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The Adiantum pedatum complex is disjunctly distributed in North America and eastern Asia. In this study, we carried out a detailed morphological study based on 137 specimens representing the biogeographic diversity of this complex. The sequences of eight chloroplast markers of 35 samples were analyzed with maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The morphological and phylogenetic analyses support the recognition of a new species of the A. pedatum complex from Japan. We propose the new species as A. japonicum based on the examinations of specimens from Japan and the comparative analyses of the whole complex. This new species can be distinguished from A. pedatum by the erect rhizome and shows significant molecular differences from other species in this complex. A taxonomic description with detailed morphological characters of the new species is presented.

Based on field investigations and a review of relevant literature and specimens, Agapetes leiocarpa is shown to be conspecific with A. atrosanguinea and thus is reduced as a synonym under the latter. The floral morphology of A. camelliifolia is described for the first time based on living collections from the wild. Revised descriptions, color plates and taxonomic notes of these two species are also provided.

The authors describe and illustrate four new species of Cryptanthus: C. flesherii, C. lutandensis, C. santosii, and C. solidadeanus. The affinities and distinctness of the new species are supported by the combination of geographical distribution, ecological preference, and morphological characters regarded as the most useful to distinguish taxa in “Cryptanthoid complex”. All described species were recovered as critically endangered. A distribution map as well as taxonomic comments are presented.

Ditiola haasii, a largely unknown member of the Dacrymycetes described from Germany, is documented in detail based on two specimens collected on Picea abies wood in the Boubínský prales virgin forest, Czech Republic. The work represents the first complete taxonomic/ecological investigation of the species since its original description. The morphology of the newly studied samples is evaluated to gain a better knowledge of intraspecific variation, and a phylogenetic analysis based on nrLSU data is provided to further confirm our identification and show the phylogenetic position of D. haasii within the Dacrymycetes. A comparison with similar species and those with which it has been confused is made and ecological details are provided based on our collections. Colour photographs of basidiomata and micromorphological characters are published. Ditiola haasii is currently documented by just six records worldwide, all of them from Central Europe.

In this work, we describe a new species of Ludwigia from southern Brazil. We provide a detailed morphological account, field photographs and a distribution map. We also discuss the morphology and taxonomy of the new species in relation to morphologically similar species and assess its conservation status. Finally, we typify the name L. myrtifolia, which refers to the species morphologically most similar to the new species, and we discuss the distribution of this species.

Lepidaploa restingae, a new species from the restinga vegetation in Northeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. This new species differs from morphologically related species by the branch indument, leaf morphology, number of phyllary series and corolla lobe indument. Taxonomic comments, a distribution map and a preliminary conservation status for the new species are provided.

Panus is a genus of the order Polyporales with a gilled hymenium. Although Panus was earlier considered as a sub genus of the genus Lentinus, molecular phylogenetic studies support the independent status of the genus. As a result, many species were transferred from Lentinus to Panus. Many more species of Lentinus that are more related to Panus, still await critical taxonomic studies and formal transfers. Morphological and molecular data obtained from L. bambusinus and L. roseus reveal that these are Panus species. Two new combinations in the genus Panus are proposed here.

A dead woody sample of Acer sp. with fungal fruiting bodies was collected in Pu’er City of Yunnan Province. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of LSU, ITS, SSU, and tef1-α sequence data showed that our collection belongs to Montagnula and is well separated from all other extant species. Montagnula puerensis is compared with all extant species by morphological characteristics, culture characteristics, host, and location information and is the first report of Montagnula from the host genus Acer.

Portulaca is the only genus in Portulacaceae and includes ca. 115 species with worldwide distribution. 12 species (one naturalized) occur in Cuba. The taxonomic value of seeds characters for the circumscription of species, by comparing macro- and micromorphological characters, is analyzed. The seeds of Cuban purslanes do not present association patterns between types of undulations of the anticline walls. The relief of their periclinal walls allows the corroborate certain variation in the distribution range of some species. The delimitation of Portulaca species in Cuba using seeds characters, provided as an identification key and descriptions, confirms the taxonomic value of such characters and strengthens the circumscriptions supported by the rest of the plant structures. This is largely given by the standardization of macromorphological terms with a micromorphological basis, the color of the mature seeds and their dimensions.

In May 2020, a new taxon of Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae was collected from a dry hillside of Dongsheng District, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. The morphological characteristics of the specimens analyzed differ from those of the known Euphorbia species from this region; therefore, we suspected this may be a new species, and we set to analyze the ITS2 sequences of some Euphorbia species. The results show that the new taxon belongs to the sect. Esula of Euphorbia subg. Esula. It is similar to Euphorbia esula (description from Flora of China) but does not belong to the same species. Concomitantly, plant morphological data and pollen morphology results show significant differences between the new taxon, E. esula and E. caesia, a finding that supports the delimitation of this new taxon, which is named Euphorbia mongoliensis in accordance with its geographical distribution.

A new species, Mallomonas loricata sp. nov., is described from Vietnam based on silica-scale morphology studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The species belongs to section Planae and has similar morphology to species from the Mallomonas matvienkoae complex. The new species is characterized by obovoid scales with a thick secondary layer with internal reticulation that covers almost whole surface of the scale. Scales of Mallomonas loricata were found at twenty-four localities of eight provinces in northern, central and southern areas of Vietnam. Scales of this new species have also been previously reported from Singapore and Malaysia. The distribution and habitat conditions of the new species are summarized.

Iljinskaea is described as a new monospecific genus based on a critical evaluation of morphology and in light of the extensive molecular phylogenetic data. The new combination I. planisiliqua is proposed, and the distinguishing characters separating the new genus from Conringia are discussed. The new tribal assignment of Iljinskaea in the Isatideae is discussed and compared with the previous placement in the Conringieae.

During the investigation of fungal microbiome associated with boxwood in the Czech Republic, samples from Buxus sempervirens L. (Buxaceae) plants were collected and used for isolation. Two fungal strains were proposed as a new species Pyrenochaetopsis kuksensis based on morphology as well as phylogenetic analyses of ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tub2 sequence data. Detailed descriptions and phylogenetic relationships of the new taxon are provided.

A new species of Sistotremastrum J. Erikss. (Basidiomycota, Trechisporales) with (6-8)-spored basidia is described and supported by morphology and phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA sequences.

A new species, Gymnopus alliifoetidissimus, is described from China. It represents the first new species of Gymnopus sect. Impudicae for this country. It is characterized by its small, white basidiomata with a strong alliaceous smell. Additionally, G. densilamellatus and G. similis, originally described from South Korea, are reported as new records to China. Detailed descriptions, colour photographs, illustrations of microcharacters and phylogenetic analyses based on nrDNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-nrLSU) are presented. All known Chinese species were summarised in a preliminary report based on relevant literature and this study, and a key to the reported species of G. sect. Impudicae from China is provided.

A new species, Ainsliaea polystachya X. X. Su & M. J. Zhang is described from Fujian, China, based on morphological traits and molecular markers. The new species is distinct by open panicles, capitula bearing only one flower, and actinomorphic corolla. Keys to the morphologically similar species and phylogenetic allies are proposed.

Based on critical observations on both herbarium specimens (including type material) and living plants in the wild, we demonstrate that Thalictrum brevisericeum var. pentagynum, described recently from Heishui county in northwestern Sichuan province, China, is identical with T. uncinulatum, a widely distributed Chinese species. We therefore reduce T. brevisericeum var. pentagynum as a synonym of T. uncinulatum herein. Lectotypification is proposed for T. uncinulatum.

A new species of Begonia sect. Platycentrum, B. kekarmonyingensis, from Kekar Monying, a place of historical significance in Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India is illustrated and described. It is allied to B. cathcartii and B. menglianensis, and morphological similarities and differences between the species are discussed. It has been assessed as Vulnerable according to IUCN Red List criteria.

Paspalum comprises 350 species worldwide and is the largest genus of Poaceae in Brazil (211 species). The reticulated evolutionary pattern within the informal Paspalum Plicatula Group makes it a challenging species complex to treat taxonomically. The present work aims to study the three annual species P. cordaense, P. macranthecium and P. plowmanii, characterized by spikelet morphology and anthecium appearance, supported by a comprehensive review of herbaria and fieldwork collections of all related species. When ascertaining the identity of P. cordaense, we realized that it is distinct from P. plowmanii, while these two species are closely related to P. macranthecium. These findings are supported by morphological differences and by the first report of unusual chromosome number for P. plowmanii 2n = 38, whereas the numbers in P. cordaense are 2n = 40 and in P. macranthecium 2n = 20, from previously published research. We clarify the circumscription of the three species and provide a key, descriptions, comments, illustrations, distribution maps and conservation status for all species. The lectotypification of P. cordaense is also proposed.

A new species, Epithemia agharkarii sp. nov., is described from the Mula River, Western Ghats, India. The new species is described based on light and scanning electron microscopy; it is characterized by having lanceolate to slightly elliptical valves with rounded apices and being 16–38 μm long and 12.5–17.5 μm wide. Based on morphology, especially the atypical position of the raphe, it is similar to E. reicheltii. The new species is differentiated from the latter by the valve outline, shape of the apices, specific position of the raphe and breadth. We discuss the possible phylogenetic position of these two taxa and recent proposals related to the classification of Rhopalodia and Epithemia.

Inoue lectotypified the entire packet (G-010992/G00064158) of Plagiochila cuspidata Steph., but after re-examination, only a single plant in between two mica sheets should be considered the lectotype instead of the entire packet. Furthermore a note on differentiating P. cuspidata and P. parvifolia as two distinct species is provided here.

Leucheria (Asteraceae, Mutisioideae, Nassauvieae) has been traditionally defined as a South American genus with 49 species. In the context of an ongoing revision of the genus, we observed that 10 Chilean species (Leucheria cerberoana, L. cumingii, L. glabriuscula, L. glandulosa, L. menana, L. multiflora, L. oligocephala, L. senecioides, L. tenuis, L. tomentosa) were morphologically difficult to distinguish from each other. This group of species, called here the Leucheria cerberoana complex, shares the following features that differ from the other species of Leucheria: marginal florets and fruits of the capitulum tightly enclosed by the outer and the inner phyllaries, synaptospermy and a dimorphic pappus. Here, we test the current morphological circumscription of these 10 species on the basis of the analysis of 171 specimens. We carried out multivariate analyses (Principal Coordinate Analysis and K-means) based on 16 external morphological characters. We also examined anatomically the underground organs because these species were distinguished from each other by their annual or perennial life cycle. We found that all the specimens analyzed have underground organs with secondary growth and thus there are not annual species in this group. Our results showed that there are no morphological gaps among specimens supporting the hypothesis of a single species. It is proposed here to synonymize these species under the name Leucheria tomentosa (Lessing) Crisci. With this change, the number of species of Leucheria is reduced from 49 to 40.

During our surveys of freshwater fungi on submerged wood in the Greater Mekong Subregion, a rhexodenticula-like taxon was collected, described and illustrated. The new collection is identified based on analyses of combined LSU, SSU, ITS and TEF sequence data, and morphological comparison with other Rhexodenticula species. According to the morphology and molecular analysis, our collection is not known before and hence, we introduce here as Rhexodenticula aquatica sp. nov. This species is characterized by macronematous, subcylindrical, unbranched conidiophores, polyblastic, terminal conidiogenous cells and fusiform, 3-septate, verruculose conidia, and schizolytic conidial secession. Rhexodenticula is referred to Sordariomycetidae genera incertae sedis due to its unstable phylogenetic placement in Sordariomycetidae.

Mahonia lancasteri (Berberidaceae) is described from cultivation as a new species from west-central Sichuan, China. A detailed description, distributional data and ecological information along with color photographs are provided. In addition, a comparison of M. lancasteri with morphologically similar species, as well as information about its introduction and history in cultivation, is presented. We also performed a phylogenetic analysis using five molecular loci (nuclear ITS, accD, ndhF, rbcL and psbA-trnH) to further determine the close affinities of M. lancasteri. The new species naturally occurs in sympatry with several other Mahonia species.

A new species, Encyonema oblonga Liu & Xie, is collected during a survey of the freshwater diatom flora of Manghe River, Shanxi, China. The valves of this new species are oblong with rounded apices and have the features typical of Encyonema, including complex areolae. We compare the new species with the most similar taxa, E. leei, E. leei var. sinensis and E. appalachianum and consider that E. leei var. sinensis is the valid name. The morphology of E. oblonga is documented with light and scanning electron microscopy.

Camellia langbianensis is a species endemic to southern Vietnam. It was described by Gagnepain based on the collection of Poilane and was rediscovered about 80 years since published. The complete descriptions and illustrations are provided for this species. A comment on the affinities with closely related species C. vidalii is also shown. It is accessed to be Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN categories and criteria.

During a survey on diversity of freshwater fungi along a north-south latitudinal gradient in Asia, three fresh specimens of Minimelanolocus were collected from submerged wood in streams in northwestern Yunnan Province, China. Based on their distinct morphological features and phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU and SSU sequence data, Minimelanolocus nujiangensis and M. clavatus are described as new species and M. submersus was recollected from Yunnan, China. Illustrations and descriptions with notes of the three species are provided. This study increases the known diversity of Minimelanolocus and enriches freshwater fungal resources.

A new fern species, Selliguea wusugongii (Polypodiaceae), is described from southeastern Xizang, China. Morphologically, S. wusugongii is distinguished in the genus by having long need-like fronds with width of the lamina only 0.8–1.1 mm, and is the species with the narrowest laminae in selligueoid ferns. The new species is most similar to some Malay selligueoid ferns in morphology, S. bisulcata and S. subsparsa for example, by having simple fronds, narrow laminae and marginal rounded sori, but differs from them in having considerably more scattered scales, frond monomorphic and up to 40 cm long. A phylogenetic analysis based on five plastid markers supported the new species as most closely related to S. rhynchophylla. However, the two species are different from each other in quite a few morphological characteristics, such as the size of fronds and the visibility of venation, and the position of sori.

Trichosanthes sunhangii D.G.Zhang, Z.M.Li, Qun Liu & T.Deng, a new species of Cucurbitaceae, is described and illustrated. It was collected in Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei province, east-central China. T. sunhangii is morphologically similar to T. kirilowii Maxim. and T. rosthornii Harms, but can be easily distinguished from them by its bracts, tendrils and fruits. Phylogenetic analyses based on three DNA barcode markers (ITS, matK and rpl20-rps12) indicated that two accessions of T. sunhangii were grouped together (PP=1.00, BP=100 and LP=100) in Sect. Foliobracteola.

Holodiscus dumosus var. cedrorum, The Cedars oceanspray, was described in 2011 in recognition of the distinct morphology of populations occurring on serpentine soils in The Cedars area in the Outer Coast Ranges of Sonoma County, California. Morphological and genetic data suggest that this taxon should instead be treated as a variety of Holodiscus discolor, here interpreted broadly as a widespread and highly variable species with several taxonomic varieties that intergrade. The new combination Holodiscus discolor var. cedrorum is made and a key to the varieties that occur in California is provided.

Monogeneric Aponogetonaceae is sister to the rest of tepaloid core Alismatales and its members are characterized by a number of plesiomorphic features including monosulcate pollen. A recent study documented the earliest fossil pollen records of Aponogeton in late Cretaceous and early Cenozoic as well as recognized six pollen types in the genus. However, there are remaining gaps in palynological investivation of Aponogeton species. We present data on eight Indian species of the genus. Pollen of Aponogeton appendiculatus, A. crispus, A. bruggenii, A. microphyllus, A. natans, A. nateshii and A. wolfgangianus is reticulate with quite small lumina of irregular shape with short, convex and wide muri bearing small (up to 0.5 μm) echini. Pollen of Aponogeton satarensis clearly differs from that of the rest of examined species in larger lumina and muri bearing large (0.8–1 μm) and wide conical echini. These palynological differences fit well with molecular phylogenetic data and earlier ideas based on gross morphology. Our data suggest that although exine sculpturing is taxonomically significant in Aponogeton, the use of size of echini as a character distinguishing some palynotypes is problematic. Quantitative characters such as equatorial diameter and polar axis length showed no clear differences between examined species, but differences were found between analyzed samples (more precise, individuals) of the same species. Our new data support the earlier conclusion on the homoplastic nature of pollen evolution in Aponogeton.

Based on morphological and molecular evidence, Luisia yunnanensis (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. A detailed comparison between the newly discovered orchid and other members of Luisia is presented. Molecular analysis of nrITS and plastid DNA (matK, rbcL) sequence data show that L. yunnanensis is sister to L. filiformis with strong support.

Ludwigia venugopalanii , a new species of Ludwigia from Western Ghats, Kerala (Southwestern India), is described and illustrated. The new species Ludwigia venugopalanii is morphologically similar to L. palustris from which it differs by alternate phyllotaxy, length and pubescence of calyx tube, absence of bracteoles, shape of ovule and capsule morphology.

A new species of the southern Africa endemic genus Eliokarmos, that includes the well-known chincherinchees, is described from the vicinity of Kotzesrus, Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Eliokarmos humanii sp. nov. is unique in the genus based on its single, slightly fleshy, suborbicular, convex leaf with ciliate margin, and the short subspiciform inflorescence with almost sessile flowers. A complete description is presented for this species, and data on morphology, ecology, and distribution are reported. In addition, Ornithogalum richtersveldensis, recently described from northwestern South Africa, is transferred to Eliokarmos based on its morphology and biogeography, and a new combination is presented for this species in the latter genus.

A new species of Gonolobus from northwestern Mexico with green and barbate corollas is described here. Gonolobus naturalistae is morphologically similar to G. barbatus, G. pectinatus, and G. sororius but differs in corolla and corona morphology and distribution. Descriptions, illustrations, morphological comparisons, and geographic distribution maps of these species, as well as their conservation status, are provided. This discovery highlights Mexico as a center of diversity for the genus, with around 40 species recorded, and highlights its endemism, with 48.7% of the species occurring in the country.

This study contributes to the morphological characterization of Ombrophytum villamariensis, a new species of Neotropical Balanophoraceae recently described for Colombia. The study revealed the presence of diagnostic characters in the pollen grain such as small size and a circular endoaperture. Unlike other species, only tricolporate pollen grains were observed.

Plantago robusta is a critically endangered species endemic to Saint Helena Island, a remote British island located in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. Despite its already acknowledged considerable importance for biodiversity conservation, the species is notably poorly studied from a systematic point of view. In this work we typify the name P. robusta and present a complete account of the morphology of the species, including illustrations, field photographs and a complete description. Furthermore, we discuss important knowledge gaps concerning the species.

Three Panamanian cloud forest species in the genus Lycianthes are newly described: L. coloradensis, from the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca; L. fortunensis from Chiriquí Province, Veraguas Province, and the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca; and L. talamancensis from Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí provinces. All three species are woody vines with tan, yellow, or orange-brown multangulate-stellate trichomes and entire to nearly entire white to purple corollas. In terms of vegetative morphology and trichome characteristics, L. coloradensis most closely resembles L. purpusii of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, L. fortunensis resembles the widespread L. multiflora, and L. talamancensis resembles L. hortulana of Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. This article provides species descriptions, maps of geographic distributions, specimen images of each species, and comparison tables of morphological characters used to separate L. coloradensis, L. fortunensis and L. talamancensis from similar species.

During a survey of the sub-Antarctic diatom flora, several populations previously identified as Fragilaria alpestris were reanalysed and compared with type material of the latter species. The morphological ultrastructure of the type of F. alpestris, the sub-Antarctic populations and an additional population of F. cf. alpestris from Spitsbergen has been analysed using light and scanning electron microscopy observations. The analysis revealed that Fragilaria alpestris clearly belongs to the genus Fragilaria whereas the sub-Antarctic populations show all morphological features of the genus Staurosira. Comparison with similar taxa worldwide showed that these populations belonged to an unknown taxon that could not be identified using the currently available literature. A new species, Staurosira vandenbusscheana Van de Vijver sp. nov. is therefore described. The F. cf. alpestris population from Spitsbergen forms long, ribbon-like colonies, unlike the type of F. alpestris that never produces band-like colonies. Following the observation of additional morphological differences such as the presence of two rimoportulae and the shape of the linking spines, the Spitsbergen taxon is described as a new species: Fragilaria confusa sp. nov. The three taxa described herein share a number of morphological features. Their specific features are detailed below along with notes on their ecology. A literature survey and an analysis of the records for F. alpestris are given.

Two new species of Gomphonema Ehrenberg are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical observations. These are Gomphonema kallarense sp. nov. found in India and G. kezlyae sp. nov. found in India and Vietnam. We also report and document the morphology and variability of G. doonense from Vietnam, a species previously described from India based on a limited number of valves. Both G. doonense and G. kallarense have striae composed of doubly-punctate striae that are without occlusions, while G. kezlyae has striae with single rows of areolae that have external occlusions giving the impression of C-shaped openings. Our investigation shows that India and Vietnam share some species in common, adding additional evidence that the biogeography of freshwater diatoms from the tropics warrants future investigation.

Integrating morphological and phylogenetic evidence is important for the taxonomy of Apiaceae. Here, we employed morphology of mericarps and molecular evidence to corroborate that two species of Haplosphaera are members of Hansenia. The results showed that Haplosphaera and Hansenia are similar carpologically. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS data revealed that Haplosphaera is not monophyletic and the two species are embedded in Hansenia. Therefore, the two species of Haplosphaera are transferred to Hansenia, and reasonable taxonomical treatments are proposed.

Trigonotis motuoensis, a distinct new species endemic to Xizang, China, is described and illustrated. It can be easily distinguished from all other known congeneric species by the ebracteate inflorescences, broadly spatulate calyx lobes and obliquely trigonous-tetrahedral nutlets that have flat bottom surface and triangular abaxial surfaces. Our molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nrITS confirmed that it belongs to Trigonotis sect. Elongatae. An updated key to the species of Trigonotis from Xizang is also provided.

Ipomoea noemana, a new species of Ipomoea endemic to the Marañón river area in Peru and known from a single population, is described and illustrated. Its relationship with other species of Ipomoea is discussed in the light of its morphology and molecular analysis of DNA barcode sequences.

The flora of Chernihiv Polissya (northern Ukraine) is rich in rare taxa of desmids. One of these taxa is Cosmarium perforatum var. skujae Grönblad, the eighth documented occurrence of this taxon in Europe. Based on observations over several years, the morphology and taxonomy of C. perforatum var. skujae is discussed comparing it to the type variety C. perforatum var. perforatum living in the same habitat. Distinct morphological characters and differences in variability between these closely affiliated taxa are grounds for elevating C. perforatum var. skujae to the status of an independent species. In order to avoid homonymy with Cosmarium skujae Willi Krieger & Gerloff, a new name, Cosmarium tutum is proposed for this taxon.

A new species from the genus Placoneis (Bacillariophyceae: Cymbellales) is described on the basis molecular and morphological data. Placoneis cattiensis Glushchenko, Kezlya, Kulikovskiy & Kociolek sp. nov. is described from soil collected from the bottom of a dry, temporary stream in the forest of Сát Tiên National Park in Vietnam. On the basis of molecular data our new species appears to be more closely related to two strains of Placoneis previously identified as P. elginensis. However, P. cattiensis shows lower statistical support with two strains of P. elginensis on the basis ML. Additionally, P. cattiensis is distinguished from P. elginensis on the basis of morphological features such as the shape of the valve, breadth and density of areolae and striae. Comparisons of P. cattiensis with other similar species are given.

During a survey of entomopathogenetic fungi from Southwest China, a new species, Akanthomyces lepidopterorum was found on an undetermined lepidopteran larva. It differs from other species based on mostly smaller conidia, mononematous conidiophores and moderate length of phialide. Both the morphological identification and phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS, LSU and RPB2 sequence data support A. lepidopterorum as a new species. A new combination is also proposed in the genus Akanthomyces.

Two new fungal species, Phaeosaccardinula dalbergiae and Phaeosaccardinula yunnanensis collected from Yunnan Province, China are described based on morphology and molecular data. They are compared with related taxa of Phaeosaccardinula. Detailed description, illustrations and notes are provided for each species. Molecular analysis based on the phylogenetic tree of combined internal transcribed spacer and large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences show that the two species form distinct clusters within the genus Phaeosaccardinula.

During a survey of keratinolytic fungi in China, three Cunninghamella strains were isolated. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and ITS+LSU+EF-1α sequence data showed that these strains constitute a new species related to C. blakesleeana, C. bigelovii, C. multiverticillata and C. phaeospora. The new species differs from C. multiverticillata and C. phaeospora in the shape and size of its teminal and lateral vesicles and can be distinguished from C. blakesleeana and C. bigelovii by the absent of zygosporangia, and the shape and size of it sporangioles. The results of phylogenetic and morphological analyses indicate that the three strains are a new species of Cunninghamella. Descriptions and illustrations of this novel species are provided in this paper.

A species of Hypoxylon, found on dead wood in China, differs from H. hypomiltum and H. samuelsii in having highly carbonaceous stromata, asci with a long stipe and wider ascospores. Based on morphology and molecular phylogeny, it is described as a new species, H. wujiangensis sp. nov. A detailed description and illustration are provided, along with molecular evidence for the new species.

Hymenidium dentatum (Wall. ex DC.) Pimenov & Kljuykov was a little-known species that was regarded as endemic to the Himalayan region. It is known that many species are under-collected impeded taxonomic studies and the traditionally recognized genera Pleurospermum (Hymenidium and Pterocyclus) were polyphyletic group. In this study, two naturally occurring populations of H. dentatum were discovered in China and morphological traits and ITS sequence data were studied to confirm the phylogenetic position of H. dentatum, which was located in Sinodielsia clade and close to the generic type of Hymendium. A comprehensive description of H. dentatum along with distribution, habitats and specimens examined and discuss suggestions for the conservation of this species were carried out comprehensively referring to our fieldwork.