Entoloma qingluan J. Q. Yan, Y. Q. Xu & S. N. Wang, 2025

Entoloma qingluan J. Q. Yan, Y. Q. Xu & S. N. Wang sp. nov.

Fig. 2 View Figure 2

Etymology.

Derived from Hanyu Pinyin, the epithet alludes to the Qingluan bird of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, whose plumage matches the fungus’s color.

Chinese name.

青鸾粉褶菌.

Holotype.

China • Fujian Province, Wuyishan , 16 August 2023, collected by Nian-kai Zeng, Cheng-feng Nie, Hua-zhi Qin, Hui Deng, Tian Jiang, Run-xiang Zhao, HFJAU 5122 .

Diagnosis.

Entoloma qingluan is mainly characterized by the rather small, tricholomatoid basidiomata; a convex, bluish grey to blackish blue pileus; paler greyish blue lamellae with sterile lamellae edge; narrow clavate cheilocystidia, and pileipellis cells containing dark brown vacuolar pigments; clamp connections absent.

Macromorphology.

Basidiomata rather small, tricholomatoid. Pileus 6.0–8.0 mm wide, convex, slightly umbonate, bluish grey to blackish blue (20 F 3–5), darker at center, paler toward margin, margin entire, slightly involute. Lamellae moderately distant, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, adnate, ventricose, with two tiers of lamellulae, paler greyish blue (21 C 5), edge serrate to crenate, concolorous. Stipe 7.0–16.5 × 1.2–2.0 mm, central, terete, slightly broadened downward, hollow, blue-black to dark blue or greyish blue (20 E 5–20 D 4), the surface is covered with white, velutinous to fibrillose-scales, base with white tomentum. Odor and taste not recorded.

Micromorphology.

Basidiospores (7.5) 8.5–10.5 × 6.5–8.0 (8.5) μm, av = 9.4 × 7.2 μm, Q = 1.2–1.3 (Qm = 1.29 ± 0.03, n = 52), heterodiametrical, 5–7 - angled in profile view, thick-walled, appearing nodulose, inamyloid. Basidia 37.0–54.5 × 9.0–12.5 μm, clavate, 4 - spored. Pleurocystidia absent. Lamellae edge sterile, poliopus-type. Cheilocystidia clustered on lamella edge, 9.5–25.5 × 3.0–6.0 μm, narrowly clavate to subcylindrical. Lamellar trama regular, hyphae cells 3.5–6.0 µm wide. Pileipellis a trichoderm made up of clavate terminal cells, 5.5–16.0 μm, slightly constricted or level at the septa, with rounded or acute ends and dark brown vacuolar pigment. Stipitipellis transitional between cutis and trichoderm, composed of hyphae 4.0–8.0 μm wide, slightly constricted at septa, apices rounded, with brilliant granules abundant. Clamp connections absent.

Habitat.

Scattered on mixed forest floors dominated by broad-leaved trees, such as Pinus spp. and Pterocarya spp.

Additional specimens examined.

China • Fujian Province, Wuyishan , 16 August 2023, collected by Nian-kai Zeng, Cheng-feng Nie, Hua-zhi Qin, Hui Deng, Tian Jiang, Run-xiang Zhao, HFJAU 5723 .

Notes.

Considering the characteristics of this species, such as a darker-colored center on the pileus, blue stipe, and sterile lamella edges of the poliopus-type, this species can be classified into the subg. Cyanula sect. Asprella ( Noordeloos et al. 2022 a) . However, it is impossible to classify E. qingluan into any of the subsections under this group based solely on morphological characteristics. Morphologically, this species is most similar to E. cistocruentatum Vila, Noordel. & Dima. However , E. cistocruentatum has fertile lamellae edges, lacks cheilocystidia, and possesses blue pigment in the pileipellis ( Noordeloos et al. 2022 b).

Morphologically, the new species is easily confused with E. cyaneolilacinum Noordel., J. B. Jordal, Brandrud & Dima. Both have a blue pileus and stipe, similar-sized spores, and brown vacuolar pigment in the pileipellis. However, the latter has a pileus with translucent stripes, emarginate lamellae that are white with a faint bluish tinge, fertile edges, and lacks cheilocystidia ( Crous et al. 2021 a). In addition, E. azureosquamulosum Xiao L. He & T. H. Li , discovered in southern China, also shows considerable similarity to this species. Both exhibit tricholomatoid basidiomata, with a blue pileus, adnate lamellae, sterile lamella edges, regular lamellar trama, and trichoderm pileipellis. However, E. azureosquamulosum has white to pink lamellae with a blue-tinged edge, fusoid cheilocystidia, and caulocystidia ( He et al. 2012).