Cortinarius saloroides T. S. Li, Y. Zhang & Q. Zhao 2026, sp. nov

Cortinarius saloroides T. S. Li, Y. Zhang & Q. Zhao sp. nov Fig. 4 Chinese name: 类蓝紫丝膜菌 (lei lan zi si mo jun) Etymology. saloroides refers to species that are morphologically similar to Cortinarius salor. Holotype. China • Yunnan Province: Pingbian County, Daweishan National Forest Park, at 22.963949°N 103.702776°E, alt. 2250 m, in the rainforest, 15 Jul. 2020, PB 94 (HKAS 149461). Diagnosis. Similar to Cortinarius fibrillososalor in the violaceous to whitish mauve pileus with fine fibrous scales, but differing in the thicker pileipellis. Macrostructures. Basidioma small-sized. Pileus 15–45 mm diam., hemispherical to campanulate, becoming applanate and umbonate with age; surface dry, or viscid when wet, violet (17 A 8-17 B 8) to reddish violet (16 B 6), becoming mauve (17 A 5-17 B 5) when mature, with light brown (7 D 4) in the center and fine fibrous scales; margin inrolled when young, with remnants of universal veil; context 2–3 mm thick at mid-radius, white. Lamellae adnate to adnexed, 2–4 mm broad, moderately crowded, first white to mauve (17 A 5-17 B 5), later light brown (7 D 4); edge crenate. Stipe 20–50 × 4–6 mm, cylindrical, curved, usually tapering upwards; surface dry, bluish violet (18 B 6) or slightly lighter, leaving a light brown (7 D 4) ring on the upper part of the stipe; context white. Basal mycelium white. Odour not distinctive. Microstructures. Basidiospores [100 / 2 / 2] 7–8.5 (– 9) × (5 –) 5.5–6.5 (– 7) μm [Q = 1.11–1.38, Q = 1.24 ± 0.06], subspherical, broadly elliptical to elliptical, light brown to dark brown in KOH, moderately verrucose. Basidia 24–36 × 7–10 μm, clavate, 4 - spored. Lamella trama hyphae 6–22 μm diam., smooth, colourless. Lamellar edges fertile. Pileipellis duplex: epicutis strongly gelatinous, 225–370 μm thick, composed of cylindrical, loosely arranged, long-celled, colourless hyphae 4–14 μm diam.; hypocutis 90–120 μm thick, composed of cylindrical to elliptical, strongly interwoven, colourless hyphae 8–23 μm diam., some hyphae with spiral or spotted encrustations. Stipe hyphae 3–10 μm diam., colourless, smooth. Clamp connections present. Cystidia absent. Habitat. Mycorrhizal, gregarious on the ground in tropical rainforests. Distribution. Known from the southern Yunnan Province, China. Additional material examined. China • Yunnan Province: Pingbian County, Daweishan National Forest Park, at 22.963949°N 103.702776°E, alt. 2250 m, in the rainforest, 29 Jul. 2019, PB-DWS 391 (HKAS 149460). Notes. Cortinarius saloroides is characterized by its violet pileus with fine fibrous scales, mauve to light brown lamellae, bluish violet stipe leaving a light brown ring on the upper part, and subspherical, broadly elliptical to elliptical basidiospores. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that C. saloroides is nested in sect. Delibuti sister branch to C. fibrillososalor (Fig. 1). Morphologically, C. saloroides showcases a violet pileus with fine fibrous scales on the surface and a bluish violet stipe, which can be confused with C. fibrillososalor. Nevertheless, C. saloroides can be distinguished from C. fibrillososalor by its thicker pileipellis, wider stipe hyphae, and slightly smaller basidiospores (Long et al. 2024).