The taxonomic identity of Gymnopilus rubrocastaneus recently described from New Zealand

Abstract

Based on the re-examination of type material of Gymnopilus rubrocastaneus, the new combination Cortinarius rubrocastaneus is proposed. Morphological and genetic analysis demonstrated that G. rubrocastaneus does not belong to Gymnopilus but represents a species of Cortinarius closely related to the Northern Hemisphere species C. limonius. The two taxa differ by having a fasciculate growth habit, darker chestnut-red pilei, smaller basidiospores (7.1 × 5.5 μm), more slender basidia (30.1 × 6.8 μm), and more slender marginal cells (28.9 × 7.3 μm).