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Issue: Vol. 773 No. 1: 4 Sept. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-09-04
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.773.1.2
Page range: 19-32
Abstract views: 28
PDF downloaded: 1

Two new species of Russula core clade (Russulaceae, Russulales) from China

State Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity and Innovative Utilization; Institute of Microbiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101; China; Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Chiang Mai University; Chiang Mai 50200; Thailand
State Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity and Innovative Utilization; Institute of Microbiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101; China
Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Chiang Mai University; Chiang Mai 50200; Thailand; Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization; Chiang Mai University; Chiang Mai 50200; Thailand; Academy of Science; The Royal Society of Thailand; Bangkok 10300; Thailand
State Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity and Innovative Utilization; Institute of Microbiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101; China; College of Life Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 101408; China
Fungi core clade new species phylogeny Russula subgenus Russula taxonomy

Abstract

Russula is the largest genus in the Russulales and is widely distributed across the world. Almost all species of Russula are ectomycorrhizal and play important ecological roles. Many species are edible and of economic importance, whereas some are lethally poisonous. In this study, two new species belonging to the core clade of Russula subgenus Russula are identified based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Morphologically, Russula gengrenensis is characterised by a greyish ruby to dark ruby, sometimes magenta to violet pileus with a translucent, sulcate, often rimose margin, and basidiospores with isolated to clustered amyloid warts that do not form a complete reticulum. R. subrhodopus is characterised by a cherry-red to deep red pileus, often paler in the centre when water-soaked, crowded lamellae, and relatively large basidiospores with reticulate amyloid ornamentation. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS dataset recovered both species as distinct lineages within the core clade, supporting their recognition as two new species. Notably, the type specimens of both new species were collected from the border area of Xizhang. This area is characterized by limited accessibility and extreme climatic conditions and has long remained underexplored. It constitutes an important component of the regional ecological security framework and holds irreplaceable biogeographical significance. The discovery of these two new species underscores the importance of continued fungal exploration in this underexplored region and contributes to a better understanding of the diversity, taxonomy, and biogeography of Russula.

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How to Cite

Wang, S.-H., Cao, B., Lumyong, S. & Zhao, R.-L. (2026) Two new species of Russula core clade (Russulaceae, Russulales) from China. Phytotaxa 773 (1): 19–32. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.773.1.2