A New Record of a Mono-Typic Taxon, Coniolepiota spongodes (Agaricaceae, Agaricales), from India Based on Morpho-Molecular Studies.

The present study describes a new record of Coniolepiotaspongodes from India. Coniolepiotaspongodes is a monotypic taxon of the genus Coniolepiota and is characterized by a white to purplish white pileus; stipe with powdery coverings; free lamellae with smooth margins appearing cream to pale yellowish in colour; pungent odour; ellipsoid to oblong basidiospores measuring 4.0–6.0 × 2.5–4.1 µm; irregular cylindrical squamules cells on the pileus and stipe surface. A comprehensive morphological description, photographs, and molecular sequence-based phylogenetic analyses of the present collections are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]