Neomensularia (Hymenochaetaceae) is a new genus introduced for N. duplicata sp. nov. (generic type), N. crocitincta and N. kanehirae combs. nov., based on a combination of distinct morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses inferred from nuc rDNA partial 28S and ITS datasets. The new genus is characterized by annual, pileate, brown to fuscous basidiocarps, duplex context, dimitic hyphal structure, ventricose, and hooked hymenial setae, golden yellow, thick-walled, smooth basidiospores that are negative in both Melzer's reagent and Cotton Blue and a growth habit in tropical forests. Neomensularia duplicata closely resembles Mensularia radiata by hooked hymenial setae, but M. radiata has a homogenous context, larger pores (5-7 per mm), monomitic hyphal structure, hyphoid setae, larger cyanophilic basidiospores and occurs in temperate forests. Central American specimens labeled as Inonotus crocitinctus and Asian specimens identified as Fulvifomes kanehirae were re-examined. The duplex context, hooked hymenial setae and colored basidiospores are similar to N. duplicata Phylogenetic inferences based on 28S and ITS sequence data confirm their affinities with N. duplicata and result in the proposal of new combinations, Neomensularia crocitincta and N. kanehirae.
Keywords: Hymenochaetaceae; phylogeny; taxonomy; wood-rotting fungi.
© 2016 by The Mycological Society of America.