Pholiota pakistanica sp. nov. in subgenus Flammuloides from Pakistan

Pholiota pakistanica, a distinct species, is described from Khanspur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on the basis of morpho-anatomical characters as well as molecular phylogenetic analyses. The proposed new species is characterized by its small to medium sized pileus with a distinct umbo, short stipe with a bulbous end, small (4.5-5.4 × 2.4-3.7 μm) basidiospores, dichotomously branched and intermixed hyphae in the lamellar trama. Sequences from the nrITS and nrLSU regions confirm that P. pakistanica is distinct species from the other species of Pholiota. Based on combined morpho-anatomical and molecular evidence, Pholiota pakistanica is described here as a novel species.