Three new species of Laccaria (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) from Southwest China (Yunnan) based on morphological and multi-gene sequence data

Introduction: The genus Laccaria has been reported from temperate and tropical areas and is an important constituent in forest ecosystems. However, the species diversity of Laccaria in Southwest China (Yunnan) has been underestimated. Methods: In this paper, descriptions based on morphological and multi-gene sequence data from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (nrLSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1 alpha) and the polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) of three new Laccaria species from Southwest China (Yunnan) are reported. Results: Two of these were characterized by orange pileus and globose to subglobose basidiospores: L. cinnabarina and L. spinulosa. While L. cinnabarina has orange red colored basidiocarps with conspicuously pellucid-striate pattern, and a fibrillose stipe with longitudinally striations, L. spinulosa has a brownish orange to brown fruiting body with light white pruinae and 2-spored basidia. Laccaria longistriata is characterized by brown to flesh-colored basidioma, prominently striate to sulcate pileus and globose to subglobose basidiospores. Discussion: The three new species were described, illustrated and compared with closely related species in morphology and phylogeny.