Russula in Himalaya 3: A new species of subgenus Ingratula

摘要

Russula natamjanii, a new species of subgenus Ingratula from Kumaon Himalaya characterized by a whitish pileus, is described and illustrated in detail. Although generally considered one of the largest ectomycorrhizal genera, Russula is represented byonly approximately 100 taxa on the Indian subcontinent. Of those, only twenty—Russula delica Fr., R. densifolia Seer, ex Gillet, R.foetens Pers., R. gracillima Jul. Schaff., R. heterophylla (Fr.) Fr., R. minutula var. robusta Saini et al, R. nitida (Pers.) Fr., R. versicolor Jul. Schaff., R. flavida Frost, R. compacta Frost, R. rhodomelanea Sarnari, R. raoultii Quel., R. anatina Romagn., R. praetervisa Sarnari, R. decolorans (Fr.) Fr., R. mukteshwarica K. Das et al., R. mayawatiana K. Das et al., R. puellaris var. atrii K. Das et al., R. dhakuriana K. Das et al. and R. appendiculata K. Das et al.—have been described in detail from Kumaon Himalaya (Saini et al. 1982, Atri & Saini 1986, Atri et al. 1994, Rawla 2001, Das & Sharma 2001, Das et al. 2002,Das & Sharma 2003, Das & Sharma 2004, Das et al. 2006a, b). Earlier explorations (Atri et al. 1994, Rawla 2001) have been restricted to the other Himalayan regions of Himachal, Kashmir, and Garhwal. Our recent intensive surveys of the different altitudinal zones within Kumaon Himalaya resulted in collections of some additional taxa not previously cited. Comparison with the literature of previously described taxa revealed an undescribed new species, which we formally describe here as Russula natarajanii.