Agaricus brunneodiscus, a new species of Agaricus section Rarolentes from India

Abstract

Agaricus brunneodiscus sp. nov. is described from Kerala State, India, based on morphological and molecular (nrITS) data. This species is characterized by medium-sized basidiomes with a white pileus, a brown centre disc breaking up into squamules, polymorphic cheilocystidia, and basidiospores that are considered large among the members of A. sect. Rarolentes. The macro- and micromorphological characters in conjunction with nrITS-based phylogenetic analysis using Maximum Likelihood (ML) method supported the placement of the new species in Agaricus sect. Rarolentes within Agaricus subg. Spissicaules. Descriptions, photographs and comparisons with phenetically similar species are provided.