Two new species of Entoloma subg. Cyanula sect. Asprella (Entolomataceae, Agaricales) from subtropical regions of China

41 Two new species of Entoloma subg. Cyanula sect. Asprella (Entolomataceae, Agaricales) from subtropical regions of China Yu-Qin Xu1, Hui Zeng2, Liu-Hua Guo1, Jun-Qing Yan1, Sheng-Nan Wang1,3 1 Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Excavation and Utilization of Agricultural Microorganisms, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China 2 Institute of Edible mushroom, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350011, China 3 Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Subtropical Forest Resource Cultivation, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China Corresponding authors: Jun-Qing Yan ([email protected]); Sheng-Nan Wang ([email protected]) Copyright: © Yu-Qin Xu et al. This is an open access article distributed under terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 International – CC BY 4.0). Research Article Abstract Two new species of Entoloma subg. Cyanula, E. qingluan and E. zilin, are described from subtropical regions of China based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. E. qingluan is characterized by blue basidiomata, paler greyish-blue lamellae with a poliopus-type lamella edge, and pileipellis cells containing dark brown vacuolar pigments. E. zilin features a greyish-magenta scaly pileus with a bluish lamella edge adjacent to the stipe, a blue stipe, fertile lamella edges, and predominantly 2-spored basidia. Both species are assigned to subg. Cyanula sect. Asprella based on their striate or squamulose pileus, blue stipe, and fertile or poliopus-type lamella edge. Detailed descriptions, color photos, and scanning electron micrographs of spores are presented. Key words: Basidiomycetes, new taxa, phylogeny, taxonomy Introduction Entoloma (Fr.) P. Kumm. is a species-rich and morphologically diverse genus in the Agaricales Underw. (Kirk et al. 2008) and the largest genus in the Entolomataceae Kotl. & Pouzar. It is widely distributed across five continents, having been found in regions ranging from frigid Arctic zones to temperate areas and tropical regions. Most species of Entoloma are saprotrophic fungi, commonly thriving in shady and damp forest zones, on litter, as well as on soil and decaying wood. Additionally, some species are capable of parasitizing other fungi or plants (Horak 1980; Noordeloos 1981; Ediriweera et al. 2017). More than 2,000 species within this genus have been reported worldwide (Romagnesi 1941; Romagnesi and Gilles 1979; Horak 1980, 1982; Largent 1994; Horak 2008; Noordeloos and Gates 2012). The primary characteristics of this genus include spore prints ranging in color from pink, angular basidiospores observed from all angles, and remarkable morphological diversity, including mycenoid, collybioid, omphalioid, clitocyboid, and pleurotoid forms (Co-David et al. 2009; Baroni and Matheny 2011). Historically, the taxonomic position of species within Entoloma subg. Cyanula has been debated. Romagnesi (1974) first treated them as a section within Rhodophyllus Quél. sensu lato. Later, they were transferred to Entoloma Academic editor: Yupeng Ge Received: 29 September 2025 Accepted: 22 November 2025 Published: 2 December 2025 Citation: Xu Y-Q, Zeng H, Guo L-H, Yan J-Q, Wang S-N (2025) Two new species of Entoloma subg. Cyanula sect. Asprella (Entolomataceae, Agaricales) from subtropical regions of China. MycoKeys 126: 41–55. https://doi.org/10.3897/ mycokeys.126.173472 MycoKeys 126: 41–55 (2025) DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.126.173472 42 MycoKeys 126: 41–55 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.126.173472 Yu-Qin Xu et al.: Two new species of Entoloma from China subg. Leptonia, which was divided into three sections: sect. Leptonia, sect. Cyanula, and sect. Griseorubida (Noordeloos 2004; Noordeloos and Gates 2012). However, subsequent molecular phylogenetic studies revealed that subg. Leptonia is polyphyletic. Specifically, sect. Leptonia belongs to the / Nolanea–Claudopus clade, whereas sect. Cyanula and sect. Griseorubida fall within the /Inocephalus–Cyanula clade (Co-David et al. 2009; Noordeloos and Gates 2012; Largent et al. 2016). Morphologically, species within sect. Leptonia exhibit clamp connections, whereas those in sect. Cyanula lack such structures. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, sect. Cyanula was elevated to the rank of subgenus (Noordeloos and Gates 2012; Reschke et al. 2022a). In the monograph of Noordeloos et al. (2022a), the authors reclassified species with a striate or squamulose pileus, blue stipe, and either fertile lamellae edge or sterile, poliopus-type lamella edge into sect. Asprella of subg. Cyanula. The section can be divided into six subsections, namely, subsect. Asprella, subsect. Exilia, subsect. Cistocruentata, subsect. Cyaneoliacina, subsect. Rivipollensia, and subsect. Perfidodisca. Taxonomic studies on species within subg. Cyanula remain limited in China. To date, only 17 taxa within subg. Cyanula have been documented in China, including four species newly described in recent studies (Chen et al. 2025). Over the past few years, during our investigations into macrofungal diversity in subtropical regions of China, we have found that species within subg. Cyanula exhibit remarkably high diversity, with numerous potentially undescribed taxa. This study describes two novel species within subg. Cyanula sect. Asprella, based on comparative morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses. Materials and methods Morphological studies The specimens in this study were collected from Fujian and Zhejiang Provinces in China between 2022 and 2023 and were preserved as dried specimens. All specimens are deposited in the Herbarium of Fungi, Jiangxi Agricultural University (HFJAU). Fresh specimens were photographed in the field and recorded macroscopically. Color notations adhered to the Methuen Handbook of Colour (Kornerup and Wanscher 1978). Micromorphological structures were observed and measured under an Olympus BX53 microscope (Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) by making squash preparations of sections of dried specimens that were placed in 5% KOH solution or H2O. A 1% Congo red solution was used as the staining agent for observing colorless tissues. Amyloidity was tested with Melzer’s reagent (Horak 2005; Chen et al. 2024). For each collection, the dimensions of at least 40 basidiospores, basidia, and cystidia were measured. The size range of spores is expressed in the format (a) b–c (d), where “a” and “d” represent the minimum and maximum values, respectively, and 90% of the spores fall within the range of “b–c.” The meanings of other spore characteristics are as follows: “Q” represents the lengthto-width ratio; “av” indicates the average value; “n” denotes the number of measurements; and “Qm” represents the average “Q” value ± standard deviation (Yu et al. 2020). Morphological descriptions are based on the work of Noordeloos et al. (2022a). The morphology of the spores was further verified 43 MycoKeys 126: 41–55 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.126.173472 Yu-Qin Xu et al.: Two new species of Entoloma from China using an electron microscope. A portion of the gills from the dried fruiting body was sampled and observed under an electron microscope (JEOL JSMIT800 Schottky Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope). DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing Genomic DNA was extracted from dried specimens using the NuClean Plant Genomic DNA kit (CWBIO, China) (Wang et al. 2022). The nrDNA ITS and LSU regions were amplified using the primer pairs ITS1F/ITS4 and LR0R/LR5 or LR7 (White et al. 1990; Hopple and Vilgalys 1999). PCR amplification was conducted using a 25 µL reaction system as follows: 1 µL of DNA, 1 µL of each forward and reverse primer, 9.5 µL of ddH2O, and 12.5 µL of 2× TaqMaster Mix [Qing Ke Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (Wuhan City, China)]. PCR was performed using a touchdown program for all regions: initial 95 °C for 5 min; 14 cycles of denaturing at 95 °C for 30 s, annealing at 65 °C for 45 s (with a decrease of 1 °C per cycle), and extension at 72 °C for 1 min; followed by 30 cycles of denaturing at 95 °C for 30 s, annealing at 52 °C for 30 s, and extension at 72 °C for 1 min; and a final extension at 72 °C for 10 min (Bau and Yan 2021). The PCR products were sequenced by Qing Ke Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (Wuhan City, China). Alignment and phylogenetic analyses A total of 89 sequences (62 ITS sequences and 27 LSU sequences) from 62 samples were used for phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML). Sequence selection was based on the results of BLAST for ITS and the study of Noordeloos et al. (2022a). Species of E. subg. Cubospora served as outgroups (Table 1). ITS and LSU sequences were aligned separately with the MAFFT online server using the automatic selection of algorithm (Katoh et al. 2019). Concatenated sequences were analyzed with MRBAYES v.3.2.7a (Ronquist et al. 2012) and IQ-TREE v.2.1.2 (Nguyen et al. 2015), respectively. For the ML analysis, models of sequence evolution were assessed in IQ-TREE prior to analysis, allowing partitions of the sequences to have different seeds (-spp). The selected models were TPM2u+F+I+G4 for ITS and TPM3u+F+I+G4 for LSU. Ultrafast bootstrap support values were calculated from 1,000 replicates. For the BI analysis, the Markov chain Monte Carlo runs were set for 2 million generations. The first 25% of trees were discarded as burn-in. Nodes with Bayesian posterior probabilities (BI-PP) ≥ 0.95 and ML ultrafast bootstrap proportions (ML-BP) ≥ 95% were considered statistically supported (Nguyen et al. 2015). Results Phylogenetic analysis A total of 1,715 characters were used in the phylogenetic analyses (ITS, 827 bp; LSU, 888 bp), of which 991 were constant, 554 were parsimony-informative, and 170 were singleton. For the Bayesian analysis, the average standard deviation of split frequencies was less than 0.01 after 1,625,000 generations. The result of the phylogenetic analysis is shown in Fig. 1. The two new species were clustered in subg. Cyanula sect. Asprella and formed separate and 44 MycoKeys 126: 41–55 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.126.173472 Yu-Qin Xu et al.: Two new species of Entoloma from China Table 1. Details of sequences used in the phylogenetic analyses. Newly generated sequences were in bold. Species Location Voucher Number ITS LSU Sequence origin Entoloma argus Vietnam LE F-312694 holotype OM987263 OM996175 (Morozova et al. 2022) E. arion Vietnam LE F-312691 holotype OM987259 OM996176 (Morozova et al. 2022) E. asprellum Estonia TUF106064 UDB011486 — UNITE E. azureosquamulosum China GDGM27355 holotype NR_137086 NG_059214 (He et al. 2012) E. caespitosum China GDGM24025 JQ281490 JQ410327 (He et al. 2012) E. caespitosum China GDGM24026 JQ281491 JQ320133 (He et al. 2012) E. calceus Norway O-F-259457 holotype NR_182489 — (Noordeloos et al. 2022b) E. calceus France LIP0402265 ON008492 — (Noordeloos et al. 2022b) E. callipygmaeum Russia LE253784 holotype MZ145207 — (Dima et al. 2021) E. carneogriseum Norway O-F-256479 UDB07673714 — UNITE E. chalybeum Russia LE254353 KC898445 KC898500 (Morozova et al. 2014) E. chalybeum Denmark TUF105760 UDB034191 — UNITE E. chloropolium Estonia TUF120516 UDB031513 — UNITE E. cistocruentatum Spain L 0607521 NR_182485 — (Noordeloos et al. 2022b) E. coracis Norway O-F-256850 holotype MW934571 MW934251 (Crous et al. 2021b) E. corvinum France FA4261 OR419868 — (Armada et al. 2023) E. cyaneolilacinum Norway O-F-252009 holotype MW934582 MW934252 (Crous et al. 2021b) E. cyanostipitum China GDGM31318 holotype KY711237 KY972694 (He et al. 2017) E. cycneum Vietnam LE F-343654 holotype OQ779461 OQ804518 (Morozova and Pham 2023) E. dislocatum Spain L0607565 holotype ON008483 — (Noordeloos et al. 2022b) E. exile Germany Lueck8 KP965773 KP965791 (Karich et al. 2015) E. exile USA K(M)187354 MF977976 — Unpublished in GenBank E. griseocyaneum Russia LE254351 KC898444 KC898498 (Morozova et al. 2014) E. griseocyaneum Germany KaiR997 MZ611684 — (Reschke et al. 2022b) E. icarus Vietnam LE F-312696 holotype OM987257 OM996174 (Morozova et al. 2022) E. incanum Sweden LE312503 neotype OK161247 OK161275 (Crous et al. 2021b) E. incanum Russia LE311794 OK161249 OK161276 (Crous et al. 2021b) E. isborscanum Russia LE302088 holotype MW934566 MW934253 (Crous et al. 2021a) E. kovalenkoi Vietnam LE312529 holotype OK257210 OK257207 (He et al. 2014) E. linkii Norway O-F-256353 UDB07673651 — UNITE E. mastoideum China GDGM28820 JQ281476 JQ410328 (He et al. 2012) E. meridionale Greece ACAM2018-0153 holotype OL679700 — (Dima et al. 2022) E. mougeotii Estonia TUF101633 UDB016265 — UNITE E. mougeotii Estonia TUF106505 UDB019720 — UNITE E. murrayi China QI 1001 KJ658967 JQ993090 (He et al. 2014) E. mutabilipes Finland TUR610/12 LN850550 — (Kokkonen 2015) E. notabile Cyprus L-0607514 holotype OL343537 — (Vila et al. 2021) E. pallidostriatum Spain L-0607566 holotype NR_177630 — (Vila et al. 2021) E. perasprellum France GC01100310 holotype MZ145177 — (Dima et al. 2021) E. perchalybeum Sweden GB-0209474 holotype NR_182490 — (Noordeloos et al. 2022b) E. perfidodiscum Spain L-0607586 holotype NR_177633 — (Vila et al. 2021) E. phlebophyllum China HFJAU3126 OR827451 OR826040 (Chen et al. 2024) 45 MycoKeys 126: 41–55 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.126.173472 Yu-Qin Xu et al.: Two new species of Entoloma from China well-supported branches. E. qingluan formed a separate and well-supported lineage (BI-PP = 1, ML-BP = 100%) and grouped with E. exile (Fr.) Hesler. E. zilin belongs to /sect. Asprella subsect. Cyaneolilacina and is closely related to E. cyaneolilacinum. Taxonomy Entoloma qingluan J.Q. Yan, Y.Q. Xu & S.N. Wang, sp. nov. MycoBank No: 860910 Fig. 2 Etymology. Derived from Hanyu Pinyin, the epithet alludes to the Qingluan bird of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, whose plumage matches the fungus’s color. Chinese name. 青鸾粉褶菌. Holotype. China • Fujian Province, Wuyishan, 16 August 2023, collected by Nian-kai Zeng, Cheng-feng Nie, Hua-zhi Qin, Hui Deng, Tian Jiang, Run-xiang Zhao, HFJAU5122. Diagnosis. Entoloma qingluan is mainly characterized by the rather small, tricholomatoid basidiomata; a convex, bluish grey to blackish blue pileus; paler greyish blue lamellae with sterile lamellae edge; narrow clavate cheilocystidia, and pileipellis cells containing dark brown vacuolar pigments; clamp connections absent. Macromorphology. Basidiomata rather small, tricholomatoid. Pileus 6.0– 8.0 mm wide, convex, slightly umbonate, bluish grey to blackish blue (20F3–5), darker at center, paler toward margin, margin entire, slightly involute. Lamellae Species Location Voucher Number ITS LSU Sequence origin E. poliopus Estonia TUF120264 UDB024655 — UNITE E. pseudosubcorvinum Thailand SDBR-CMUNK0985 holotype MZ215769 MZ203540 (Bhunjun et al. 2022) E. pulchripes Russia LE311808 holotype MZ145188 — (Dima et al. 2021) E. pulchripes Russia LE311809 MZ145189 — (Dima et al. 2021) E. qingluan China HFJAU5122 holotype PX426788 PX426795 This work E. qingluan China HFJAU5723 PX426789 PX426796 This work E. queletii Turkey OKA-TR1002 MT741747 — Unpublished in GenBank E. queletii Estonia TUF141044 UDB07674927 — UNITE E. riparium Italy L-0607563 holotype NR_177632 — (Vila et al. 2021) E. rivipollense Spain L-0607585 holotype NR_177634 — (Vila et al. 2021) E. septentrionale Norway O-F-254295 holotype NR_174647 — (Noordeloos et al. 2021) E. serrulatum Russia LE254361 KC898447 KC898501 (Morozova et al. 2014) E. serrulatum Iran EnSe-1 KT833862 — Unpublished in GenBank E. sicoense Portugal PO-F2244 holotype OR026624 — (Fachada et al. 2023) E. sicoense Portugal PO-F2245 OR026625 — (Fachada et al. 2023) E. subcaesiocinctum China SAAS133 holotype KY711236 KY972697 (He et al. 2017) E. subtenuicystidiatum China GDGM 28459 holotype JQ320109 JQ320116 (He et al. 2012) E. timidum Russia LE 312480 holotype MZ145197 — (Dima et al. 2021) E. turci Austria WU25055 UDB0802163 — UNITE E. zilin China HFJAU3354 holotype PX426790 PX426797 This work 46 MycoKeys 126: 41–55 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.126.173472 Yu-Qin Xu et al.: Two new species of Entoloma from China moderately distant, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, adnate, ventricose, with two tiers of lamellulae, paler greyish blue (21C5), edge serrate to crenate, concolorous. Stipe 7.0–16.5 × 1.2–2.0 mm, central, terete, slightly broadened downward, hollow, blue-black to dark blue or greyish blue (20E5–20D4), the surface is covered with white, velutinous to fibrillose-scales, base with white tomentum. Odor and taste not recorded. Micromorphology. Basidiospores (7.5)8.5–10.5 × 6.5–8.0(8.5) μm, av = 9.4 × 7.2 μm, Q = 1.2–1.3 (Qm = 1.29 ± 0.03, n = 52), heterodiametrical, 5–7-angled in profile view, thick-walled, appearing nodulose, inamyloid. Basidia 37.0–54.5 × 9.0–12.5 μm, clavate, 4-spored. Pleurocystidia absent. Lamellae edge sterile, poliopus-type. Cheilocystidia clustered on lamella edge, 9.5–25.5 × 3.0–6.0 μm, narrowly clavate to subcylindrical. Lamellar trama regular, hyphae cells 3.5– 6.0 µm wide. Pileipellis a trichoderm made up of clavate terminal cells, 5.5– 16.0 μm, slightly constricted or level at the septa, with rounded or acute ends and dark brown vacuolar pigment. Stipitipellis transitional between cutis and trichoderm, composed of hyphae 4.0–8.0 μm wide, slightly constricted at septa, apices rounded, with brilliant granules abundant. Clamp connections absent. Figure 1. Phylogram of Entoloma subg. Cyanula spp. generated by Bayesian inference (BI) analysis based on ITS and LSU, rooted with E. subg. Cubospora spp. Bayesian inference (BI-PP) ≥ 0.95 and ML ultrafast bootstrap proportions (ML-BP) ≥ 95% are indicated as PP/BP. The new taxa are marked in bold. 0.07 Entoloma sicoense Portugal PO-F2244 holotype Entoloma isborscanum Russia LE302088 holotype Entoloma calceus France LIP0402265 Entoloma poliopus Estonia TUF120264 Entoloma pulchripes Russia LE311808 holotype Entoloma riparium Italy L-0607563 holotype Entoloma mastoideum China GDGM28820 Entoloma linkii Norway O-F-256353 Entoloma chloropolium Estonia TUF120516 Entoloma mougeotii Estonia TUF106505 Entoloma queletii Estonia TUF141044 Entoloma arion Vietnam LE F-312691 holotype Entoloma exile USA KM187354 Entoloma dislocatum Spain L0607565 holotype Entoloma corvinum France FA4261 Entoloma qingluan China HFJAU5723 Entoloma cyaneolilacinum Norway O-F-252009 holotype Entoloma griseocyaneum Germany KaiR997 Entoloma serrulatum Russia LE254361 Entoloma meridionale Greece ACAM2018-0153 holotype Entoloma perfidodiscum Spain L-0607586 holotype Entoloma mougeotii Estonia TUF101633 Entoloma icarus Vietnam LE F-312696 holotype Entoloma cyanostipitum China GDGM31318 holotype Entoloma griseocyaneum Russia LE254351 Entoloma subcaesiocinctum China SAAS133 holotype Entoloma incanum Russia LE311794 Entoloma timidum Russia LE 312480 holotype Entoloma murrayi China QI 1001 Entoloma kovalenkoi Vietnam LE312529 holotype Entoloma septentrionale Norway O-F-254295 holotype Entoloma zilin China HFJAU3354 holotype Entoloma callipygmaeum Russia Entoloma caespitosum China GDGM24026 Entoloma serrulatum Iran EnSe-1 Entoloma perasprellum France GC01100310 holotype Entoloma caespitosum China GDGM24025 Entoloma mutabilipes Finland TUR610/12 Entoloma azureosquamulosum China GDGM27355 holotype Entoloma sicoense Portugal PO-F2245 Entoloma rivipollense Spain L-0607585 holotype Entoloma pseudosubcorvinum Entoloma phlebophyllum China HFJAU3126 Entoloma subtenuicystidiatum China Entoloma coracis Norway O-F-256850 holotype Entoloma exile Germany Lueck8 Entoloma perchalybeum Sweden GB-0209474 holotype Entoloma pulchripes Russia LE311809 Entoloma asprellum Estonia TUF106064 Entoloma queletii Turkey OKA-TR1002 Entoloma qingluan China HFJAU5122 holotype Entoloma cistocruentatum Spain L 0607521 Entoloma cycneum Vietnam LE F-343654 holotype Entoloma calceus Norway O-F-259457 holotype Entoloma chalybeum Denmark TUF105760 Entoloma notabile Cyprus L-0607514 holotype Entoloma turci Austria WU25055 Entoloma incanum Sweden LE312503 neotype Entoloma chalybeum Russia LE254353 Entoloma argus Vietnam LE F-312694 holotype Entoloma carneogriseum Norway O-F-256479 Entoloma pallidostriatum Spain L-0607566 holotype 0.99/98 1/100 1/100 1/100 1/100 1/100 0.99/95 1/99 -/96 1/100 1/100 1/100 -/99 1/98 1/100 1/99 1/100 -/97 1/100 -/98 1/100 1/100 0.9/99 1/100 1/96 1/100 1/100 1/99 1/100 1/100 1/100 1/100 1/99 1/100 1/99 -/96 1/100 0.99/99 -/100 sect. Poliopodes subsct. Poliopodes sect. Poliopodes subsct.Mutabilipedes sect. Asprella subsct. Exilia 1 sect. Caesiocincta subsct. Queletia sect. Carneogrisea sect. Caesiocincta subsct. Caesiocincta sect.Asprella subsct. Cyaneolilacina sect. Asprella subsct. Rivipollensia sect. Asprella subsct. Exilia 2 sect. Asprella subsct. Cistocruentata sect. Asprella subsct. Perfidodisca sect. Caesiocincta subsct. Pallidostriata sect. Caesiocincta subsct. Dislocata sect. Chalybea sect. Fuliginosa subsct. Incana sect. Fuliginosa subsct. Turci sect. Atrocoerulea subsct. Perasprella sect. Griseocyanea subsct. Griseocyanea sect. Griseocyanea subsct. Mougeotia sect. Cyanula subsct. Cyanula sect. Cyanula subsct. Coraces sect. Cyanula subsct. Isborscana outgroup subg. Cyanula subg. Cubospora sect. Poliopodes subsct.Allosperma sect. Asprella subsct. Asprella LE253784 holotype GDGM 28459 holotype Thailand SDBR-CMUNK0985 holotype 47 MycoKeys 126: 41–55 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.126.173472 Yu-Qin Xu et al.: Two new species of Entoloma from China Figure 2. Entoloma qingluan. A. Basidiomata; B, H, I. Basidiospores; C. Basidia; D, E. Cheilocystidia; F, G. Pileipellis. All microscopic structures were observed in 5% KOH, and 1% Congo red was used as the stain except F. Scale bars: 5 mm (A); 10 μm (B); 20 μm (C–E); 10 μm (F, G). 48 MycoKeys 126: 41–55 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.126.173472 Yu-Qin Xu et al.: Two new species of Entoloma from China Habitat. Scattered on mixed forest floors dominated by broad-leaved trees, such as Pinus spp. and Pterocarya spp. Additional specimens examined. China • Fujian Province, Wuyishan, 16 August 2023, collected by Nian-kai Zeng, Cheng-feng Nie, Hua-zhi Qin, Hui Deng, Tian Jiang, Run-xiang Zhao, HFJAU5723. Notes. Considering the characteristics of this species, such as a darker-colored center on the pileus, blue stipe, and sterile lamella edges of the poliopus-type, this species can be classified into the subg. Cyanula sect. Asprella (Noordeloos et al. 2022a). However, it is impossible to classify E. qingluan into any of the subsections under this group based solely on morphological characteristics. Morphologically, this species is most similar to E. cistocruentatum Vila, Noordel. & Dima. However, E. cistocruentatum has fertile lamellae edges, lacks cheilocystidia, and possesses blue pigment in the pileipellis (Noordeloos et al. 2022b). Morphologically, the new species is easily confused with E. cyaneolilacinum Noordel., J.B. Jordal, Brandrud & Dima. Both have a blue pileus and stipe, similar-sized spores, and brown vacuolar pigment in the pileipellis. However, the latter has a pileus with translucent stripes, emarginate lamellae that are white with a faint bluish tinge, fertile edges, and lacks cheilocystidia (Crous et al. 2021a). In addition, E. azureosquamulosum Xiao L. He & T.H. Li, discovered in southern China, also shows considerable similarity to this species. Both exhibit tricholomatoid basidiomata, with a blue pileus, adnate lamellae, sterile lamella edges, regular lamellar trama, and trichoderm pileipellis. However, E. azureosquamulosum has white to pink lamellae with a blue-tinged edge, fusoid cheilocystidia, and caulocystidia (He et al. 2012). Entoloma zilin J.Q. Yan, Y.Q. Xu & S.N. Wang, sp. nov. MycoBank No: 860912 Fig. 3 Etymology. The name “zilin” is derived from Hanyu Pinyin. The dark purple color of this species reminds people of the mythical zilin in Chinese legends, which is also depicted as dark purple. Chinese name. 紫麟粉褶菌. Holotype. China • Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou City, Wencheng County, Yaping Hu, 25 May 2022, HFJAU3354. Diagnosis. Entoloma zilin is mainly characterized by the rather small, collybioid basidiomata; pileus surface colored greyish-magenta which is covered with fibrous scales and is also striate; lamellae decurrent to slight sinuate, white with a bluish edge adjacent to the stipe; stipe blue; lamella edge fertile; cheilocystidia absent; pileipellis cells with sepia brown vacuolar pigment; clamp connections absent. Macromorphology. Basidiomata small, collybioid. Pileus 8.0–10.0 mm wide, convex with slight central umbilicate depression, not hygrophanous, margin entire, surface densely covered with fibrous scales, greyish-magenta (14E6), margin and center dark purple (14F5), striate from the margin to the center. Lamellae moderately distant, decurrent to slight sinuate, white with a slight pinkish tinge, edge entire, bluish marginate adjacent to the stipe, with two tiers 49 MycoKeys 126: 41–55 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.126.173472 Yu-Qin Xu et al.: Two new species of Entoloma from China Figure 3. Entoloma zilin. A, B. Basidiomata; C, G, H. Basidiospores; D. Fertile lamella edge; E, F. Pileipellis. All microscopic structures were observed in 5% KOH, and 1% Congo red was used as the stain except F. Scale bars: 10 mm (A–C); 30 μm (D); 20 μm (E, F).