Morphology and Updated Phylogeny Revealed Three New Species in Chlorencoelia (Cenangiaceae, Helotiales) from China

Morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies of <i>Chlorencoelia</i> in China revealed three novel species, which are described and illustrated as <i>C. biguttulata</i>, <i>C. ellipsoidea</i>, and <i>C. sinensis</i>. <i>Chlorencoelia biguttulata</i> is characterized by greyish green to blackish green hymenium surface, clavate tomentum hyphae on receptacle surface, and inequilateral ellipsoidal ascospores having two large guttules and 8.5-14.5 × 3.5-4.5 μm. <i>Chlorencoelia ellipsoidea</i> differs from the known species by distinctly stipitate apothecia with a dark green hymenium surface and ellipsoidal ascospores 7.2-9.1 × 3.5-4.2 μm. <i>Chlorencoelia sinensis</i> is characterized by substipitate apothecia, blackish receptacle surface, and fusoidal ascospores 9-13.7 × 2.2-3.5 μm. Sequence analyses of the ITS region supported recognition of them as separate species. All three new species occurred on rotten wood in montane forests. Morphological features for species delimitation and diversity of <i>Chlorencoelia</i> are discussed. An identification key to the known species of the genus is provided.