New Cortinarius Species Discovered on Qinghai‑Xizang Plateau

During a recent survey of macrofungal diversity across the Qinghai‑Xizang Plateau, four specimens morphologically assignable to Cortinarius were collected from distinct forest types in southwestern China. The study was led by Tai‑Shun Li, Ying Zhang, Yan‑Yan Yang, Hong‑Bin Guan, Fang Wu, and Qi Zhao, who used detailed morphological characteristics coupled with molecular phylogenetic analyses to recognize two new taxa within the section Telamonia of the family Cortinariaceae. These findings are reported in MycoKeys 138 (2024) under DOI 10.3897/mycokeys.138.186765 ¹.net].

The first new species, Cortinarius linzhiensis, was collected from mixed Quercus–Picea stands near Linzhi County. It is distinguished by a weakly hygrophanous, wrinkled pileus surface; its margin retains spiderweb‑like veil remnants, and the stipe apex occasionally shows a pale violet tint. The second species, Cortinarius pallidomarginatus, originates from subtropical broadleaved forests dominated by Castanopsis, Lithocarpus, and Cyclobalanopsis. This taxon features a reddish‑brown pileus with a contrasting white margin. Both species were supported by multilocus phylogenies based on ITS, LSU, and tef1‑α sequences that placed them firmly within the Telamonia clade. Detailed illustrations accompany the formal descriptions.

These discoveries add to an expanding catalogue of Cortinarius diversity across Asia, where numerous novel taxa have been described over recent years. The genus is renowned for its extraordinary species richness and cosmopolitan distribution, making it a focal point for mycologists studying fungal biodiversity in diverse habitats.

Morphological traits—particularly the distinctive pileus coloration and marginal veil remnants—provide useful field markers for mushroom hunters exploring southwestern China’s mixed forest ecosystems.

The study underscores ongoing efforts to document fungal biodiversity in Asia, highlighting how targeted surveys combined with modern molecular tools can uncover previously overlooked species even within well‑studied genera such as Cortinarius. These findings also illustrate the ecological importance of subtropical broadleaved forests and mixed Quercus–Picea stands as reservoirs of fungal diversity, offering new opportunities for both scientific research and responsible foraging practices.