A new species of Volvariella (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) from West Bengal, India

A new species, Volvariella bilobata, has been described herein from West Bengal, India. Field photographs of the basidiocarps were provided and the new species were compared with its allied taxa based on morphological and molecular (nrITS sequence) data. Volvariella bilobata was characterized by a medium sized, entirely greyish brown pileus with fibrillose surface; close to crowded lamellae coloured greyish white to greyish orange; a bilobed saccate volva with greyish brown outer surface and greyish white inner surface; smaller basidiospores measuring 4.8-5.5 x 2.7-3.5 mu m; clavate to ventricose lageniform cheilocystidia measuring 32-83 x 13-30 mu m; variously shaped pleurocystidia measuring 18.5-27.5 x 7-10 mu m; habitat on soil; and unique sequences. Detailed morphological description with illustrations and phylogenetic tree based on molecular sequence data revealed it to be a new species.

Automated summary

A new species of Volvariella, named Volvariella bilobata, was described from West Bengal, India. The characteristics of this new species, including its morphology and molecular sequence data, were compared with similar taxa. The detailed morphological description, illustrations, and phylogenetic tree based on molecular data confirmed it as a distinct species.