Entoloma khushabense Z. Khan, A. Izhar & Khalid

Khan, Zaman, Izhar, Aiman & Khalid, Abdul Nasir, 2024, A new omphalinoid species, Entoloma khushabense (Entolomataceae, Basidiomycota) from Punjab, Pakistan, Phytotaxa 653 (1), pp. 54-66 : 59-62

Entoloma khushabense Z. Khan, A. Izhar & Khalid sp. nov. ( Figs. 3–4 )

MycoBank:—MB84211

Etymology:—The specific epithet ‘khushabense’ refers to the type locality ‘Khushab’ a district in Punjab province of Pakistan, from where the specimens of the new species were collected.

Diagnosis:—differs from E. flocculosum and E. rusticoides , mainly due to conspicuous subcylindical to sublageniform cheilocystidia, moniliform or sinuose, sub-capitate to capitate and narrowly clavate caulocystidia, and hyphae with constrictions in the walls.

Holotype:— Pakistan, Punjab: District Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Peelowains , 31°59′17"N, 71°59′26"E, 191 m a.s.l., 26 July 2022, Zaman Khan & Junaid Khan P-107 ( LAH37627 ), GenBank nos. OQ275259 ( ITS), OQ275257 ( LSU).

Description:— Basidiomata 20–35 mm tall, small, omphalinoid. Pileus 9–27 mm diam., initially campanulate or conical, becoming convex, hemispherical to infundibuliform or funnel-shaped at maturity, umbilicate to deeply umbilicate at center, with involute then deflexed margins; surface brown (5YR 3/6) to reddish brown (5YR 2/4) or dull reddish brown (5YR), dry, weakly to distinctly hygrophanous, minutely squamulose near center, minutely tomentosesquamulose or fibrillose all over, margins striate. Lamellae up to 2.5 mm broad, decurrent, arcuate, broad to ventricose, regular, thickened, light gray (8/1, 8/2 5YR) or grayish brown (5/2, 6/2 5YR), sub-distant to distant with three to four tiers of lamellulae, margins concolorous, margins entire to eroded. Stipe 15–30 × 1–3 mm, central, cylindrical, equal, often with bulbous base, tapering downwards, straight or curved at base, concolorous to pileus, surface with whitish or reddish fibrils or pruina disappearing when rubbed, basal mycelium white. Context thin, white or brownish. Annulus and volva absent. Odor fungoid, weak. Taste inconspicuous, cucumber-like.

Basidiospores (6.8–)7.2–9.7(–10.3) × (6–)7.2–7.9(–8.6) μm, Q = 1.19–1.45, avQ = 1.24, ovate to ellipsoid, subisodiametrical to heterodiametrical, with 5–7 facets and rounded perimeter, a prominent apiculus, thick walled. Basidia (22–)24–38(–39.5) × (7.6–)8–12(–13.5) μm, avl × avw = 31 × 10 μm, cylindrical to sub-cylindrical or clavate, hyaline in 5% KOH, thin-walled, 1, 2 or 4-spored with sterigmata up to 4.3 μm long. Lamella edge fertile. Pleurocystidia absent. Cheilocystidia 34–78 × 5.6–18 μm, avl × avw = 50 × 12 μm, subcylindical to sublageniform, sometimes septate at base, slightly thick walled, hyaline in 5% KOH. Pileipellis cutis, composed of hyphae measuring 2–11 μm diam., inflated or cylindrical, hyaline in KOH, slightly thick walled, septate, with brownish encrusting pigments, ending elements up to 44 × 13 μm, elongated and narrowly clavate. Pileitrama regular to interwoven, made up of cylindrical inflated, branched hyphae, 3–13 μm wide. Stipitipellis a cutis with hyphae measuring 7–28 μm diam., cylindrical, hyaline to light brown in KOH, thin-walled, rarely incrusted, epiparietal brownish pigment present. Stipititrama hyphae almost parallel, 4–9 μm broad, cylindrical, inflated near septa, smooth, pale, sometimes branched. Caulocystidia (40–)43– 92(–94) × (7–)9–13(–15) μm, avl × avw= 80 × 10 μm, narrowly clavate, moniliform or sinuose, sub-capitate to capitate or articulated with widened apex, septate, thick-walled, with brownish intraparietal refractive pigment, especially in the apex. Clamp-connections are rarely observed only on one to two septa.

Habitat and Ecology:—Solitary on moist loamy soil, among leaf litter or grass under Angiosperms, discovered from Peelowains, a village in tehsil Noorpur Thal, district Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan.

Additional material examined:— Pakistan, Punjab: District Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Peelowains (31°59'17.36"N, 71°59'25.86"E, 191 m a.s.l.), solitary in terrestrial, damp, humus-rich sandy soils under Dalbergia sissoo, Zaman Khan & Junaid Khan P-112 (LAH37626), GenBank nos. OQ275260 (ITS), OQ275258 (LSU).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Fruiting bodies of Entoloma khushabense. a–f: LAH37627 (holotype); g–i: LAH37626. Scale bars: a–i = 10 mm. Pictures by Zaman Khan

FIGURE 4. Microscopic structures of Entoloma khushabense. a. Basidiospores; b. Lamellae edge; c, d. Basidia; e. Cheilocystidia; f–j. Caulocystidia; k, l. Stipitipellis; m–o. Pileipellis. Scale bars: a–o = 10μm. Pictures by Zaman Khan.