Discinaceae Phylospecies List

Introduction

Discinaceae is a family of fungi that includes lorchels, cup fungi, and truffles. Lorchels, also known as false morels, are defined as the stipitate Discinaceae fungi, some of which are toxic due to the production of gyromitrin (e.g., Gyromitra spp.) and others choice edibles (e.g., Maublancomyces gigas, Neogyromitra caroliniana). Significant progress in Discincaeae systematics has been made in recent years. Dirks et al. (2025) used whole-genome analyses to determine evolutionary relationships in the family and revised the taxonomy to include two tribes (tribe Discineae and tribe Gyromitreae), each with five genera (Figure 1). With a focus on DNA barcoding original nomenclatural type specimens, further taxonomic studies have contributed to a refined understanding of particular genera or more narrow species complexes. However, there remain many taxonomic questions and likely undescribed species in the group. This post is not meant to resolve all these issues or summarize all the taxonomic work and various opinions of mycologists over the centuries. Rather, it is meant to capture, organize, and communicate in real-time the expanding number of species-level clades being uncovered with DNA barcoding (currently at 102 species-level clades).

Figure 1. 

Amongst the Discinaceae fungi, identification to genus is usually possible based on pictures of macromorphology alone for lorchels in the genera Gyromitra, Maublancomyces, Neogyromitra, Paragyromitra, Pseudorhizina, and Pseudoverpa (however, Pseudoverpa and Gyromitra can sometimes be difficult to tell apart). The cup fungi typically need microscopic analysis for reliable identification to genus (Discina, Maublancomyces, Neogyromitra, Piscidiscina, and Pseudodiscina). In this endeavor, the study of mature spores is essential, as summarized by Van Vooren (2009a) below (translated from French).

The difficulty of recognizing these species in the field is matched only by the patience required to wait, sometimes several weeks, for the spores to mature after harvesting. Indeed, spore ornamentation—an essential characteristic for affirming a determination in these genera—forms late, and it is rare for a harvest of ascomas, even fully developed ones, to show even partial maturity upon immediate examination. It is then necessary to store them for a long time in a humidified box, in the refrigerator, sometimes until partial decomposition, to obtain interpretable spore ornamentation.

Another complication arises from the fact that fruiting bodies growing in close proximity can be different species, as observed by Van Vooren and Hentic (2025) in the collection of Discina perlata and Discina spinosospora "a few dozen meters" away from each other, and by David Wasilewski in the collection of Discina sp. 'MI01' and Discina warnei growing potentially on the same log!

The list below is a compilation of Discinaceae species, both well characterized ones and ones that are linked by temporary species codes due to uncertain species identity or a likely novel status. As it stands, besides for a few well characterized taxa and even with detailed microscopic analysis, identification to the level of species for many groups is tentative or impossible without DNA sequencing. More well documented collections with DNA barcode data are essential for complete characterization of Discinaceae fungi, which will ultimately facilitate more reliable field identification.

Figure 2. 

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Diagnostic Table

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Species List​

Tribe Discineae

Discina (13 species)

Discina species are brown cup fungi that largely look the same. Their mature ascospores are ellipsoid to fusoid with a single pointed apiculus on each end, an irregular reticulate surface ornamentation, and one or three guttules (one large central guttule and two small polar guttules). Perhaps someday collections will be identifiable to species and not just genus based on a combination of microscopy, biogeography, and ecology. But for now, the genus is a taxonomic mess. As Discina used to be something of a catchall category for discoid fungi (like Peziza), there are many old names that have no diagnostic information or sequence data. Sequencing these old type specimens, studying their morphology, and designating epitype or neotype specimens when necessary will be crucial. Western North America seems particularly rich in Discina species. It is unknown whether this is a result of sampling bias or if it is indicative of a Discina biodiversity hotspot. Many parts of the world are undersampled.

Available Discina species names that cannot yet be confidently assigned to phylogenetic clades include Discina ancilis, Discina intermedia, Discina fluctuans, Discina macrospora, and Discina radiosensilis (Van Vooren and Moreau 2009a, 2009b). With eight unnamed species-level phylogenetic clades listed below and five unassigned names listed above, there are certaintly undescribed Discina species!

• Discina mcknightii — This name is based on ITS similarity to a holotype sequence for Discina mcknightii (Harmaja 1986), and it is potentially a later synonym of Discina perlata (Van Vooren and Moreau 2009a). Based on sequenced collections, Discina mcknightii is known from western North America (British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Colorado, and Arizona) and Europe (a single collection, the holotype collection, from Montenegro). This is a really bizarre distribution, and hopefully more sequenced collections from outside of the Pacific Northwest will clear things up. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Discina megalospora — Known from France based on the holotype sequence (Van Vooren and Mauruc 2020) and from Montenegro and Turkey (labelled as Discina ancilis in Gungor et al. 2025).
• Discina perlata — Tentative assignment to a clade of European specimens (Germany, France, Norway, and Sweden). A Fries specimen from Uppsala, Sweden, was designated the neotype for Discina perlata but sequence data were not acquired (Van Vooren 2017). A DNA-barcoded epiptype will be necessary to nail down which population this species name corresponds to. (Note that the designation of MG846993 as the neotype sequence for Discina perlata by Cho et al. [2021] is incorrect).
• Discina sp. 'CA01' — Temporary species name for four sequenced collections, known from the western United States: California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Corresponds to Discina sp. 8 in Dirks et al. (2025).
• Discina sp. 'CA02' — Known from the western United States (California, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada) and British Columbia, Canada. Corresponds to Discina sp. 11 in Dirks et al. (2025).
• Discina sp. 'China01' — Temporary species name for a single sequenced collection from Xinjiang, China (Ekanaya et al. 2018).
• Discina sp. 'ID01' – Known from a single sequenced collection from Idaho.
• Discina sp. 'Korea01' — Temporary species name for three sequenced collections from South Korea (Cho et al. 2021).
• Discina sp. 'MI01' — Temporary species name for a population of Discina fungi known from eastern North America (Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and Newfoundland), Europe (Czechia, France, Scotland, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine), and Asia (Russian Far East). This clade was referred to as Discina ancilis in Dirks et al. (2025). However, Discina ancilis is an ambiguous taxon and its application to any particular clade without further study of the type (which apparently doesn't exist) would be a stretch of the imagination. It may correspond to Discina macrospora based off of a single sequenced collection from Czechia belonging to a potential epitype specimen. The sequence is low quality though and a little too divergent to definitively assign conspecificity. The occurrence of this clade in Sweden makes the definitive assignment of Discina perlata more arbitrary at this point.
• Discina sp. 'OR01' — Temporary species name for two sequenced collection from Oregon and Idaho. Corresponds to Discina sp. 4 in Dirks et al. (2025).
• Discina sp. 'WA01' — Temporary species name for four sequenced collection from Washington and Oregon.
• Discina spinosospora — Rare but easily identified with microscopic analysis by the spiny spore ornamentation. Known from Switzerland from two sequenced collections, including the holotype, as well as France, Germany, and Italy (Van Vooren and Hentic 2025).
• Discina warnei — Described growing on a hemlock stump from New York by Peck in 1878, this species name is tentatively applied to a population from the eastern United States (Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvana) whose spore dimensions are a good fit. The lectotype specimen is at New York State Museum and should be sequenced. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.

Maublancomyces (18 species)

Maublancomyces includes the well known and widely consumed giant lorchels like Maublancomyces korfii (Eastern United States), Maublancomyces montanus (Western United States), and Maublancomyces gigas (Europe). It also includes discoid species that are difficult to identify. Macroscopically, they typically have a yellow-brown color that can result in confusion with Piscidiscina leucoxantha. Darker ascocarps can be mistaken for Discina. However, microscopically, the spores are distinct, possessing a blunt or knobbed apiculus rather than acute, pointed apiculi (Discina) or ones with a concave depression (Piscidiscina).

Discoid species

• Maublancomyces accumbens — Found in Europe, Maublancomyces accumbens is closely related to Maublancomyces olympianus and is potentially a junior synonym of that species.
• Maublancomyces geogenius — A European species known from Germany and Switzerland.
• Maublancomyces larryi — Documented from the Western United States. Maublancomyces apiculatulus is a synonym based on a sequence of the holotype. To make things more complicated, a paratype of Maublancomyces apiculatulus (MICH4601) actually corresponlds to Discina sp. 'CA01', a fungus in a completely different genus. This means that the original description of Maublancomyces apiculatulus was based off of widely divergent specimens, probably resulting in an inaccurate species concept. This might be a common error in historical descriptions of Discinaceae species. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Maublancomyces olympianus — Currently known from Western North America, this clade has been validated with an ITS sequence of the holotype. Maublancomyces accumbens is very closely related and is a potential junior synonym. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Maublancomyces sp. 'olympianus-PNW01' — Another Discinaceae taxon with a strange range, this likely undescribed species is known from the Western United States (Arizona, California, Idaho, and Wyoming) and Europe (Switzerland). Its morphological differences compared to the closely related and sympatric Maublancomyces olympianus need to be documented. This name corresponds to Maublancomyces sp. 6 from Dirks et al. (2025) and the iNaturalist temp. species code Gyromitra 'olympiana PNW09'.
• Maublancomyces sp. 'Turkey01' — Known from a single sequenced collection from Turkey (Gungor et al. 2025).

Stipitate species

• Maublancomyces gigas species complex — The M. gigas group shows biogeographical patterns in the ITS phylogenetic tree resulting in the recognition of a number of geographically disjunct populations as distinct species. These regionally isolated clades are morphologically identical but have a 98-99% ITS barcode gap. More samples from around the world, evaluation of other traits like ecology and ideally mating compatibility, and molecular phylogenetic analyses employing whole genome sequences are needed to determine if this clade is one species or a species complex.
  • Maublancomyces americanigigas — As the name suggests, this species is found in the Americas, but currently just the eastern parts of the United States and Canada. Its range overlaps with Maublancomyces korfii. The latter species seems to be more common, but the data are limited. They cannot be distinguished in the field. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
  • Maublancomyces gigas — Maublancomyces gigas sensu stricto occurs in Europe, from Finland and Norway down south to France and Italy.
  • Maublancomyces sp. 'AK01' — Known from Alaska previously only from the historical collections of Wells and Kempton, a contemporary specimen was recently documented. This unknown clade is more closely related to M. americanigigas, but its ITS is more divergent from M. americanigigas than M. americanigigas is from M. gigas. In other words, due to a greater rate of sequence evolution, it occupies a slightly longer branch sister to M. americanigigas in the phylogeny.
  • Maublancomyces sp. 'China01' — Known from a single sequenced specimen from Northwest China.
  • Maublancomyces sp. 'Tibet01' — Known from a single sequenced specimen from Tibet.
  • Maublancomyces ussuriensis — This is the East Asia species documented from China, Russia, and South Korea.
• Maublancomyces khanspurensis — Known only from Pakistan from the type sequence.
• Maublancomyces korfii — The most common and well known giant lorchel of Eastern North America. While it is so far the most represented species in the sequence data, Maublancomyces americanigigas and Maublancomyces montanus also occur in Eastern North America, making exact species identification impossible without DNA sequencing. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Maublancomyces montanus — Maublancomyces montanus is a West Coast species in the United States and Canada, but has been rarely documented from the East Coast as well. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Maublancomyces pseudogigas — Only known from China from two sequenced collections including the type.
• Maublancomyces sp. 'AK02' — Temporary species name for a clade known from Alaska from the historical Wells and Kempton collection.
• Maublancomyces ticinianus — Known from France, Italy, and Turkey. Maublancomyces littinianus is a synonym.

Neogyromitra (6 species)

Neogyromitra was the subject of a recent taxonomic study (Miller et al. 2025) and is therefore the most well studied and completely resolved of the Discinaceae genera. Like Maublancomyces, Neogyromitra includes discoid and stipitate (lorchel) species. The stipitate species are readily identifiable based on their distinctive macromorphology. The discoid species require microscopic study for determination. The multiple apiculi on each end of the ascospore are a diagnostic trait.

Discoid species

• Neogyromitra japonica — Described recently from Japan (Miller et al. 2025), this group appears to be a species complex with high variance in the ITS region.
• Neogyromitra martinii — Known from Europe.
• Neogyromitra parma — Known from Europe. Neogyromitra parma sometimes forms a well developed stipe, revealing something of an intermediate morphology in the discoid-stipitate morhpological continuum.

Stipitate species

• Neogyromitra brunnea — Also known as the elephant ear lorchel, this species is widely distributed across Midwestern and Eastern North America. It is a highly regarded edible. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Neogyromitra caroliniana — Also known as the beefsteak lorchel or big red, Neogyromitra caroliniana can obtain humongous proportions. It is a choice edible and is widely foraged across the Midwestern and Eastern United States. Neogyromitra caroliniana is typicaly prevalent in more southern latitudes compared to Neogyromitra brunnea. It has been documented as far west as Utah. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Neogyromitra grandis — With a similar morphology as Neogyromitra brunnea, Neogyromitra grandis is found across Europe as well as Russia and Japan.

Piscidiscina (3 species)

The genus Piscidiscina is readily identifiable with microscopy. The mature ascospores have a single truncated apiculus on each end with a concave depression. This is the origin of the name Piscidiscina, which means "fish cup" in reference to these fishtail-like apiculi.

• Piscidiscina leucoxantha — This species is known from the Eastern United States (New York and Michigan) and Europe (Andorra and Spain). Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Piscidiscina persicula — Described by Dirks et al. (2024), this species was long recognized as novel by Michael Beug and is discussed in his book Ascomycete Fungi of North America. It is a small, peach-colored discoid species. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Piscidiscina sp. 'China01' — A single immature specimen was sequenced from China (ON554780) by Wang et al. (2023).

Pseudodiscina (2 species)

Pseudodiscina is a small genus of discoid fungi known from the Western United States and China. The genus is readily identified via microscopy. Unlike other genera in tribe Discineae, Pseudodiscina species have ellipsoid spores with two guttules and no apiculi. I expect there are undescribed species in this group that will be discovered with increased sampling of discoid Discinaceae species from across the world.

• Pseudodiscina melaleucoides — Commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, this species is known from Colorado to Alaska. In the field, it can be distinguished by its small, pinched stipe, although some specimens do not follow this rule. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Pseudodiscina yunnanensis — Known only from China (Wang et al. 2023).

Tribe Gyromitreae

Gyromitra (8 species)

The quintessential lorchel, Gyromitra species have a distinct stipe with a brain-like (cerebriform) hymenophore. They are highly toxic due to the production of gyromitrin, but they are also consumed as a delicacy in many parts of the world after detoxification via boiling. The species are largely indistinguishable from one another, although close study may reveal subtle differences or microscopic characteristics that could be used to separate species. Instead, species are defined based on geography and phylogenetic structure. Given it its long history of study in Europe, Gyromitra is surprisingly undersequenced there, making it difficult to evaluate species ranges across the continent.

• Gyromitra antarctica — Occurs in South America (Argentina and Chile). Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Gyromitra esculenta — Extending across central and southern Europe from France to Turkey, the Gyromitra esculenta clade is anchored by an epitype sequence. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Gyromitra sp. 'esculenta-Turkey01' — This clade is only known from Turkey based on GenBank sequences by Gungor and Turkekul (unpublished) and thus overlaps with Gyromitra esculenta sensu stricto. Additional collections to the east of Turkey might reveal a more substantial geographic spread of this population.
• Gyromitra sp. 'splendida-PNW01' — There are seven consistent SNPs in the ITS region that separate this clade from Gyromitra splendida sensu stricto. Documented almost exclusively from western United States and British Columbia, Canada, there is a single sequenced specimen from Michigan that also belongs to this group. Identification to Gyromitra sp. 'splendida-PNW01' would perhaps be straigthforward in the western United States if not for the co-occurrence of Gyromitra venenata.
• Gyromitra sp. 'venenata-Mexico01' — The single sequenced collection from Mexico (Viurcos-Martinez et al. unpublished) is divergent from the main Gyromitra venenata clade and is likely an undescribed species. However, more collections are required to evaluate the evolutionary relationships.
• Gyromitra splendida — This name has been assigned to a clade based on a sequence of the holotype specimen. It appears to have a more boreal distribution and has been documented from northern Europe (Estonia and Finland), Russia, Alaska, and Canada. Gyromitra longipes is a synonym based on a sequence of the holotype specimen. Every specimen assigned to G. splendida on iNaturalist is likely mislabeled. The name is currently in use only for specimens from western North America, which are either Gyromitra sp. 'splendida-PNW01' or G. venenata, not G. splendida sensu stricto.
• Gyromitra tasmanica — Known from Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania). Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Gyromitra venenata — This species appears to have a circumtemporal distribution, appearing in all the places that the G. esculenta sensu lato clade appears (all other Gyromitra species besides Gyromitra sp. 'venenata-Mexico01') except for the Southern Hemisphere (where it may also occur). Sequenced specimens have been documented from North America (eastern and western United States, Alaska, Canada), Asia (South Korea, China, Russia), and Europe (Austria, Finland, France, Sweden). Besides a single anomolous Gyromitra sp. 'splendida-PNW01' specimen sequenced from Michigan, all other eastern North America sequenced collections have corresponded to Gyromitra venenata. Described in 2020 by Li et al., I believe it is highly likely one of the old Gyromitra species names will apply to this clade and would then take precedence. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.

Hydnotrya (40 species)

Hydnotrya constitutes the only truffle or sequestrate group in the Discinaceae. Due to their subterranean growth, they are not collected or documented as frequently as most of the other genera. However, the available sequence data indicate that there are many undescribed species, and there are likely many more clades that have not yet been discovered. Available species names that are not linked to species-level phylogenetic clades include H. confusa, H. inordinata, H. subnix, H. variiformis, and H. yukonensis.

• Hydnotrya badia — Known only from China (Xu et al. 2018).
• Hydnotrya bailii — Occurring in Europe (Czechia, Germany, Ukraine).
• Hydnotrya brunneospora — Known only from China (Xu et al. 2018).
• Hydnotrya cerebriformis — Present in the Western United States (Arizona and Oregon), Europe, and China. This clade includes Hydnotrya sp. 'cerebriformis-CA01' (187199387), which is known from Mexico and California and requires further investigation to determine if it is a distinct species. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Hydnotrya cubispora — Known from Europe, Western United States and Canada, and Japan. The type is from Michigan and is housed at Oregon State University (OSC), can somebody sequence it? There are very few Hydnotrya sequences from Eastern North America in general, and none from Michigan as far as I'm aware, so we don't yet know with certainty if this is the true H. cubispora clade. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here. The provisional species name Hydnotrya sp. 'cubispora-PNW01 is also in use for this clade.
• Hydnotrya laojunshanensis — Known only from China (Li et al. 2013).
• Hydnotrya michaelis — Documented from Europe.
• Hydnotrya nigricans — Present in China (Xu et al. 2018).
• Hydnotrya oblongispora — China (Li et al. 2023).
• Hydnotrya puberula — China (Xu et al. 2018).
• Hydnotrya qinghaiensis — China (Xu et al. 2023).
• Hydnotrya sp. 'AZ01' — Western United States (Arizona and California) (214726760, 242228796). Sister species to the European Hydnotrya michaelis. Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 13.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'CA01' — A temporary code for a population known from the Western United States (California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington). I originally identified this group as Hydnotrya variiformis based on sequence similarity to other specimens identified as such by truffle experts, but a sequenced observation with microscopy shows globose spores, which does not fit the morphological description (Gilkey 1947).
• Hydnotrya sp. 'China01' — Known fron China from a single sequence. Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 23.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'Europe01' — Known from Europe (Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, UK) (e.g., KM576388). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 24.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'Europe02' — Known from an environmental sequence from a chestnut stand in Europe (Italy). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 29.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'Europe03' — Known from an environmental sequence from a conifer stand in Europe (Poland). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 31.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'Iran01' — Based off of two unique environmental sequences (FR852093, FR852314) from Iran (Bahram et al. 2012). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 30.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'Japan01' — Known from Japan from a single environmental sequence. Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 28.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'Japan02' — Known from Japan from a single environmental sequence. Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 27.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'KY01' — Known from four sequenced mitosporic mats from Kentucky collected by Matt Smith's and Greg Bonito's labs (OQ150438, OQ150344, OQ150385, OQ150386).
• Hydnotrya sp. 'ME01' — Northeastern United States (Maine) (93392210) and Quebec, Canada. Sister to H. cubispora. Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 14.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'MN01' — Known from a single environmental sequence from the United States (Minnesota). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 32.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'NC01' — Known only from North Carolina from mitosporic mats and a single vouchered specimen, FLAS-F-68653. Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 3 from Dirks et al. (2025).
• Hydnotrya sp. 'NC02' — Known only from North Carolina from two sequenced mitosporic mats (OM672875, OM672928).
• Hydnotrya sp. 'NC03' — Known from North Carolina and Kentucky from a vouchered specimen and mitosporic mats (e.g., OQ150427). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 25.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'NH01' — Known from a single sequenced specimen from New Hampshire, FLAS-F-59196. Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 1 from Dirks et al. (2025).
• Hydnotrya sp. 'NH02' — Eastern United States (New Hampshire, New York, West Virginia) (e.g., PP326928). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 5 from Dirks et al. (2025).
• Hydnotrya sp. 'NY01' — Known from the Northeastern United States (New York) and Canada from environmental sequences (e.g., KU878593). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 26.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'OR01' — Western United States (Oregon) (233978335) and British Columbia, Canada (Victoria). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 20.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'OR02' — Western United States (Oregon) (253842075). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 19.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'OR03' — Western United States (Oregon) (247346851, 134347644). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 22.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'OR04' — Western United States (Oregon) (244639781, 233978943). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 21.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'OR05' — Western United States (Oregon) (303787000). The ITS sequence is highly divergent, less than 90% similar to any other Hydnotrya species.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'PNW01' — Western United States (California, Oregon, and New Mexico). Corresponds to Hydnotrya sp. 15.
• Hydnotrya sp. 'PNW02' — Western United States (Oregon).
• Hydnotrya sp. 'Taiwan01' — Documented from Taiwan from two environmental sequences (LC360403, LC360404).
• Hydnotrya sp. 'yunnanensis' — It appears this species was being described from China with the name Hydnotrya yunnanensis as new to science (MW165858, MW165859), but as far as I can tell, the manuscript was never published.
• Hydnotrya tulasnei — Europe
• Hydnotrya zayuensis — Described from China (Li et al. 2023).

Paragyromitra (8 species)

Paragyromitra species produce saddle-shaped musrooms. They are macroscopically and microscopically similar to Gyromitra species but are more closely related to the truffles in genus Hydnotrya than they are to Gyromitra, necessitating their own genus. While Paragyromitra occurs in temperate and even subtropical regions across the world, Asia appears to be a hotspot of Paragyromitra biodiveristy with five out of eight species occrring there.

• Paragyromitra ambigua — Similar to Discina mcknightii, this clade is known from western North America (Mexico to British Columbia, Canada) and Europe (Finland), the latter based off of a single sequence, the holotype collection. Paragyromitra columbiana is a later synonym. One specimen is noted to have a light pink color reaction to KOH. Maybe this could be a way to distinguish it from similar species like P. infula, which turns bright red with KOH (see below). More of these kinds of chemical tests are needed. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Paragyromitra arctica — An apparent boreal species, Paragyromitra arctica is currently known from Russia and Alaska from fungarium specimens and the sequenced holotype (Vassilkov 1969).
• Paragyromitra infula — With an almost global distribution, Paragyromitra infula is documented throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia and is also suspected to occur in Oceania. It may have been spread with pine plantations, a well documented vector for the introduction of fungi. There are no Discinaceae sequences from Africa in general, although I suspect this species and others occur there. This observation shows the cap of Paragyromitra infula to have a bright red color change in response to KOH, a cool finding that could result in more traits for field identification. Here is a strikingly blue specimen. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Paragyromitra liangii — This clade is known only from China based off of the holotype sequence.
• Paragyromitra sichuanensis — Documented from from China. Paragyromitra xinjiangensis is a later synonym.
• Paragyromitra sp. 'Europe01' — Documented from Europe (e.g., KX185089), this clade is closely related to P. sichuanensis. More samples are required to evaluate species boundaries.
• Paragyromitra sp. 'PNW01' — Documented from California, Oregon, and Washington, and surprisingly from Iowa, too. Corresponds to Paragyromitra sp. 9 in Dirks et al. (2025). On iNaturalist, it was previously labelled with the provisional species name Gyromitra 'ambigua PNW06'. Here is a really bizarre observation that, if validated, could indicate an interesting, almost sequestrate form for this taxon. Given that Paragyromitra and Hydnotrya share a most recent common ancestor, this might show the kind of morphological transition that ancestral population went through to become truffles.
• Paragyromitra tianshanensis — Known from Asia (China, Russia, and South Korea).

Pseudorhizina (3 species)

Pseudorhizina produces funky, beautiful mushrooms with a lumpy cap and a strongly ribbed stem that sometimes displays dazzling pink to purple hues. The principal way to differentiate these species is with microscopy. Pseudorhizina californica and the related Pseudorhizina sp. 'PNW01' have ellipsoid spores, whereas Pseudorhizina sphaerospora has globose spores.

• Pseudorhizina californica — This species is known exclusively from California; the type has been sequenced. Specimens from the Pacific Northwest belong to a separate clade. Pseudorhizina umbraculiformis is a later synonym based on the type sequence. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.
• Pseudorhizina sp. 'PNW01' — So far known from the Pacific Northwest (for example, from Washington) and Montana. There is about a 99% ITS barcode gap betwen this species and Pseudorhizina californica sensu stricto.
• Pseudorhizina sphaerospora — A rare species with a circumtemporal distribution across the Northern Hemisphere. Pseudorhizina gabrettae and Pseudorhizina korshinskii are later synonyms based on their type sequences. Sequenced observations on iNaturalist can be found here.

Pseudoverpa (1 species)

A monotypic genus, Pseudoverpa contains the single species Pseudoverpa anthracobia. This is a rarely recorded genus with only a few samples from around the world.

• Pseudoverpa anthracobia — Pseudoverpa anthracobia was described from Cyprus in 2018 (Moreau, Bellanger, and Loizides in Crous et al. 2018). Two specimens have been documented from the Pacific Northwest. There is a biogeographical pattern in the phylogeny, but the ITS sequences are quite similar between the European and PNW specimens. More samples of this rare species are needed.

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