A new species of Conocybe (Bolbitaceae) from Punjab, Pakistan

Conocybe punjabensis sp. nov., a species belonging to the saprobic family Bolbitaceae, is illustrated and described from Pakistan based on morphology and molecular evidence. The species can be distinguished on the basis of medium-sized fruiting bodies, a pileus with a dark brown central disc, a fibrillose stipe, forked lamellae near pileus margin, ellipsoid angular basidiospores with an apical germ pore, cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia varying from catenulate, lecythiform to clavate, and lecythiform caulocystidia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the nuclear ribosomal ITS region also supports the recognition of this new species in Conocybe. Detailed descriptions, photographs, illustrations and comparison with allied taxa are given.