A new volvate Macrolepiota (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales) from Italy, with observations on the M. procera complex

A new Macrolepiota taxon from Italy, M. rhodosperma var. velicopia, is described and illustrated based on morphological and ITS rDNA data. It is characterized by a well-developed volva and abundant, evident velar remnants on the pileus, a stipe with a minutely squamulose covering, and very thick-walled elements in the pileipellis. A discussion on its taxonomic position within Macrolepiota and notes on closely related taxa are provided. DNA sequence analyses support the new taxon within the variability of M. fuliginosa sensu Vellinga, a non-volvate taxon that differs from Barla’s original sense of M. fuliginosa. As Barla did not indicate a holotype in his protologue of Lepiota procera var. fuliginosa and there are no extant original herbarium specimens, Barla’s Fig. 5/PL. 9 (from Les champignons des Alpes maritimes) is selected as a lectotype, and a recent collection from Liguria (Italy) is chosen as the epitype. A recent collection from Sardinia is chosen as epitype for L. permixta. Finally, M. fuliginosa and M. permixta are reduced in rank to forms of M. procera, based on their morphology.