Conocybe lidaensis H. B. Song & Z. L. Luo 2026, sp. nov.
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Conocybe lidaensis H. B. Song & Z. L. Luo sp. nov. Figs 2 E, 2 F, 2 G, 2 H, 3 E, 3 F, 8, 9 Etymology. The specific epithet “ lidaensis ” refers to the type locality, Dali University (abbreviated as “ lida ”), where the holotype of this species was collected. Holotypus. China • Yunnan Province, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Dali City, Dali University, 25 October 2025, 25°40'22"N, 100°09'18"E, alt. 2177 m, H. B. Song, S 25102503 (FJAU 78854). Diagnosis. Conocybe lidaensis may be confused with mature C. mesospora s. l. but lacks the bright orange pileus color; C. lidaensis further differs by a higher percentage of mixed type caulo- and pileocystidia, with lecythiform cystidia in less than 40 % of them, whereas in C. mesospora lecythiform cystidia are dominant and other shapes are rare. Conocybe lidaensis grows in moss layers in bamboo forest grasslands. It also shows distinct molecular differences, genetically. Description. Basidiomata mycenoid. Pileus diameter 5–20 mm, initially conical to obtusely conical, later slightly campanulate to broadly conical, subumbonate, margin aspects straight, undulate. Fresh and moist pileus center ochre brown (RAL 8001) to clay brown (RAL 8003), olive brown (RAL 8008), margin beige (RAL 1001) to ivory (RAL 1014); with age pileus color deepens, clay brown (RAL 8003), chestnut brown (RAL 8015) to mahogany brown (RAL 8016). Hygrophanous, smooth, pubescent (under a lens), striate up to 4 / 5 of pileus center. Context thin, same color as pileus, with no specific odor or taste. Lamellae adnexed to narrowly adnate, ventricose, crowded, unequal in length, light ivory (RAL 1015) to ivory (RAL 1014), brown beige (RAL 1011) to ochre brown (RAL 8001), margin even to slightly eroded. Stipe 10–40 mm, thickness 0.5–2 mm, cylindrical, light ivory (RAL 1015) to ivory (RAL 1014), khaki grey (RAL 7008), surface with pruinose and short pubescent, showing longitudinal fibrillose-like striate, base subbulbous. Basidiospores (60 / 3 / 3) (6.6 –) 6.8–7.8 (– 8) × 4.1–4.7 (– 4.9) μm, Q = (1.52 –) 1.55–1.79 (– 1.92), Qm = 1.66 (± 0.08), slightly ellipsoid to oblong, ovoid, somewhat amygdaliform, wall thick, germ pore diameter about 0.5–1.5 μm, ochre brown (RAL 8001) to clay brown (RAL 8003) in KOH solution. Basidia (14 –) 15–21 (– 23) × 7–10 μm, clavate, 4 - spored, sterigmata length 3–5 μm, with vacuolar contents in basidia. Cheilocystidia (15 –) 16–21 (– 22) × 7–11 μm, lecythiform (body lageniform, broadly ellipsoid to oblong, some subglobose), with capitula 3–5 μm wide. Pleurocystidia absent. Caulocystidia 9–35 (– 39) × (5 –) 6–11 (– 14) μm, mixed, lecythiform (less than 40 %, body lageniform, broadly ellipsoid to oblong, some subglobose), with capitula 4–6 μm wide, mixed with ellipsoid, clavate, utriform, lageniform to long-necked lageniform, neck flexuose, occasional capilliform elements, up to 60 μm. Pileipellis epithelioid hymeniderm, composed of spheropedunculate cells (25 –) 26–49 (– 51) × 18–30 (– 32) μm, with fawn brown (RAL 8007) pigment at the base. Pileocystidia 21–36 × 5–16 μm, mixed type, lecythiform (ca. 30 %, body lageniform, broadly ellipsoid to oblong), with capitula 3–5 μm wide, some filled with pigment, intermixed with utriform, lageniform, long-necked lageniform, and capilliform elements. All structures with clamp connections. Negative reaction with ammonia. Habitat. In autumn, scattered mossy grassland in bamboo forests. Known distribution. Yunnan Province, Fujian Province, China. Additional material examined. China • Yunnan Province, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Dali City, Dali University, 25 October 2025, 25°40'22"N, 100°09'18"E, alt. 2177 m, H. B. Song, S 25102504 (FJAU 78855), S 25102505 (FJAU 78856), S 25102506 (FJAU 78857), S 25102507 (FJAU 78858). China • Fujian Province, Sanming City, 9 September 2023, J. M. Liao, LJP 9900 (FJAU 78859). Sequences were obtained from all specimens mentioned above, and their morphology was also examined. Notes. Conocybe lidaensis is characterized by the presence of mixed types caulo- and pileocystidia, both of which contain lecythiform cystidia. Based on morphological criteria, C. lidaensis would be placed in sect. Mixtae (Singer 1962; Hausknecht 2003). However, phylogenetically, it is positioned at the base of sect. Conocybe, where it is sister to C. alkovii within sect. Heterocystidiae (Hausknecht and Krisai-Greilhuber 2006; Malysheva 2012 a). Conocybe lidaensis can be distinguished from other species in sect. Conocybe by its mixed caulocystidia (Hausknecht 2009). Additionally, its pileocystidia comprise a combination of lecythiform, utriform, lageniform to long-necked lageniform cystidia and capilliform elements, which differentiates it from species in sect. Mixtae. In the closely related C. alkovii the caulocystidia in accordance with sect. Conocybe and the applanate pileus allow clear morphological distinction between the two taxa (Malysheva 2012 a).
Institution: Dali University
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204259053