Circumscription and phylogeny of the Lepidostromatales (lichenized Basidiomycota) following discovery of new species from China and Africa.

Based on an exhaustive sampling of all known Lepidostromatales, a lineage of clavarioid lichen-forming basidiomycetes, we assess (i) the phylogenetic affinities of the six Chinese species currently accommodated inMulticlavula(Cantharellales) based on inferences from the 18S and 28S subunits of the nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat and (ii) the phylogenetic structure among Chinese populations of Lepidostromatales, based on the nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer [ITS]) regions.Multiclavula fossicolaandM. sinensisbelong to the Lepidostromatales and are transferred toSulzbacheromyces. Chinese reports ofM. claraandM. vernalisbelong to species of Lepidostromatales, and specimens identified asM. mucidabelong to the nonlichenized genusClavaria. Hence, evidence ofMulticlavulaoccurring in China is lacking. Similarly,L. calocerumis excluded from the Chinese flora. The recently describedL. asianumshould be regarded as conspecific withS. sinensis. Three new species ofSulzbacheromycesare described:S. bicolorandS. yunnanensisfrom China andS. miomboensisfrom the Democratic Republic of Congo. Consequently,Sulzbacheromycesis new to Asia and Africa. A worldwide key to the species of Lepidostromatales is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]