology and phylogeny for all taxa are provided. A key is further included to facilitate their identification.