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| Agrocybe himalayensis Choudhary, Uniyal & Y.P.Sharma, in Choudhary, Sharma et Uniyal, 2026. |
Abstract
A new species, Agrocybe himalayensis (Strophariaceae), from Uttarakhand Himalaya, India, is described based on macro- and micro-morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analyses. This species is characterised by its pale-orange to yellow-brown pileus with distinct umbo, wavy cream margin, crowded pale-salmon to fleshy brown lamellae (often anastomosing), and ellipsoid basidiospores 8.7–11.4 × 6.6–7.8 μm. A phylogenetic tree, line drawings and photographs are provided, as is a table of morphological characters of the new and closely related species.
Keywords: nrITS, Phylogeny, Strophariaceae, Uttarakhand
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| Macro- and micromorphological images of Agrocybe himalayensis Choudhary, Uniyal & Y.P.Sharma, sp. nov. A and B, Fresh basidiomata in the field and basecamp; C, basidiospores; D, basidia; E–G, pleurocystidia; H, cheilocystidia; I, pileocystidia. Scale bars: A, 10 mm; C–I, 10 μm. All images of the holotype, S. Choudhary, P. Uniyal & Y.P. Sharma 2139, taken by Priyanka Uniyal and Shikha Choudhary. |
Agrocybe himalayensis Choudhary, Uniyal & Y.P.Sharma, sp. nov.
Agrocybe himalayensis differs from its closely allied species A.putaminum by its large basidiomata (80mm vs 60mm in A.putaminum), velvety to smooth pale-orange to yellow-brown pileus (vs glabrous, wrinkled, yellow brown), distinct umbo (vs slight umbo), margin not clearly demarcated, wavy, cream (vs inflexed to deflexed – sometimes wrinkled and reflexed, and light brown). It also differs in its crowded, pale-salmon to fleshy brown lamellae often anastomosing (vs well spaced, pale yellow decurrent and toothed), stipe without any velar remnants (vs strongly fibrillose to dark-brown granulose-flocculose), presence of large basidiospores 8.7–11.4 × 6.6–7.8 μm (vs 11.7–13.8 × 7.5–8.5 μm) and with pleurocystidia 26–45.5 × 11.4–18 μm (vs 38.9–56.9 × 13–27 μm) and cheilocystidia 24.5–32.6 × 7.9–14.3 μm (vs 44–63 × 11–14 μm).
S. Choudhary, Y. P. Sharma, P. Uniyal. 2026. AGROCYBE HIMALAYENSIS (STROPHARIACEAE), A NEW SPECIES from INDIAN HIMALAYA. EDINBURGH JOURNAL OF BOTANY. 83, 3599. DOI: doi.org/10.24823/ejb.2026.3599 [2026-08-25]
