Four new species of Marasmius subgenus Globulares (Marasmiaceae, Agaricales) from subtropical regions of China

Marasmius is a large genus in Agaricales, exhibiting rich species diversity and a wide distribution. In this study, four new species of Marasmius belonging to the subgenus Globulares were identified in subtropical regions of China. Morphologically, M. blandus is characterized by a light orange pileus, with a non-striate surface, medium-sized basidiospores, and subfusiform to narrowly utriform pleurocystidia; M. xingshanensis is identified by a brown pileus, variably shaped pleurocystidia, and absence of cheilocystidia; M. vulgaris is identified by large basidiospores, which are up to 16.0 μm long, narrowly fusiform to lageniform pleurocystidia, often with capitate, papillate, or constricted moniliform structures at apices; M. subpurpureostriatus is recognized by a grayish-green pileus with deeply sulcate violet striae, lamellae distant, and clavate to fusoid-clavate basidiospores, which are up to 22.0 μm long.

The distinct taxonomic status of these four new species was confirmed by their positions in the 4 - locus (ITS, LSU, tef- 1 α, rpb 2) phylogenetic trees. Detailed descriptions and morphological photographs of four new species are provided in this paper.