A Survey of Termitomyces (Lyophyllaceae, Agaricales), Including a New Species, from a Subtropical Forest in Xishuangbanna, China

Abstract

A survey of mushrooms was conducted in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China, in the rainy season (May to October) of 2012, 2013, and 2014, during which 16 specimens of Termitomyces were collected. Preliminary macro- and micro-characteristics, together with ITS sequence data, showed that four of the specimens belonged to a new species (Termitomyces fragilis), while the other 12 belonged to T. aurantiacus, T. eurrhizus, T. globules, T. microcarpus, and T. bulborhizus. In this paper, T. fragilis is introduced as a species new to science based on morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses. Macro- and micro- morphological descriptions, color photographs and line drawings of the new species, and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of the new species are provided. T. fragilis is then compared with other closely related taxa in the genus Termitomyces.

Keywords

• termitomyces
• symbiosis
• termites
• wild edible mushrooms