Two new European species of Melanoleuca (Fungi, Agaricales) with comments on the M. graminicola group

Melanoleuca is one of the taxonomically most complicated genera of Agaricomycetes. The aim of this study is a taxonomic revision of European specimens confused with M. angelesiana A.H. Sm. and a delimitation of four species, M. brachyspora Harmaja, M. graminicola (Velen.) Kuhner & Maire, M. rufipes Bon and M. stridula (Fr.) Singer. The research is based on macro- and micromorphological characters and the multigene phylogenetic analyses of a combined (ITS, rpb2, and tef1) dataset. According to the results, two new species are proposed: M. monticola sp. nov. accommodating European specimens previously confused with the species M. angelesiana from America and M. romanensis sp. nov. from Italy. Moreover, American specimens identified as M. angelesiana belong to three different phylogenetic species (M. angelesiana sensu typi, M. acystidiata aff., and one more separate lineage). M. graminicola is emended and the respective epitype designated. An identification key to the European species of subg. Urticocystis is provided.

Automated summary

The aim of this study is to revise the taxonomy of Melanoleuca genus in Europe and delimit four species. Two new species are proposed and an identification key is provided. The research is based on morphological characters and multigene phylogenetic analysis.