A new species and a new combination of Rhodophana (Entolomataceae, Agaricales) from Africa

Multiple collections of a new member of the Entolomataceae were found in W National Park of Niger during a survey of macrofungi. This new species with a dark reddish brown scaly pileus surface and a yellow stipe belongs in the genus Rhodophana of the Rhodocybe-Clitopilus clade in the Entolomataceae. Using a three-gene analysis of the phylogenetic position of Rhodophana flavipes it is most closely related to the recently described Rhodophana squamulosa from India and is a sister taxon to Rhodophana nitellina and R. melleopallens. Micromorphological examination of the type of Rhodocybe fibulata, another African species with a scaly cap, confirms that it belongs in Rhodophana, thus a new combination Rhodophana fibulata is proposed.