New Jiangsu Polypores Discovered: Coriolopsis albescens & Polyporus laoshanensis

A recent study published in MycoKeys reports the discovery of two new polypore fungi from Jiangsu Province, China—Coriolopsis albescens sp. nov. and Polyporus laoshanensis sp. nov. The work was carried out by Qiu‑Yue Zhang, Yu‑Han Cao, Xing‑Xu Chen, Mo‑Han Huang, Zhuo Wang, Feng‑Ming Shi, Shu Lv, and Hai‑Dong Li, who collected specimens during systematic surveys of decaying wood across the province ¹.net].

Coriolopsis albescens is described as an annual, resupinate basidioma with a white to pale brown pore surface. Its pores are round to angular, measuring 0.5–1.5 per millimeter, and it possesses a trimitic hyphal system. Basidiospores are cylindrical, ranging from 8–12 ×3.2–4 µm.

In contrast, Polyporus laoshanensis presents as an annual, solitary, elliptical basidioma featuring a black stipe and a pale yellow pileal surface with dark brown margins. The fruit body is glabrous, occasionally showing distinct concentric zones and radial stripes; its pores are angular, occurring at 3–6 per millimeter, and it has a dimitic hyphal system. Cylindrical basidiospores measure 8–12 ×3–5 µm.

These findings add two new taxa to the family Polyporaceae and broaden our understanding of Basidiomycota diversity in eastern China. Systematic field surveys revealed these species even in well‑studied areas like Jiangsu Province.

From a foraging perspective, while neither Coriolopsis albescens nor Polyporus laoshanensis are known to be edible, their discovery highlights the ecological roles polypores play in nutrient cycling and wood decay. Accurate identification—now supported by detailed morphological descriptions—helps prevent misidentification with potentially toxic look‑alikes. Moreover, the study’s authors note potential applications of these fungi in forestry or medicine, given their enzymatic capabilities and bioactive compounds typical of polypore species ¹.net].