Hygrophorus betulae, a new species described from subalpine birch forest in Finland

• Published in: Karstenia
• Main Authors: Larsson, Ellen, Bendiksen, Katriina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Societas Mycologica Fennica 2020
• Subjects: Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10852/81182; http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-84279; https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.2020.484

A new species, Hygrophorus betulae, associated with Betula pubescens is described from the subalpine zone of northern Finland. The molecular phylogenetic analysis shows that it is closely related to H. mesotephrus, a species described from England and associated with Fagus. In morphology H. betulae is characterized by the small glutinous basidiomata and the pale pileus with an olive-grey disc zone. The colour of the disc zone is similar to that of H. olivaceoalbus. The species seems to be rare or may be overlooked because of the small and pale appearance.