Three new species of Aleurodiscus s.l. with corticioid basidiomata are described and illustrated from southern China based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and nrLSU sequence data. Aleurodiscusbambusinus was collected from Jiangxi Province on bamboo and is distinct by having a compact texture, simple-septate generative hyphae, abundant acanthophyses, basidia with acanthophysoid appendages and smooth basidiospores. Aleurodiscusisabellinus was collected from Yunnan Province on both angiosperm wood and bamboo and is distinct by having soft basidiomata with yellow to yellowish-brown hymenophore, yellow acanthophyses, simple-septate generative hyphae and smooth basidiospores. Aleurodiscussubroseus was collected from Guangxi Autonomous Region and Guizhou Province on angiosperm wood and is distinct by having pinkish basidiomata when fresh, clamped generative hyphae, clavate acanthophyses and echinulate basidiospores. In the phylogenetic tree, A.bambusinus and A.isabellinus were nested within the A.cerussatus group, whilst A.subroseus was clustered with A.wakefieldiae. An identification key to 26 species of Aleurodiscus s.l. in China is provided.
Keywords: Stereaceae; acanthophyses; corticioid fungi; taxonomy; wood-inhabiting fungi.