Lepista crenata sp. nov: The First Representative of an Early Diverging Lineage Within the Family Clitocybaceae (Agaricales)

The infra‐familial divisions and relationships within family Clitocybaceae are vague due to limited sampling and lack of enough gene sequences utilized for phylogenetic analysis. There are not enough studies done in Pakistan on genus Lepista . In this study, we described a new lineage within the genus Lepista as L. crenata . Its distinctiveness is supported by phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU) gene regions. Lepista crenata is morphologically characterized by off‐white to cream, clitocyboid, flat pileus with slightly depressed yellowish‐brown disc and crenate, incurved margins. Microscopic features include distinctly ornamented basidiospores (4.0 × 2.5 µm), and the presence of clavate, narrowly utriform to utriform cheilocystidia. The combined morphological and molecular evidence confirms L. crenata as a new species, expanding our understanding of the diversity and taxonomy of Lepista in Pakistan.