Lactarius cucurbitoides (Russulales, Basidiomycota), a new species from South Korea supported by molecular and morphological data

A new species belonging to Lactarius subg. Plinthogalus was discovered during a long-term project on the diversity of Korean Lactarius . This species is proposed here as Lactarius cucurbitoides . The status of L. cucurbitoides as a new species is supported by molecular data and morphological features. Phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences shows that L. cucurbitoides is closely related to L. subplinthogalus , L. friabilis, and L. oomsisiensis , with pairwise distances of 2.8–4.3%. Morphological characters of L. cucurbito ides that distinguish it from these closely related species are a pale yellow to pale orange colored pileus and non-discoloration of white latex. The new species is described and illustrated in the present paper.