Abstract
A new species in the genus Russula from the mixed coniferous forest of District Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan is described and illustrated. Phylogenetic data derived from DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), along with morphological characterizations, indicate the species is novel. Russula shanglaensis sp. nov. is distinct from other known species in subsect. Virescentinae. It is characterized by the convex to slightly depressed grayish pilei that often reflect rusty brown to light purplish spots, with very lightly striated to tuberculate striated margins. The occurrence of subglobose to ellipsoidal basidiospores (6.5–8 × 6–7 µm) with irregular incomplete reticulation is another distinguishing feature of the species. The species description includes photographs and line drawings illustrating key morphological features and a discussion comparing this species to morphologically and phylogenetically related species.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 85-92 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Turkish Journal of Botany |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2020 |
Funding
The work was financially supported by the International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP) of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan. Sincere thanks to the Chicago Botanic Garden and Northwestern University, IL, USA for providing the first author with the opportunity to work there as a visiting researcher. We are highly thankful to Ms. Munazza Kiran, Department of Botany, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan, for providing literature of the genus Russula in Pakistan.
Keywords
- Himalaya
- Hindu Kush
- Mycorrhizae
- Russulaceae
- Taxonomy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Plant Science