Candolleomyces albogranulosus N. Fatima, Haqnawaz & Khalid 2025, sp. nov.

Candolleomyces albogranulosus N. Fatima, Haqnawaz & Khalid sp. nov. (Fig. 4) MycoBank:—MB854776 Etymology:—The specific epithet “ albogranulosus ” refers to the white granular scales on the pileus surface. Diagnosis:— Candolleomyces albogranulosus differs from its closely related species C. typhae by its plano-convex, umblicate pileus with light purple gray squamules more dense at center, dull reddish lamellulae, fusiform to oblong basidiospores with germ pore, clavate, spheropedunculate to utriform cheilocystidia. Type:— PAKISTAN. Punjab: Sahiwal, Chichawatni Plantation, (31.63818° N, 74.50407° E), 163 m a. s. l., on moist humus rich soil, August 06, 2019, Nadia Fatima, N-186A (holotype:LAH38245!). GenBank: PP973163 (nrITS), PP973168 (nLSU) Description:—Pileus 13–15 mm in diam., plano–convex, becoming depressed at maturity, translucent striate, light purple gray (5RP 7/1) to gray (N5/0) covered with white granular (2.5YR 5/1) squamules denser at the center becoming sparse towards margin. Lamellae adnate, distant, lamellulae in 1-2 tiers, dull reddish (10R 6/3). Stipe 20–25 × 1–2 mm, flexuous, hollow, round, clavate at base, smooth, grayish white (N 8/0); Annulus absent. Odor and taste not recorded. Basidiospores [150/3/2], (6.2–) 6.4–8.5. (–8.7) × (3.6–) 4–4.7 (–5.1) μm, (avL × avW=7.45 × 4.35 μm), Q= 1.31–2.08, avQ= 1.7 μm, ellipsoid to elongate, presence of small germ pore and apiculus, thick-walled (0.25–0.38 μm), smooth. Basidia (22.75–) 25.67–29.89(–30.52) × (7.13–) 7.36–8.78 (–9.65) μm, clavate to broadly clavate, hyaline in KOH, moderately thick, smooth-walled, 2–4 sterigmata. Cheilocystidia (14.0–) 15.1–19(–19.5) × (8.0–) 10.0–11.0 (–12.5) μm, clavate, spheropedunculate to utriform. Pleurocystidia absent. Pileipellis irregular epithelium thin-walled, globose to sub-globose, broadly clavate, moderately thin-walled pileipellis cells. Stipitipellis a cutis, consists of hyaline moderately thin-walled hyphae, 5–18 μm in diameter. Habit and Habitat: Saprotrophic, growing on loamy soil rich in organic matter Additional material examined: PAKISTAN. Punjab: Sahiwal, Chichawatni Plantation, 163 m a. s. l., on soil, 22 September 2021, N.Fatima NAD-17, (paratype: LAH38247), GenBank: PP973165 (nrITS), PP973166 (nLSU); 6 August 2022, NA-80,. (paratype: LAH38246), GenBank: PP973164 (nrITS), PP973167 (nLSU).