Volvariella variicystidiosa sp. nov. (Agaricaceae, Basidiomycota) from Punjab, Pakistan Author Haqnawaz, Muhammad Author Khan, Zaman Author Niazi, Abdul Rehman Author Khalid, Abdul Nasir text Phytotaxa 2023 2023-01-06 578 2 189 198 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.578.2.5 journal article 10.11646/phytotaxa.578.2.5 1179-3163 7517860 Volvariella variicystidiosa Haqnawaz, Zaman, Niazi & Khalid , sp. nov. ( Figures 1 , 2 ). MycoBank 845960 Etymology:—The specific epithet “ variicystidiosa ” (Latin) refers to variable shapes and sizes of cheilocystidia. Diagnosis:—convex to concave pileus, dull brown umbo with grayish brown striations; basidiospores broadly ellipsoid to obovoid; cheilocystidia abundant variable in shape, cymbiform to mucronate, narrowly to broadly moniliform with a broad base, broadly ellipsoid, triangular to conical; pleurocystidia moderately ellipsoid, rarely flexuous, and oblong; light yellow to gray and terminal cell broad cylindrical, apically often mucronate. Holotype :— PAKISTAN . Punjab , Muzaffargarh district , Indus Riverbed , Kot Addu , ( 30°14’44” N , 70°51’04” E , 134 m a.s.l. ) on soil, rich in organic matter, September 03, 2020 , Muhammad Haqnawaz (LAH37568). GenBank OP549026 (ITS). Description:— Basidiomata medium-sized. Pileus 15–24 mm , campanulate when young becoming convex to concave, umbonate at maturity, serrate margins, split like grayish brown (5 YR 6/2) striations toward margin on light gray (5 YR 6/2) surface, light gray (10YR 7/1) to dull brown (7.5 YR 5/3) umbo at the mature stage, wrinkled, sulcate to slightly split cap margin, soft, dry, thin and light gray (10YR 7/1) context. Lamellae dull orange (5 YR 7/3), free, narrow, medium size, 2–4 mm width, average, crowded, fimbriate edges, arid misc, branched, 1–2 tiers. Stipe 48– 25 mm , light gray (7.5 Y 8/1), central, flexuous, very slightly thickened downward, rounded, rough surface, hairy, mycelium present on the base, Volva dark grayish yellow (2.5 Y 4/2) color with three to four limbs, 3–5 mm length. Annulus absent. Taste and odor were not recorded. Basidiospores [60/2/2] (5.3–)5.8 –7.4(–7.6) × (3.7–) 4.1 –5.1(–5.5) µm, avl × avw = 6.5 × 4.7 um, Q = 1.13–1.62 µm, Qav = 1.37 µm, broadly ellipsoid to obovoid, hyaline to light brown in 5% KOH, thick-walled, guttulate. Basidia 24–33 × 77–10 µm, hyaline in 5% KOH, 2–4 spored, thick-walled, clavate, fusiform, smooth, guttulate, clamp connection absent. Cheilocystidia 24–92 × 10–37 µm, abundant, broad variation in size and shape, cymbiform to mucronate, narrowly to broadly moniliform with a broad base, and moderately knobbed lageniform, narrowly to broadly fusiform, utriform, rarely broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid with obtuse apex, triangular to conical hyaline in 5% KOH, and clamp connection absent. Pleurocystidia 42–81 × 12–28 µm, extremely variable in size and shape, moderately narrowly utriform, broadly clavate, ellipsoid, fusiform, rarely flexuous, oblong, hyaline in 5% KOH, and clamp connection absent. Pileipellis 13–35 µm diam., cutis type , terminal cell broad cylindrical, apically often mucronate, 72–136 × 12–30 µm, light yellow to gray in 5% KOH, smooth, branched, septate and clamp connections absent. Stipitipellis 9–25 µm diam., thin-walled, irregular intricate cutis type , light yellow to gray in 5% KOH, branched, clamp connections absent. rarely clavate and smooth caulocystidia present. Ecology : Scattered, terrestrial, on sandy soil rich in organic matter. Additional materials examined : Pakistan , Punjab , bed of Indus River , Kot Addu , Muzaffargarh , ( 30°14’44” N , 70°51’04” E , 134 m a.s.l. ) on soil rich in organic matter, August 16, 2019 , Muhammad Haqnawaz (LAH37569). GenBank OP549027 (ITS). Same location, August 03, 2021 , Muhammad Haqnawaz (LAH37570).GenBank OP549028 (ITS). Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Peelowains ( 31°59’17.36”N , 71°59’25.86”E , 191 m a.s.l. ), August 08, 2021 , Zaman Khan (LAH37571). GenBank OP549025 (ITS) .