Unravelling the Entoloma politum complex

Abstract

Entoloma politum is a common lowland species in northern Europe. It has been described to have two close species with a more intense smell, E. nitriolens and E. pernitrosum . To clarify the taxonomy of these three species, the types of E. nitriolens and E. pernitrosum , as well as many recent collections were examined by ITS sequences and morphologically. Entoloma nitriolens was found to be a sibling species of E. politum , whereas E. pernitrosum was confirmed as a synonym of E. politum . Entoloma nitriolens and E. politum are described based on own material. They grow in similar habitats, but E. nitriolens prefers colder climates and calcareous ground.

Keywords

• agaricales
• alpine
• boreal
• distribution
• fennoscandia
• molecular systematics
• nomenclature
• switzerland