Pholiota gallica nom. nov., based on P. lubrica var. obscura

The type of Pholiota lubrica var. obscura, a forgotten European fungus that has never been critically revised, was morphologically and molecularly examined. It was found to be phylogenetically distant from typical P. lubrica and morphologically distinct by its ovoid spores and other characters that place it in Pholiota sect. Spumosae. It differs from all other European species of sect. Spumosae by its unique combination of large fruitbody, castaneous brown pileus, stipe distinctively ornamented by scales or thick bands of bright yellow floccules, and growth on soil in thermophilous Mediterranean forests. For these reasons, we raise its rank to species as Pholiota gallica nom. nov., a replacement name required because the epithet obscura is already occupied in Pholiota. A discussion on similar European and North American species is included. Pholiota virescentifolia judged to be synonymous with P. mixta.