Morphological characters and molecular data reveal a new species of Hydnocristella (Gomphales, Basidiomycota) from southwestern China

Two hydnoid and resupinate specimens were collected from Sichuan Province, southwestern China. They are described and illustrated here as a new species, Hydnocristella latihypha, based on a combination of morphological characters and rDNA sequences data. The new species is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate and hydnoid basidiocarps, a monomitic hyphal structure with clamped generative hyphae, wide tramal hyphae, and smooth fusiform basidiospores measured as 10.2-12.2 x 4.2-5.5 mu m. In the phylogenetic perspective, H. latihypha is closely related to H. himantia, the generic type, and nested within the Lentariaceae clade, but the latter species has narrow tramal hyphae and smaller basidiospores measured as 8-10 x 4-5 mu m.