Morpho-molecular characterisation of Arecophila , with A.australis and A.clypeata sp. nov. and A.miscanthi comb. nov.

Three arecophila-like fungal samples were collected on dead culms of gramineous plants in China. Morphological studies of our new collections and the herbarium specimen of Arecophilagulubiicola (generic type) were conducted and the morphological affinity of our new collections with Arecophila was confirmed. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses using combined ITS, LSU, rpb 2 and β-tubulin data from our collections revealed the phylogeny of Cainiaceae . The monospecific genus Alishanica (type species Al.miscanthi ), which had been accepted in Cainiaceae , is revisited and synonymised under Arecophila . Based on morphology and phylogeny, Arecophilaaustralis sp. nov. and A.clypeata sp. nov. are introduced as new species, while A.miscanthi is a new record for China. All the new collections are illustrated and described.
(Qi Rui Li, Xu Zhang, Yan Lin, Milan C. Samarakoon, Kevin David Hyde, Xiang Chun Shen, Wan Qing Liao, Anuruddha Karunarathna, Si Han Long, Ying Qian Kang, Ji Chuan Kang.)