Vanderbylia kashmiriana sp. nov. (Polyporales, Polyporaceae) from Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

A novel wood rotting species of genus Vanderbylia occurring at the base of Zanthoxylum armatum is described from mixed vegetation of District Bhimber, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, based on phylogenetic analyses of ITS and LSU sequences. Further, distinct morpho-anatomical characters confirmed the novelty of the species as Vanderbylia kashmiriana. The taxon is characterized by pileate and corky basidiomata, a dimitic hyphal system with peculiar, extensively branched arboriform hyphae, globose to sub-globose to ellipsoid, hyaline, apiculate, strongly dextrinoid basidiospores, sub-clavate to obovoid basidia with the variable number of sterigmata (1-4), clavate to obclavate to ventricose to tubular, apically encrusted, granular, clamped cystidia. This is the first described species of the genus Vanderbylia from Pakistan.