ABSTRACT: Lepiota castaneidisca, though generally considered a synonym of L. cristata, is rediscovered as a separate species. It is macroscopically, molecularly, and ecologically distinct from L. cristata, and within the species two groups can be distinguished on molecular grounds. A third molecularly different variant, also with a hymeniform pileus covering and truncate to spurred spores, was discovered, but this variant is not morphologically distinguishable from L. cristata.

KEYWORDS: Cryptic species, ITS-sequences, IGS1-sequences, California mycota

NOMENCLATURAL NOVELTIES:
None.