Three new species of Cudonia (Rhytismatales) from the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China

Cudonia is a small-sized member of the family Cudoniaceae (Rhytismatales) , comprising 19 recognized species that are known for producing small, club-shaped or rounded, faint yellow, buff-to-brown fruiting bodies commonly found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Three new species of Cudonia were discovered in this study from the mid-montane and subalpine regions of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. These species were described based on morphological characteristics and molecular data. Two of the new species, C. pallida and C. subalpina , corresponded, respectively, to the previously documented phylogenetic species “ Cudonia sp. 1” and “ Cudonia sp. 3”. The third species, C. longispora , formed a distinct and well-supported lineage. The findings of this study indicated that the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is a center of Cudonia species diversification and harbors rich floristic diversity, as has been proposed previously. It is hypothesized that novel species lineages still exist in this region.