MACROLEPIOTA CAPELARIAE VAR. SORORIVULPINA (BASIDIOMYCOTA, AGARICACEAE)FROM THE HIGHLANDS OF PERNAMBUCO, BRAZIL

Macrolepiota is a widely distributed fungus genus of approximately 40 described taxa, with 15 recorded from Brazil. However, in the north-eastern region of this country only two taxa are known, M. dunensis and M. sabulosa, both from the State of Rio Grande do Norte. This situation demonstrates the scarcity of studies on this genus, demanding more taxonomic studies in this region. The new variety was collected in a 'brejo de altitude' (evergreen forest enclave) of the Caatinga biome, and in a submontane-montane altitudinal range area in the Atlantic Forest biome. For morphological studies, standardized methods of agaricoid fungi are followed. Here we describe Macrolepiota capelariae var. sororivulpina, E. Falcão & Wartchow, var. nov., a new variety within sect. Macrolepiota characterized by the ochraceous to ochraceous-brownish pileus covered by small appressed squamules, slender stipe usually 2–3 times the diameter of the pileus, and large ovoid-ellipsoid basidiospores (14.5–18.8 or 19 × 9.0–12.0 μm). Within this section, M. capelariae, M. colombiana, M. clelandii, and M. dolichaula share in the pileus covering presenting mostly a trichopalisade, but differ in many aspects, as the darker or whitish pileus and smaller basidiospores, except for M. clelandii in which they range to 28.5 μm long.