Wood-rotting fungi as an important group within the Basidiomycota are known for their ecological role in the forest ecosystem in terms of decaying living and dead trees and recycling nutrients in forest ecosystems. Many new species were revealed in the last five years. In the present study, during an ongoing study on Scytinostroma, a new species of Scytinostroma was found from China. It is described and illustrated on the basis of the morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Scytinostroma bambusinum sp. nov. is described as a new species, based on morphological and molecular evidence. It is characterised by annual, resupinate and broadly ellipsoid basidiomata with white to cream hymenophore, a dimitic hyphal structure with generative hyphae bearing simple septa, the presence of cystidioles and amyloid basidiospores measuring 5.5–7 × 4–5.3 µm. Phylogeny, based on molecular data of ITS and nLSU sequences, shows that the new species forms an independent lineage and is different in morphology from the existing species of Scytinostroma.

Introduction: Cortinariaceae, which belongs to the Agaricales order, is a globally recognized family, known for its high species diversity.Methods: Eight internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large ribosomal subunit (LSU) sequences were newly generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed by combining ITS and LSU datasets. Four species were identified as forming four independent lineages with robust support in phylogenies based on both datasets.Results: These new species in the taxa, Cortinarius gansuensis, Cortinarius tricholomoidus, Cortinarius vinoso-griseum, and Phlegmacium subcalyptratum from Northwestern China are described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular evidence. Cortinarius gansuensis is characterized by a convex and brownish vinaceous pileus, generative hyphae with clamp connections, and ellipsoid basidiospores (8.5–10.6 μm × 5.4–6.8 μm); Cortinarius tricholomoidus is characterized by a broadly umbonate and snuff brown pileus, generative hyphae with clamp connections, and broadly ellipsoid to subglobose basidiospores (7.4–8.5 μm × 6.2–7.3 μm); Cortinarius vinoso-griseum is characterized by a violaceous gray pileus, generative hyphae with clamp connections, and smaller basidiospores (7.5–9.7 μm × 5.6–7.8 μm); and Phlegmacium subcalyptratum is characterized by a small and apricot-orange pileus, generative hyphae with clamp connections, and fusiform basidiospores (10.0–12.7 μm × 5.6–6.8 μm).Discussion: Full descriptions, illustrations, and results of phylogenetic analyses of the four species along with discussions on related species are provided.

Introduction: Cortinarius are globally distributed mushrooms, all of whom form mycorrhizae, and are characterized by rust-brown to brownish-red spores. The high species richness of the genus results in significant morphological diversity overall, alongside high similarity among closely related species, leading many taxonomists to concentrate their studies on specific infrageneric groups.Methods: Specimens were noted and collected from Fujian Province, China. Genomic DNA was extracted from specimens and the nucleotide sequences of two loci (ITS AND nr LSU) were determined and used to construct phylogenetic trees. Microscopic features were observed using an optical microscope. Fluorescence reactions were examined using a fluorescence microscope.Results: We describe two new species of Cortinarius, C. griseoaurantinus (subgenus Leprocybe) and C. yonganensis (subgenus Dermocybe), from Fujian Province, Southern China. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, color photographs of fresh basidiomata, photographs of microscopic characters, and phylogenetic trees are provided.Discussion: These data identify new species of Cortinarius, enhancing the understanding of the genus and the ecological relationships. The developed keys provide a reference for the further analysis of the evolution and geographic distribution of these fungi.

A new species of Polyporales, now named Skeletocutis vietnamensis, was collected on angiosperm trunks in Vietnam. It is described based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. The species has snow white pore surfaces, angular pores mostly 5–7 per mm with entire mouths, a dimitic hyphal structure throughout the trama, generative hyphae in all parts of the basidioma covered by fine crystals, skeletal hyphae slightly inflated in KOH, not agglutinated, and pyriform to ovoid basidiospores measuring 2.8–3.4×1.5–2.1μm. The combination of these characters, spores in particular, separate this species from other species of Skeletocutis. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions indicated that the new species grouped with Skeletocutis species and formed a monophyletic lineage with a strong support (100% BS, 100% BP, 1.00 BPP).

Fomitiporella is an important genus of wood-decaying fungi. Many new species were revealed in the last five years, based on morphological characters and molecular data. During a study on the taxonomy of Fomitiporella, two specimens from China were investigated, which have morphological characteristics close to Fomitiporella. After morphological examinations and phylogenetic analyses, a new species was confirmed to be a member of the Fomitiporella clade. Fomitiporella crystallina sp. nov. is described and illustrated as a new species, based on morphological characters and molecular evidence. It has perennial, irregular, pileate basidiocarps, an indistinct subiculum (ultrathin to almost lacking), lack of any kind of setae, has brownish, thick-walled basidiospores and causes a white rot. A molecular study, based on the combined ITS (internal transcribed spacer region) and nrLSU (the large nuclear ribosomal RNA subunit) dataset, supports the new species in Fomitiporella. The differences between the new species and phylogenetically related and morphologically similar species are discussed. A key to species with pileate to effused-reflexed basidiocarps of Fomitiporella is given.

Amylosporus annosus sp. nov. sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Malaysia, tropical Asia. It is characterized by perennial, resupinate basidiocarps which are leathery when fresh, woody hard when dry, with white fresh pores which become cream to buff-yellow up on drying, distinct receding sterile margin, a dimitic hyphal structure with dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, generative hyphae bring simple septa only, basidia bearing eight sterigmata, and ellipsoid, fairly thick-walled, finely asperulate, strongly amyloid basidiospore measuring 3–3.7 × 2.4–3 μm. A molecular study based on the combined ITS (internal transcribed spacer region) and nLSU (the large nuclear ribosomal RNA subunit) dataset demonstrated the studied samples formed a new lineage in Amylosporus.