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ABSTRACT
Wulingshen, massive Xylaria sclerotia, was originally reported from Chengdu Plain in western Sichuan of China for medicinal application. Xylaria nigripes is commonly connected to these massive sclerotia produced within abandoned underground macrotermitine termite nests. We sequenced 54 Wulingshen samples procured from traditional Chinese medicine markets in Chengdu Plain and connected them to six different Xylaria species: X. nigripes, X. subescharoidea, two species newly described herein—X. neonigripes and X. rogersionigripes, and two species that are known only as sclerotia thus far. Only teleomorphs of X. subescharoidea and X. rogersionigripes have been collected in Chengdu Plain thus far. In Taiwan, teleomorphs of four of the six species, except for the two only known in sclerotial form, have been collected, and their cultures were obtained; we thus designate the holotypes of X. neonigripes and X. rogersionigripes on the basis of Taiwan specimens. During the collecting activities carried out in Chengdu Plain, a Xylaria species, which is newly described as X. mianyangensis herein, was also collected from termite nests but lacks a known connection to Wulingshen.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work is dedicated to the late Prof. Jack D. Rogers, Pullman, Washington, who was enthusiastic about Xylaria species associated with termite nests. We would like to express our gratitude to Mei-Jane Fan and Chun-Ju Lin for facilitating the sequencing work and I-Chun Liu for macrophotography. Appreciation is also extended to the curators of BPI and K for loaning specimens.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
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