Five new Cortinarius species, C. neobalaustinus, C. pseudocamphoratus, C. subnymphatus, C. wuliangshanensis and C. yanjiensis spp. nov., are proposed based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. Cortinarius neobalaustinus is characterized by a very weakly hygrophanous and yellowish-brown to brown pileus and small and weakly verrucose basidiospores. Cortinarius pseudocamphoratus can be characterized by a viscid pileus, a strongly unpleasant smell, amygdaloid to somewhat ellipsoid basidiospores and lageniform to subfusiform cheilocystidia. Cortinarius subnymphatus is identified by a strongly hygrophanous pileus that is reddish-brown with a black-brown umbo, a yellowish universal veil and ellipsoid to subamygdaloid basidiospores. Cortinarius wuliangshanensis is characterized by a moderately to strongly hygrophanous, translucently striated and yellowish to reddish-brown pileus and rather weakly and moderately verrucose basidiospores. Cortinarius yanjiensis is distinguished by a weakly to moderately hygrophanous and yellowish to brown pileus and moderately to rather strongly verrucose basidiospores. The phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods based on the data set of nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), D1–D2 domains of nuc 28S rDNA (28S) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), and the results show that C. neobalaustinus, C. wulianghsanensis and C. yanjiensis cluster in sect. Illumini, C. pseudocamporatus belongs to sect. Camphorati and C. subnymphatus belongs to sect. Laeti. In addition, a study of basidiospores under field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was conducted. An identification key for the five new species and related species from China is also provided.

Cortinarius is an important ectomycorrhizal genus that forms a symbiotic relationship with certain trees, shrubs and herbs. Recently, we began studying Cortinarius in China and here we describe three new species of Cortinarius subg. Telamonia based on morphological and ecological characteristics, together with phylogenetic analyses. Cortinarius laccariphyllussp. nov. (section Colymbadini) is associated with broadleaf trees, with strongly hygrophanous basidiomata, special Laccaria-like lamellae and white and extremely sparse universal veil. Cortinarius neotorvussp. nov. (section Telamonia) is associated with broadleaf trees and is easily confused with C. torvus, but can be distinguished by the colour of the fresh basidiomes and the stipe usually somewhat tapering towards the base. Cortinarius subfuscoperonatussp. nov. (section Fuscoperonati) is associated with coniferous trees, with subglobose to broadly ellipsoid spores and is closely related to C. fuscoperonatus. A key to the new species and similar species in sections Colymbadini, Telamonia and Fuscoperonati is provided.

Cortinarius subsalorandC. tibeticisalor, belonging to the sectionDelibuti, are described from China as new to science.Cortinarius subsalorhas been found to be associated withLithocarpustrees in subtropical China and resemblingC. salor, but it differs from the later by having slender basidiomata and the narrower basidiospores.Cortinarius tibeticisalorwas collected from eastern Tibetan Plateau, associated withAbies. It differs from other species within sect.Delibutiby having olive tinge of mature or dried basidiomata and bigger basidiospores. The molecular data also supportC. subsalorandC. tibeticisaloras new species. The phylogenetic analyses and biogeography of sect.Delibutiare discussed and a key to the species of this section currently known in the world is provided.

A new species, Cortinarius subcaesiobrunneus was collected from Gansu Qilianshan National Nature Reserve, Gansu province, northwest China. It differs from other species in section Brunnei, subgenus Telamonia by the strong bluish tints at the stipe base, large basidiospores and at least 12 substitutions and indel positions in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.

Russula rubiginosus sp. nov. (Subsect. Maculatinae) associated with Quercus mongolica is described and illustrated based on phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA sequences and morphological evidence. This species is characterized by the rusty spots on the pileus and stipe, an acrid taste, a yellow spore print, smaller basidiospores, and abundant cystidia in pileipellis and stipitipellis. Furthermore, the morphological characteristics were described in detail and compared with R. globispora and R. subrubescens.

Russula quercina sp. nov. (sect. Polychromidia, subsect. Integroidinae) from a Quercus mongolica forest in Northeast China is described. This new species is recognized by its coral pink and glabrous pileus, slightly yellowish context, yellow basidiospore print, and abundant cystidia in stipitipellis and pileipellis. The morphological characteristics are illustrated in detail and are compared with morphologically similar species, R. integriformis, and R. laeta. Russula quercina identification is supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) in the ribosomal DNA.