Species diversity and taxonomy of Vararia (Russulales, Basidiomycota) with descriptions of six species from Southwestern China Author Deng, Yinglian https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8220-508X The Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the South-west Mountains of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Southwest China, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of In-forest Re-source, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China Author Jabeen, Sana https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8839-7716 College of Biodiversity Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China Author Zhao, Changlin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8668-1075 The Key Laboratory of Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the South-west Mountains of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Biodiversity Conservation in Southwest China, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of In-forest Re-source, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China fungichanglinz@163.com text MycoKeys 2024 2024-03-22 103 97 128 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.103.118980 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.103.118980 1314-4049-103-97 9B8DCBBA226C5B1BAFBE15B6C2B4E067 Vararia punctata Y.L. Deng & C.L. Zhao sp. nov. Figs 9 , 10 Holotype. China. Yunnan Province, Dali, Weishan Country, Qinghua Town, Green Peacock Nature Reserve, 25°23'35"N , 100°31'39"E , altitude 1500 m a.s.l., on the fallen branch of angiosperm, leg. C.L. Zhao, 18 July 2022, CLZhao 22439 (SWFC). Figure 9. Basidiomata of Vararia punctata (holotype). Scale bars: 1 cm ( A ); 1 mm ( B ). Etymology. Punctata (Lat.): referring to the species having cushion-shaped basidioma. Figure 10. Microscopic structures of Vararia punctata (holotype) A a section of hymenium B basidia C basidioles D gloeocystidia E basidiospores F dichohyphae. Scale bars: 10 µm ( A-F ). Description. Basidiomata annual, membranous, soft, adnate, without odor or taste when fresh, up to 50 mm long, 15 mm wide, and 90-150 µm thick. Hymenial surface smooth, and white to cream when fresh, cream when dry. Sterile margin thin, distinct, narrow, whitish, attached, and up to 1 mm. Hyphal system dimitic, generative hyphae bearing simple-septa, colorless, thin to slightly thick-walled, rarely branched, interwoven, 2-3 µm in diameter, IKI-, CB-, tissues unchanged in KOH. Dichohyphae predominate, white to cream, capillary, frequently branched, thick-walled, 1 µm in diameter, dichotomously to irregularly branched with main branches and acute tips, weakly to moderately dextrinoid in Melzer's reagent, CB-, tissues unchanged in KOH. Skeletal hyphae colorless, thick-walled, 2-3 µm in diameter, IKI-, CB-, tissues unchanged in KOH; subhymenial hyphae densely covered by bulk crystals. Gloeocystidia clavate to cylindrical, usually containing oil droplets, colorless, smooth, thick-walled, and 12-21 x 5-9 µm . Basidia subcylindrical, with four sterigmata and a basal simple septum, 11-25 x 4-7 µm ; basidioles in shape similar to basidia, but slightly smaller. Basidiospores ellipsoid, colorless, thin-walled, smooth, with oil drops, amyloid, CB-, 6-10 x 4-6(-6.5) µm , L = 7.81 µm , W = 5.1 µm , Q = 1.51-1.56 (n = 120/4). Additional specimen examined (paratype). China. Yunnan Province, Dali, Weishan Country, Qinghua Town, Green Peacock Nature Reserve, 25°23'35"N , 100°31'39"E , altitude 1500 m a.s.l., on the fallen branch of angiosperm, leg. C.L. Zhao, 18 July 2022, CLZhao 22423 (SWFC).