Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Lepiota Sect. Stenosporae (Verrucosporaceae) from Northeast China, with Six New Species and One New Record

Lepiota sect. Stenosporae is characterized by a trichodermal or cutis-like pileus covering and spurred basidiospores. Although macroscopic similarities among its members complicate field identification, species can be delimited by combining multi-locus (ITS, nrLSU, rpb2, and tef1-α) phylogenetic analyses with distinct micro-morphological features. Using this integrative approach, we investigated specimens of sect. Stenosporae collected from Northeast China. A total of 12 species were successfully delimited, including six species new to science (Lepiota dolichospora, L. hongshiensis, L. jilinensis, L. microstenospora, L. sinocastanea, and L. sirupa) and one new record for China (L. grangei). Comprehensive morphological descriptions and line-drawing illustrations of microscopic features are provided for all recognized taxa. These findings expand the known species diversity of Lepiota in China and contribute morphological and molecular data for further systematic studies of this fungal group.