Candolleomyces pallidosquamulosus P. Javeed & Kiran 2025, sp. nov.

Candolleomyces pallidosquamulosus P. Javeed & Kiran sp. nov. (Figs. 2 & 3) MycoBank:—MB 854775 Etymology:—The epithet “ pallidosquamulosus ” (Latin) refers to presence of pale orange squamules on pileus surface. Diagnosis:— Candolleomyces pallidosquamulosus differs from its closest species C. pakistanensis by light yellow orange to yellowish brown pileus with appressed pale orange scales; a wavy, upturned appendiculate annulus and reddish brown lamellae Type:— PAKISTAN. Punjab: Lahore district, Bhasin Village, 31.63818° N, 74.50407° E, 222 m. a.s.l., on soil among plant debris, 9 July, 2023, BHU-222, P. Javeed & Kiran (holotype: LAH38243!). GenBank: PP973161 (nrITS), PP973169 (nLSU) Description:—Pileus 10–35 mm in diam, convex to plano-convex, paraboloid to campanulate, slightly umbonate, moist, hygrophanous, light yellow orange (7.5YR 8/3) to yellowish brown center with grayish brown (5YR 5/2) towards margins, appressed pale orange (5YR 8/3) squamules present around umbo, translucently striated, smooth margins. Lamellae adnate, crowded, even margins, lamellulae in 2 tiers, reddish brown (5YR 3/4). Stipe 20–40 × 3–5 mm, central, flexuous, white (2.5R 9/2) with recurved squamulose caespitose base. Annulus white (2.5R 9/2), wavy to upturned with appendiculate margins. Odor and taste not recorded. Basidiospores [160/4/3], (5.0–)5.4–5.7 (–6.1) × (3.0–)3.3–3.7(–4.0) µm,(avL × avW = 5.55 × 3.5 µm) Q =1.3–1.7, Q av = 1.58, ellipsoid to elongate, brown in water, thick-walled (0.18–0.21 µm), smooth, presence of apiculus. Basidia (13–)14–23(–25) × (6–)7–13 (–14) µm, clavate to broadly clavate with 2–4 sterigmata. Cheilocystidia (11–)12– 18(– 19) × (6–) 7–9(–10) μm, ovoid to obovoid, clavate, narrowly utriform to utriform. Pleurocystidia absent. Pileipellis epithelium consists of globose to subglobose, broadly ellipsoidal cells., olive wall color in water. Stipitipellis irregular 5.1–14.9 µm diam., hyphae parallel, septate with no modified terminal cells. Caulocystidia absent. Habit and Habitat: on soil among plant debris Additional material examined: PAKISTAN. Punjab: Lahore district, Bhasin Village, 31.63818° N, 74.50407° E, elev. 222 m a. s. l., 9 July, 2023, BHU-173, P. Javeed & Kiran (isotype: LAH38244), GenBank: PP973162 (nrITS), PP973170 (nLSU); 12 July, 2023, BHU-122, vicinity of University of the Punjab, 3 July, 2024, PU-5 (paratype: LAH38239), GenBank: PQ865970 (nrITS).