Morphology and phylogenic position of Wynnella subalpina sp nov (Helvellaceae) from western China

The genus Wynnella has long been regarded as a monotypic genus, consisting only W. auricula (Schaeff) Boud. Morphological and phylogenetic studies were carried out on new collections of Wynnella from Tibet and Sichuan, in southwestern China. Morphology and phylogenies inferred from the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA (ITS) and the D1-D3 region of 28S nrDNA (28S) sequences data clearly suggest these collections representing a new species in the genus. Wynnella subalpina is thus introduced and illustrated. The species is characterized by its rabbit ear-shaped apothecia, with a tea brown to blackish brown hymenium, a red, reddish brown to pale yellowish brown receptacle surface, and a costate stipe. Detailed macro-and micro-scopic descriptions, illustrations of microscopic characters and photographic plates are provided herein.