Amaurodon angulisporus (Basidiomycota, Fungi), a new species from West Africa identified by molecular and anatomical features

Amaurodon angulisporus is described as a new species based on material we collected in northern Guinean seasonal forest zones of Togo and Burkina Faso (West Africa). We used a combination of anatomical and LSU rDNA-based molecular phylogeny to characterise the new species. Amaurodon angulisporus is characterised by bluish basidiocarps when fresh that turn greenish grey when dried. Anatomically, it is characterised by the presence of irregularly ovoid to ellipsoid small pale blue (in water) to dark blue violet (in 2.5% KOH) basidiospores of 4,5 to 7 mu m (in both frontal and lateral face) and the presence of cystidia-like elements in the hymenium. The most similar species to A. angulisporus regarding LSU rDNA sequences is A. aquicoeruleus, a species described from Australia with a sequence identity of 95%. Molecular-phylogenetically, A. angulisporus forms a sister species of the group comprising A. viridis, A. aquicoeruleus and A. hydnoides. Anatomical dissimilarities between A. angulisporus and each of the above mentioned species are discussed.