Comprehensive revision of Lycogala (Myxomycetes) in subtropical China: morphological and phylogenetic insights and ten new species

In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the taxonomy and phylogenetics of <i>Lycogala</i>, leading to the description of numerous new species. However, <i>Lycogala</i> in China has never been systematically revised, and only eight species have been recorded. In this study, specimens of <i>Lycogala</i> from 22 sites in 11 provinces or cities of subtropical China were studied in terms of morphology, two-gene phylogenetic analysis (nuclear 18S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I), and ASAP species delimitation. We provide a checklist, which includes 21 species of <i>Lycogala</i> collected in subtropical China. These species include (1) seven species already known from the country, for which we report new localities, (2) four species, new to China (<i>Lycogalaalisaulianovae</i>, <i>L.fossiculatum</i>, <i>L.skovorodaense</i>, and <i>L.succineum</i>) and (3) ten species new to science, including <i>L.annulatum</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>L.chinense</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>L.convexum</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>L.fasciculovesiculiferum</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>L.helvolum</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>L.indirubinum</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>L.nigrum</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>L.planovesiculiferum</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>L.projectum</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, and <i>L.uviforme</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> A comprehensive morphological description, detailed illustrations, molecular barcoding data, and putative position in phylogenies are provided for the newly described taxa.