Systematics and molecular phylogeny of Cantharellus spp. in western Wisconsin

Abstract

Three new species, Cantharellus phasmatis, Cantharellus flavus, and Cantharellus spectaculus, previously considered Cantharellus cibarius are described in this study. Morphological differences between these new species and their distinction from other Cantharellus species were supported by molecular data from at least two of the three loci included in our analysis (nLSU, ITS, & TEF1). Cantharellus phasmatis and C. flavus are shown to share a most recent common ancestor with the recently described species from the southern United States, Cantharellus tenuithrix, while C. spectaculus is in a much more distantly related clade. In addition, we elevate Cantharellus cibarius var. roseocanus to the species level based on molecular data that suggest its range extends across North America.