Underexplored regions of Pakistan yield five new species of <i>Leucoagaricus</i>

<p>The large genus <i>Leucoagaricus</i> (Basidiomycota) is poorly studied in Pakistan, where the northern parts of the country are considered hot spots for biodiversity. Based on morphological and molecular data, five new species are described: <i>Leucoagaricus badius, L. lahorensiformis, L. pakistaniensis, L. sultanii</i>, and <i>L. umbonatus</i>. Descriptions and illustrations are given for the new taxa. A phylogeny based on morphology and four DNA regions, including the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and D1–D2 domains of the 28S gene of the nuc rDNA, the gene for RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (<i>RPB2</i>), and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (<i>TEF1-α</i>), shows that the new taxa are clustered in a clade representing <i>Leucoagaricus</i> section <i>Rubrotincti</i> subgenus <i>Sericeomyces</i>.