Three new species and two new records of Hydnum (Hydnaceae, Cantharellales) from the Dabie Mountains, China

Hydnum (Hydnaceae, Cantharellales), one of the edible ectomycorrhizal fungi, is characterized by a spine-bearing hymenophore. It is widely distributed in temperate regions and forms stable symbiotic relationships with Fagaceae and Pinaceae. During a survey of macrofungi in the Dabie Mountains region of China, ten specimens of Hydnum were collected.

Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis using three genetic markers (ITS + nrLSU + tef 1-α), three new species (H. luteoalbum, H. albodentum, and H. albotomentosum) were identified and described, and two species newly recorded from the Dabie Mountains (H. berkeleyanum and H. pallidomarginatum) were reported. H. luteoalbum is distinguished by a white pileus covered with white tomentum, dagger-shaped or sword-like spines, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores.

H. albodentum is characterized by a pale brown pileus and subelliptical basidiospores (8.0–8.5 × 6.0–7.0 μm; av. Q = 1.17). H. albotomentosum features smaller basidiocarps, extremely short spines (0.5–2 mm), and globose to subglobose basidiospores.

This study enriches the known taxonomic diversity of Hydnum and provides a dichotomous key to the species of Hydnum in China to facilitate species identification.