Global Diversity and Taxonomy of Sidera (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota): Four New Species and Keys to Species of the Genus

The genus <i>Sidera</i> is a polypore genus with resupinate, white to cream or buff fresh basidioma, poroid or hydnoid hymenophore, a monomitic or dimitic hyphal system with generative hyphae bearing clamp connections, the presence of rosette-like crystals and allantoid to lunate basidiospores. We study the phylogeny and diversity of <i>Sidera</i> herein by using both morphological and molecular methods. Phylogenetic analyses are based on the ITS dataset, the combined 2-locus dataset (5.8S + nLSU) and 7-locus dataset (ITS + nLSU + RPB1 + RPB2 + TEF1 + mtSSU + nSSU) of 15 taxa of <i>Sidera</i> all over the world. Among them, four species are new to science and described and illustrated in this paper, viz. <i>S. inflata</i>, <i>S. malaysiana</i>, <i>S. punctata</i> and <i>S. roseo-bubalina.</i> In addition, three taxa were treated as <i>Sidera vulgaris</i> sensu lato. An identification key of the 14 accepted species of <i>Sidera</i> worldwide is provided.