Cortinarius subgenus Leprocybe, unexpected diversity and significant differences in species compositions between western and eastern North America

Abstract

The focus of this paper is the North American species of Cortinarius in subg. Leprocybe. Eighteen species, including twelve new ones, and two tentative (aff.) species, are delimited based on morphological and molecular data (DNA ITS-LSU sequences). Existing type specimens of species in subg. Leprocybe were also studied, and neo- or epitypes designated for C. cotoneus, C. melanotus, C. phrygianus and C. venetus to stabilize the nomenclature. In addition, to improve the infrasubgeneric classification of Leprocybe three new sections are proposed: sect. Fuscotomentosi, sect. Melanoti and sect. Squamiveneti. This study adds substantial information to the knowledge of subg. Leprocybe in North America against a background of European species. To date only two species, C. phrygianus and C. squamivenetus have been reported from both continents. Citation: Ammirati J, Liimatainen K, Bojantchev D, et al. 2021. Cortinarius subgenus Leprocybe, unexpected diversity and significant differences in species compositions between western and eastern North America. Persoonia 46: 216-239. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2021.46.08.

Keywords: Agaricales; Cortinariaceae; Europe; ITS; North America; barcodes; ectomycorrhiza.

Fig. 1

Phylogram resulting from the maximum likelihood (RAxML) analysis of nuc rDNA ITS and LSU regions. Bootstrap values greater than 50 % are indicated above branches. Sequences originating from type specimens are in boldface.

Fig. 2

Basidiomata. a. Cortinarius hughesiae JFA13086 (holotype); b. C. aff. cotoneus DBB50175; c. C. flavifolius HRL0925 2; d. C. olivaceosquamosus YL CMMF003539; e. C. parkeri ADP090511-2; f. C. apius CMMF003460 (holotype); g. C. atkinsiae RMA7 (holotype); h. C. fuscotomentosus DBB26988. — Photos by: a. J. Ammirati; b, h. D. Bojantchev; c. R. Lebeuf; d, f. Y. Lamoureux; e. A.D. Parker; g. R.I. Swenie.

Fig. 3

Basidiospores. a. Cortinarius atrosquamosus TN12-278 (holotype); b. C. bunneofibrillosus 11mwb111813; c. C. clandestinus Kauffman (holotype); d. C. clandestinus (non-fibrillose scaly form) CLC2233; e. C. hughesiae JFA13086 (holotype); f. C. aff. cotoneus DBB50175; g. C. flavifolius EH230 (epitype); h. C. olivaceosquamosus CMMF003539 (holotype); i. C. parkeri ADP000502-1 (holotype); j. C. apius CMMF003460 (holotype); k. C. atkinsiae RMA7 (holotype); l. C. fuscotomentosus DBB00566 (holotype); m. C. loringii SCL6030 (holotype); n. C. phrygianus YL4300; o. C. subleproleptopus TN12-344 (holotype); p. C. squamivenetoideus TN11-005 (holotype); q. C. veneto-occidentalis TN11-051 (holotype); r. C. fuscoflavidus JFA11644 (holotype). — Photos by J. Ammirati. — Scale bar = 10 μm.

Fig. 4

Basidiomata. a. Cortinarius loringii SCL6030 (holotype); b. C. phrygianus YL4300; c. C. subleproleptopus NS3; d. C. squamivenetoideus CMMF004032; e. C. lutescens CMMF001219; f. C. veneto-occidentalis TN11-051 (holotype); g. C. fuscoflavidus DBB41055; h. C. aff. veneto-occidentalis SDA 382. — Photos by: a. P.B. Matheny; b, d–e. Y. Lamoureux; c, g. D. Bojantchev; f. K. Liimatainen; h. S.D. Adams.

Fig. 5

Basidiomata. a. Cortinarius atrosquamosus TN-12-278 (holotype); b. C. aff. atrosquamosus SDA 421; c. C. aff. atrosquamosus JFA10385; d. C. brunneofibrillosus 11MWB111813; e. C. clandestinus DBB21905 (western); f. C. clandestinus ADP151006-1 (western); g. C. clandestinus BD325 (eastern); h. C. clandestinus (non-fibrillose scalyform) CLC 3340. — Photos by: a. K. Liimatainen; b–c. S.D. Adams; d. M. Beug; e. D. Bojantchev; f. A.D. Parker; g. B. Dentinger; h. C. Cripps.