Candolleomyces amygdaliformis Haqnawaz, Niazi, I. Ahmad & Khalid, sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2)

MycoBank: MB852171

Etymology:— “ amygdaliformis ” (Latin) refers to the amygdaliform shape of the basidiospores.

Diagnosis:—Absence of fibrils, light brownish gray pileus with reddish brown center, light gray, shiny stipe, small, amygdaliform to phaseoliform basidiospores, ovoid-pedunculate cheilocystidia and absence of caulocystidia. These characteristics separate Candolleomyces amygdaliformis from the sister species, C. campanulatus.

Holotype:— PAKISTAN. Punjab, Kot Addu District, bed of Indus River, 30°31'33.63"N, 70°56'29.71"E, 135 m a.s.l. elev., on plant debris, 28 August 2020, Muhammad. Haqnawaz, KA-34 (Holotype LAH37634). GenBank accession numbers: ITS = (PP375293), LSU = (PP375296).

Description:— Pileus 10–20 mm diam, conical to campanulate, dry, light gray (5 YR 8/1) squamules of veil, reddish brown (2.5 YR 4/8) at center and light brownish gray (5 YR 7/2) towards striate margin. Lamellae adnexed, close, 1–3 tiers lamellulae, eroded edge, light brownish gray (5 YR 7/2). Stipe 32–48 × 1.5–3.5 mm, dry, smooth, shiny, central, terete, slightly flexuous, light gray (5 YR 8/2). Annulus absent.

Basidiospores [20/2/2], (6.4–) 7.4–9.5 (–10.1) × (4.3–)4.4–5.6(–6.2) µm, Q = 1.4–1.6, Q av = 1.5, amygdaliform to phaseoliform, thick-walled, smooth, apiculate, distinct germ pore, olivaceous brown in water and 5 % KOH, guttulate. Basidia (22–) 23–25(–26) × (6.6–) 7.0–8.8 (–9.5) µm, narrowly clavate, thick-walled, smooth, mostly 4 sterigmata or sometimes 2–3 sterigmata, hyaline to yellowish in 5 % KOH. Cheilocystidia (22–) 23–40(–43) × (7.2–) 8.3–11 (–15) µm, utriform, ovoid-pedunculate, thick-walled, hyaline to yellowish in 5 % KOH, clamp connections present. Pleurocystidia and caulocystidia absent. Lamella trama irregular, consists of septate hyphae. Pileipellis an irregular epithelium, consisting of globose to subglobose and ellipsoidal cells, 31–42 × 20–30 µm, thin-walled, hyaline to light yellow in 5 % KOH. Stipitipellis a cutis, composed of branched hyphae, 6.3–10.8 µm diam, hyaline in 5 % KOH. Clamp connections present in all tissues of the basidiomata.

Ecology and habitat:—Gregarious, under Dalbergia sissoo Roxb, on loamy soil, rich in organic matter.

Additional collections examined:— PAKISTAN. Punjab, Kot Addu, Noor Shah Thal, 30°31'33.63"N, 70°56'29.71"E, elev. 135 m a.s.l. in crop field, under Dalbergia sissoo, 29 August 2020, Muhammad Haqnawaz,

HQ- 205 (LAH37635). GenBank: ITS = (PP375294), LSU = (PP375297). EF-35 (ILLS00122742). GenBank: ITS = PP375295.

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