taxonID	type	description	language	source
0D21198F774658F58EE9060D6632FB75.taxon	description	Figs 4, 5, 6	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
0D21198F774658F58EE9060D6632FB75.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. One of the most common Russula species in Sudanian woodlands in Benin, characterised by large white basidiomata, pileus surface with fine cream-coloured patches, burning acrid taste, small spores with a nearly smooth surface, a trichodermal pileipellis with attenuated hyphal terminations embedded in a gelatinous matrix and cystidia rapidly staining black in sulphovanillin, occurring in savannah woodlands. Differs from R. roseovelata by the absence of large detaching areolae on the pileus surface.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
0D21198F774658F58EE9060D6632FB75.taxon	description	Description. Growth habit: basidiomata solitary or in groups of up to ten. Pileus: mostly large to very large, rarely medium-sized, 35 – 155 mm in diam., when young, hemispherical, apically truncated or sometimes even slightly depressed, with margins touching the stipe, in shape similar to a matchstick head, later expanding plane, centrally depressed; margin involuted and slightly remaining so even when mature, distinctly tuberculate-striate up to 10 – 15 mm, frequently radially cracked, regular or slightly undulate; cuticle smooth, dry or slightly greasy when wet, finely areolate, patched towards the pileus margin, peelable up to 1 / 2 – 3 / 4 of the pileus radius, colour white, yellowish-white (4 A 2), ivory (4 B 2) or cream (4 A 3), rarely with a faint pinkish-white (9 A 2) hue, near the centre also orange-white (5 A 2), patches near the margin grey orange (5 B 4 - 5), apricot yellow (5 B 6), pompeian yellow (5 C 6), cocoa brown (6 E 6), cognac brown (6 E 7) or rusty brown (6 E 8) on white background. Lamellae: 3 – 8 mm wide, 8 – 11 lamellae present along 1 cm near the pileus margin, narrowly adnate, first white, with maturity yellow white (4 A 2) to cream (4 A 3) coloured, with frequent furcations, especially near the stipe attachment, anastomoses absent, lamellulae usually absent, only few observed in one collection, edges entire, concolourous. Stipe: 55 – 110 × 15 – 35 mm, cylindrical or slightly tapering towards the base, frequently bumpy or with 2 – 4 irregular depressions or constrictions corresponding to the distinct chambers inside, smooth to slightly rugose or with slight longitudinal ridges, annulus absent, white; cottony stuffed, cavernate with 3 – 5 distinct chambers. Context: 3 – 10 mm thick at half pileus radius, white, parts damaged by insects turning brownish-orange, young firm, with maturity brittle, taste burning acrid after 2 – 3 seconds, odour inconspicuous or sometimes slightly fruity; macrochemical reactions: guaiac after 8 – 10 seconds strongly positive (+++) on both stipe and lamellae surfaces, FeSO 4 strong, deeply orange, sulphovanillin negative, sometimes bluish, KOH yellow on stipe surface and context, but negative on pileus surface, phenol negative. Spore print: cream (IIb-IIc). Spores: (5.6 –) 6.2 – 6.6 – 7.1 (– 7.9) × (5.1 –) 5.4 – 5.7 – 6.1 (– 6.4) µm (n = 90), Q = (1.02 –) 1.1 – 1.15 – 1.21 (– 1.31), globose, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid, surface almost smooth, ornamentation very inconspicuous, composed of elements hardly visible under light microscope, ornamentation approx. 0.1 µm high as estimated by SEM, very dense weakly amyloid lines and warts forming a complete reticulum as observed by SEM, density of the individual elements not quantifiable by light microscopy; suprahilar plage small, inamyloid, covered by minute wrinkles visible only by SEM. Basidia: (31.5 –) 35.5 – 40 – 44.5 (– 52) × (7 –) 8 – 8.5 – 9 (– 10) µm (n = 61), clavate to broadly clavate, 4 - spored; basidiola approx. 5 – 7 µm wide, cylindrical to clavate. Hymenial cystidia: on lamellae sides (56 –) 63 – 77 – 91 (– 117) × (7.5 –) 9 – 10 – 11 (– 14) µm (n = 60), moderately numerous, 1,200 – 1,400 cystidia / mm 2, predominantly clavate, sometimes subcylindrical, frequently with a slightly curved base or slightly flexuose, originating in subhymenium and somewhat protruding over basidia, thin-walled, apically obtuse, usually with a 1.5 – 11 µm long appendage; heteromorphous contents dense, crystalline, dispersed over the entire cell, rapidly turning to dark black in sulphovanillin. Hymenial cystidia near the lamellae edges distinctly shorter and slightly narrower, (31.5 –) 40.5 – 49 – 57.5 (– 76) × (6.5 –) 8 – 9 – 10 (– 12) µm (n = 60), cylindrical to broadly clavate, occasionally with a 1 – 7 µm long appendage; heteromorphous contents similar to the one in hymenial cystidia on lamellae sides. Lamellae edges: fertile, with equal representation of cystidia, basidia, basidiola and marginal cells. Marginal cells: (13.5 –) 16.5 – 19.5 – 23 (– 29.5) × (2.5 –) 3.5 – 4.5 – 5 (– 7) µm (n = 62), not well differentiated, cylindrical to subclavate, sometimes slightly bent or with a secondary septum, similar to basidiola, optically empty, thin-walled. Pileipellis: orthochromatic in Cresyl blue, sharply delimited from the underlying context, 230 – 300 µm deep; suprapellis a trichoderm, 50 – 80 µm deep, composed of erect hyphal terminations embedded in a gelatinous matrix; gradually passing to a 170 – 220 µm deep, strongly gelatinised subpellis of more or less parallel, moderately dense, intricate, 2.5 – 3.5 µm wide hyphae and abundant cystidioid hyphae. Acid resistant incrustations absent. Hyphal terminations: near the pileus margin composed of (1 –) 2 – 4 unbranched cells, originating in intricate hyphae of the subpellis, thin-walled or with slightly thickened walls (up to 0.5 µm), terminal cells (10.5 –) 23.5 – 33.5 – 43.5 (– 57) × (2.5 –) 3 – 3.5 – 4 (– 5) µm (n = 90), mainly attenuated, less frequently cylindrical, apically obtuse; subterminal cells mainly shorter, 3.5 – 7 µm wide, cylindrical or ellipsoid. Hyphal terminations near the pileus centre of (1 –) 2 – 5 unbranched cells, thin-walled, terminal cells of similar dimensions compared to the ones near the pileus margin (11.5 –) 17.5 – 28.5 – 39.5 (– 57.5) × 2.5 – 3.5 – 4 (– 5) µm (n = 91), cylindrical, attenuated or subulate, often more distinctly base-inflated, sometimes apically acute; subterminal cells distinctly shorter, 3 – 7 µm wide, ellipsoid to ovoid, forming chains before branching. Pileocystidia: near the pileus margin (23.5 –) 32 – 42.5 – 53 (– 86.5) × (5.5 –) 7.5 – 9 – 10.5 (– 14) µm (n = 60), one-celled, one two-celled cystidium observed in one collection, broadly clavate, fusiform or lanceolate, originating in the suprapellis, thin-walled, apically mainly obtuse, sometimes acute, usually occasionally with a 2.5 – 8 µm long appendage; heteromorphous contents dense, crystalline or banded, rapidly turning to black in sulphovanillin. Pileocystidia near the pileus centre distinctly shorter, (11.5 –) 20 – 32.5 – 45 (– 62) × (4.5 –) 6.5 – 8.5 – 10 (– 13.5) µm (n = 71), globose, ovoid, ellipsoid, fusiform, clavate or lanceolate; contents similar to the one of pileocystidia near the pileus margin. Context: with dispersed, but distinct cystidioid hyphae, approx. 6 – 9.5 µm wide, sparsely septate, branched, contents dispersed or sometimes almost homogenous; oleiferous hyphae absent.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
0D21198F774658F58EE9060D6632FB75.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Referring to the strongly acrid taste and white colour of the basidiomata.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
0D21198F774658F58EE9060D6632FB75.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Only known from Sudanian woodlands dominated by Isoberlinia doka in Benin.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
AF06685177A4565483067A2E141EF67B.taxon	description	Figs 8, 9, 10	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
AF06685177A4565483067A2E141EF67B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Basidiomata medium-sized, pileus surface whitish with a slightly pinkish hue, mild taste, spores with a very low ornamentation, cystidia not reacting in sulphovanillin, hyphal terminations near the pileus centre very variable and with striking patches of refractive inclusions arranged in horizontal bands, occurring in savannah woodlands. Differs from R. roseovelata by a smooth pileus cuticle without areolae.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
AF06685177A4565483067A2E141EF67B.taxon	description	Description. Growth habit: basidiomata solitary or in small groups of up to five. Pileus: medium-sized, 35 – 75 mm in diam., when young convex, later expanding plane, slightly to distinctly centrally depressed; margin even or slightly involuted, finely striate up to 10 mm, frequently radially cracked, regular or slightly undulate; cuticle smooth, matt, peelable up to 1 / 2 – 3 / 4 of the pileus radius, colour near the centre white, yellowish-white (4 A 2), ivory (4 B 2) or with an orange white (5 A 2) hue, near the margin additionally frequently with a more or less distinct pinkish-white (10 - 11 A 2) hue. Lamellae: 3 – 6 mm wide, 8 – 13 lamellae present along 1 cm near the pileus margin, adnexed, sometimes even free, cream-coloured, with frequent furcations near the stipe attachment, anastomoses and lamellulae absent; edges entire, concolourous. Stipe: 30 – 80 × 10 – 20 mm, cylindrical, sometimes bent towards the base, occasionally with 2 – 3 constrictions corresponding to the chambers inside, smooth to slightly rugose, annulus absent, white; cottony stuffed, cavernate with 3 – 4 distinct chambers. Context: 1 – 2 mm thick at half pileus radius, white, unchanging when bruised, brittle, taste mild, odour inconspicuous, macrochemical reactions: guaiac after 8 – 10 seconds positive (++) on both stipe and lamellae surfaces, FeSO 4 distinctly salmon orange, sulphovanillin negative, KOH pale yellow on pileus and stipe surfaces, phenol negative. Spore print: not observed, but certainly not white, at least cream-coloured. Spores: (5.8 –) 6.2 – 6.5 – 6.9 (– 7.5) × (4.8 –) 5.2 – 5.5 – 5.9 (– 6.4) µm (n = 120), Q = (1.07 –) 1.13 – 1.19 – 1.24 (– 1.35), subglobose to broadly ellipsoid, rarely ellipsoid; surface almost smooth, ornamentation very inconspicuous, composed of elements hardly visible by light microscopy, approx. 0.2 µm high as estimated by SEM, very dense weakly amyloid pustules and crests connected by numerous fine lines forming a complete reticulum, density of the individual elements not quantifiable by light microscopy; suprahilar plage small, inamyloid, partially covered by minute wrinkles only visible by SEM. Basidia: (24.5 –) 30.5 – 36 – 41.5 (– 49.5) × (6 –) 7.5 – 8.5 – 9.5 (– 10) µm (n = 60), narrowly clavate to subcylindrical, 4 - spored; basidiola approx. 4 – 7 µm wide, cylindrical to narrowly clavate. Hymenial cystidia: on lamellae sides (43 –) 63.5 – 74 – 84.5 (– 100) × (6 –) 7.5 – 9 – 10 (– 11.5) µm (n = 60), subcylindrical to slightly clavate or fusiform, frequently with a slightly curved base or slightly flexuose, originating in subhymenium and somewhat protruding over basidia, thin-walled, apically obtuse, rarely acute, with a 1.5 – 16 µm long appendage; heteromorphous contents dense, amorphous or crystalline, sometimes located only in the upper two thirds, not reacting to sulphovanillin. Hymenial cystidia near the lamellae edges distinctly shorter, (32 –) 37 – 42 – 47 (– 52) × (5 –) 6 – 7 – 8 (– 11) µm (n = 60), cylindrical to slightly clavate or fusiform, usually with one or sometimes two (2.5 –) 3.5 – 5.5 – 7.5 (– 12) µm long appendages; heteromorphous contents slightly less dense than in cystidia on lamellae sides. Lamellae edges: fertile with equal representation of cystidia, basidia, basidiola and marginal cells. Marginal cells: (12 –) 19 – 25 – 31 (– 42) × (3 –) 4 – 5 – 6 (– 9) µm (n = 64), fusiform, lanceolate or utriform, less frequently cylindrical or subclavate and then hard to distinguish from basidiola, optically empty, thin-walled. Pileipellis: orthochromatic in Cresyl blue, gradually passing to the underlying context, 95 – 110 µm deep; suprapellis a trichoderm, 25 – 35 µm deep, composed of erect hyphal terminations, gelatinised; gradually passing to a 65 – 80 µm deep subpellis of loosely interwoven, irregularly orientated, 2.5 – 3 µm wide hyphae, becoming denser and horizontally orientated near the context, gelatinised in the distal part, cystidioid hyphae present. Acid resistant encrustations absent. Hyphal terminations: near the pileus margin composed of 1 – 3 unbranched cells, thin-walled, with occasional refractive inclusions, terminal cells (10 –) 18.5 – 27.5 – 36.5 (– 47) × (2.5 –) 3.5 – 4 – 4.5 (– 6) µm (n = 92), cylindrical or slightly tapering towards the apex, apically obtuse; subterminal cells distinctly shorter, 3.5 – 10 µm wide. Hyphal terminations near the pileus centre very variable, composed of 1 – 5 unbranched cells, thin-walled, often with conspicuous refractive patches, frequently arranged in a horizontal band pattern, also frequently observed in hyphae of the subpellis, terminal cells distinctly longer and slightly narrower (8 –) 9 – 22 – 35 (– 77) × (2 –) 2.5 – 3.5 – 4 (– 6.5) µm (n = 94), cylindrical or tapering towards the apex; subterminal cells shorter, 3 – 8 µm wide. Pileocystidia: near the pileus margin (21 –) 23.5 – 29.5 – 35.5 (– 43.5) × 3.5 – 4.5 – 5 (– 7) µm (n = 61), one-celled, predominantly lanceolate, sometimes subcylindrical, originating in the suprapellis, thin-walled, apically obtuse, with a 1 – 3 µm long terminal knob; heteromorphous contents moderately dense, granulose, sometimes concentrated in the apical part, also frequent in subterminal cells, not reacting to sulphovanillin. Pileocystidia near the pileus centre similar in size, shape and contents to pileocystidia near the pileus margin (17 –) 24.5 – 33 – 41 (– 61.5) × (3 –) 3.5 – 4.5 – 5 (– 6) µm (n = 60). Context: without cystidioid hyphae, oleiferous hyphae frequent.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
AF06685177A4565483067A2E141EF67B.taxon	etymology	Etymology. After the German mycologist Ludwig Beenken, honouring his contribution to the knowledge on the diversity of the ECM morphology within the genus Russula.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
AF06685177A4565483067A2E141EF67B.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Known from Sudanian woodlands dominated by Isoberlinia spp. in Benin. Distributed also in Zimbabwe.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
08D9464644E954C091C0DB47E15B08C6.taxon	description	Figs 11, 12, 13, 14	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
08D9464644E954C091C0DB47E15B08C6.taxon	description	Short description. Very small basidiomata, pileus surface bright red, lamellae edges partly reddish, stipe narrowing towards the frequently reddish base, pileipellis a hymeniderm, occurring in gallery forests.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
08D9464644E954C091C0DB47E15B08C6.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Known from gallery forests in Guinea, Benin and Central African Republic.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
85115E412F4D510F808A0366766FF7CB.taxon	description	Figs 15, 16, 17	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
85115E412F4D510F808A0366766FF7CB.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Pileus surface violet-grey with fugitive jagged white remnants of a partial veil at the margin, taste mild, spore print white, marginal cells near lamella edges with finger-like projections and pileocystidia staining slightly violet-grey in sulphovanillin, occurring in gallery forests. Differs from Russula annulata R. Heim by white-coloured lamellae edges.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
85115E412F4D510F808A0366766FF7CB.taxon	description	Description. Growth habit: basidiomata solitary or in groups of two. Pileus: medium-sized, 60 – 65 mm in diam., plane, slightly centrally depressed; margin even, distinctly striate up to 1 / 3 to ½ of the pileus radius, regularly shaped, sometimes slightly undulate, finely crenulate, when young, covered by a crown of fugitive, jagged, white partial veil remnants; cuticle smooth, matt, finely pruinose, not peelable, colour near the margin purplish-grey (13 B 2) or greyish-magenta (13 B 3, 14 D 3 – 4,14 E 3 – 4), near the centre greyish-magenta (13 C 3) or dark purple (14 F 3 – 4), sometimes with light milk-white (1 B 2) spots. Lamellae: 6 – 7 mm wide, 5 – 6 lamellae present along 1 cm near the pileus margin, narrowly adnate or emarginate, white, occasionally furcated near the stipe attachment, anastomoses and lamellulae absent; edges entire, concolourous. Stipe: 55 – 60 × 11 – 13 mm, cylindrical, sometimes narrowing towards the base, slightly bulging here and there; smooth to slightly rugose, annulus absent, white with a greyish-magenta (14 E 3) hue near the base; hollow to slightly cottony stuffed. Context: approx. 0.5 mm thick at half pileus radius, white, unchanging when bruised, brittle, taste mild, odour inconspicuous; macrochemical reactions: guaiac after 8 – 10 seconds negative on stipe and positive (++) on lamellae surfaces, FeSO 4 weak salmon orange, sulphovanillin negative, KOH negative, phenol negative. Spore print: white (Ia). Spores: (7.3 –) 7.9 – 8.4 – 8.8 (– 9.4) × (6.9 –) 7.6 – 8.1 – 8.5 (– 9.2) µm (n = 60), Q = (1 –) 1.01 – 1.04 – 1.06 (– 1.09), globose to subglobose; ornamentation of large, distant, amyloid spines [(1 –) 2 – 3 (( – 4) in a circle of 3 µm diam.], 1.7 – 2.6 µm high, connected by numerous lines [(1 –) 2 – 4 (– 5) in the circle] forming a complete reticulum, isolated elements absent, spines and line connections with frequent secondary warts visible only by SEM; suprahilar plage small, inamyloid, without ornamentation. Basidia: (34 –) 37.5 – 43.5 – 49.5 (– 59) × (12.5 –) 14 – 15 – 16 (– 17) µm (n = 40), clavate to broadly clavate, 4 - spored; basidiola approx. 8 – 9 µm wide, clavate to subclavate. Hymenial cystidia: on lamellae sides (86 –) 93.5 – 99.5 – 106 (– 112) × (10 –) 12 – 14.5 – 16.5 (– 22) µm (n = 40), fusiform, originating in subhymenium and somewhat protruding over basidia, thin-walled, apically obtuse, with a 2 – 15 µm long appendage; heteromorphous contents amorphous, located in the upper half, not reacting to sulphovanillin. Hymenial cystidia near the lamellae edges shorter and narrower, (43 –) 54.5 – 65 – 75.5 (– 89.5) × (8 –) 9 – 11 – 12.5 (– 14) µm (n = 40), cylindrical or fusiform, sometimes slightly centrally constricted, with one or two 1 – 8 µm long terminal knobs; heteromorphous contents less dense, sometimes located only in the upper half. Lamellae edges: fertile, marginal cells intermixed with basidia and basidiola. Marginal cells: (19 –) 23 – 27 – 31.5 (– 36) × (4 –) 5 – 6.5 – 8.5 (– 10.5) (n = 40), variably shaped, coarsely diverticulate with several finger-like, irregular projections, optically empty, thin-walled. Pileipellis: orthochromatic in Cresyl blue, gradually passing to the underlying context, 170 – 300 µm deep; suprapellis a trichoderm, 25 – 45 µm deep, composed of erect hyphal terminations embedded in a gelatinous matrix; gradually passing to a 170 – 270 µm deep subpellis of loosely interwoven, irregularly orientated, strongly gelatinised, 2.5 – 3 µm wide hyphae, becoming denser and horizontally arranged near the context. Acid resistant incrustations absent. Hyphal terminations: near the pileus margin composed of 1 – 3 unbranched cells, thin-walled, terminal cells (13 –) 23.5 – 29.5 – 35.5 (– 44) × (3 –) 3.5 – 5 – 6 (– 7) µm (n = 60), predominantly subulate, rarely cylindrical, apically obtuse; subterminal cells distinctly shorter, 4 – 9 µm wide, ellipsoid or cylindrical. Hyphal terminations near the pileus centre of 2 – 4 (– 5) unbranched cells, thin-walled; terminal cells (9 –) 13 – 19.5 – 25.5 (– 36) × (2.5 –) 3.5 – 4 – 4.5 (– 6.5) µm (n = 60), subulate or cylindrical; subterminal cells 3 – 6 µm wide, mostly cylindrical, becoming barrel-shaped close to the subpellis. Pileocystidia: near the pileus margin (19.5 –) 23 – 30 – 37 (– 49.5) × (4 –) 4.5 – 5.5 – 6.5 (– 7) µm (n = 40), one-celled, usually lanceolate, sometimes subcylindrical, originating in the suprapellis or in upper part of the subpellis, thin-walled, apically obtuse, with a 4 – 7 µm long appendage or terminal knob; heteromorphous contents amorphous, turning slightly to violet-grey in sulphovanillin. Pileocystidia near the pileus centre similar in size, shape and heteromorphous contents to pileocystidia near the pileus margin, (18 –) 21.5 – 27 – 32.5 (– 44) × 3.5 – 4.5 – 5.5 (– 7) µm (n = 40). Context: without cystidioid hyphae, oleiferous hyphae frequent.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
85115E412F4D510F808A0366766FF7CB.taxon	etymology	Etymology. corona = crown, referring to the jagged velar patches on the pileus margin.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
85115E412F4D510F808A0366766FF7CB.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Only known from the Bassila gallery forest in Benin.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
EAA8EEFA166459E29C0E442C4A589617.taxon	description	Figs 18, 19, 20	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
EAA8EEFA166459E29C0E442C4A589617.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Relatively small, pileus surface pinkish and cracking into fine areolae, stipe without annulus, context fragile, taste mild, hyphal terminations in pileipellis arranged in erect tufts, occurring in gallery forests. Differs from R. roseoalba by its negative reaction to guaiac.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
EAA8EEFA166459E29C0E442C4A589617.taxon	description	Description. Growth habit: basidiomata solitary or in small groups of up to five. Pileus: small to medium-sized, 10 – 40 mm in diam., when young hemispherical, truncated, with margins touching the stipe, later expanding plane, when mature, centrally depressed; margin even or slightly involute, distinctly tuberculate-striate up to ¾ of the pileus margin, frequently slightly to distinctly radially cracked up to ½ of the pileus radius, mostly crenulate, sometimes undulate, usually with crown of fugitive partial veil remnants; cuticle matt, very finely areolate, hardly peelable, colour near the margin white, pinkish-white (10 - 11 A 2) or reddish-grey (10 B 2), becoming gradually darker towards the centre, rosewood (9 D 5), dull red (10 B 3), brownish-red (10 C 6), reddish-grey (11 B 2) or violet brown (10 E 5), occasionally with greyish-green (30 B 4) spots. Lamellae: 2 – 3 mm wide, 6 – 7 lamellae present along 1 cm near the pileus margin, narrowly adnate, white, occasionally forked, low anastomoses only at the pileus margin, lamellulae absent; edges entire, concolourous. Stipe: 25 – 35 × 3 – 5 mm, cylindrical, somewhat bulging here and there, smooth to slightly rugose, annulus absent, white; hollow. Context: approx. 1 mm thick at half pileus radius, white, unchanging when bruised, brittle, taste mild, odour inconspicuous; macrochemical reactions: guaiac after 8 – 10 seconds negative on both stipe and lamellae surfaces, FeSO 4 salmon orange, sulphovanillin, KOH and phenol negative. Spore print: not observed, but probably white or cream. Spores: (6.8 –) 7.2 – 7.6 – 8 (– 8.8) × (6.3 –) 6.8 – 7.2 – 7.6 (– 8.7) µm (n = 90), Q = (1 –) 1.02 – 1.06 – 1.09 (– 1.17), subglobose, rarely broadly ellipsoid; ornamentation of distant to moderately distant amyloid warts [(2 –) 3 – 5 (– 6) in a circle of 3 µm diam.], 1 – 1.8 µm high, connected by frequent to abundant lines [(1 –) 2 – 4 (– 5) in the circle] forming a complete reticulum, rarely fused (up to 1 fusion in the circle), warts frequently rimmed by additional smaller warts visible only by SEM; suprahilar plage small, inamyloid, without ornamentation. Basidia: (32 –) 35 – 39 – 43 (– 48) × (10 –) 11 – 12.5 – 14.5 (– 20) µm (n = 60), clavate to subclavate, 4 - spored; basidiola approx. 5 – 10 µm wide, cylindrical to clavate. Hymenial cystidia: on lamellae sides (61 –) 70.5 – 81 – 91.5 (– 114) × (7 –) 9.5 – 12 – 14.5 (– 20) µm (n = 61), predominantly fusiform, rarely subclavate, originating in subhymenium and somewhat protruding over basidia, thin-walled, usually with a 3 – 15 µm long appendage, rarely with 2 appendages; heteromorphous contents amorphous, mostly located in the upper third, not reacting to sulphovanillin. Hymenial cystidia near the lamellae edges distinctly shorter, (37.5 –) 44 – 51.5 – 59 (– 70.5) × (8 –) 10 – 11.5 – 13 (– 15) µm (n = 60), similar in shape to hymenial cystidia on lamellae sides; heteromorphous contents only located near the apex, distinctly less dense. Lamellae edges: fertile, with equal representation of cystidia, basidia, basidiola and marginal cells. Marginal cells: (10 –) 14.5 – 19.5 – 24 (32.5) × (4 –) 5.5 – 7 – 8.5 (– 11) µm (n = 60), not well differentiated, variable in shape, cylindrical, clavate, pyriform, utriform or fusiform, sometimes hard to distinguish from basidiola, optically empty, thin-walled. Pileipellis: orthochromatic in Cresyl blue, sharply delimited from the underlying context, 145 – 185 µm deep; suprapellis a trichoderm, 35 – 50 µm deep, not gelatinised, composed of erect hyphal terminations; well delimited from the 100 – 145 µm deep subpellis of loose, irregularly orientated, interwoven, strongly gelatinised, 4 – 9 µm wide hyphae, becoming denser and horizontally arranged near the context. Acid resistant encrustations absent. Hyphal terminations: near the pileus margin arranged in erect tufts corresponding to the fine, macroscopically visible areolae, composed of (1 –) 3 – 4 unbranched cells, thin-walled, terminal cells (15.5 –) 24.5 – 30 – 36 (– 44) × (3 –) 4 – 5 – 5.5 (– 6.5) µm (n = 90), subulate, rarely subcylindrical, apically obtuse; subterminal cells shorter, 3.5 – 9 µm wide, cylindrical or ellipsoid. Hyphal terminations near the pileus centre similar to the ones near the pileus margin, terminal cells shorter, (9.5 –) 15 – 22 – 29 (– 39) × (3 –) 4 – 4.5 – 5.5 (– 6.5) µm (n = 91), more frequently cylindrical; subterminal cells shorter, 3.5 – 8 µm wide, cylindrical or ellipsoid. Pileocystidia: near the pileus margin (23.5 –) 30.5 – 36 – 42 (– 53.5) × (2 –) 4 – 4.5 – 5 (– 5.5) µm (n = 29), rare, one-celled, predominantly fusiform, rarely cylindrical, originating in the suprapellis, thin-walled, apically obtuse, sometimes with a 1 – 3.5 µm long appendage; heteromorphous contents amorphous, sometimes only located in the apical part, clearly discernible in sulphovanillin, content insensitive, but cytoplasm turning to darker pink, also in the neighbouring cell. Pileocystidia near the pileus centre more frequent, similar in size, shape and heteromorphous contents to the ones near the pileus margin, (20.5 –) 32 – 39.5 – 47 (– 59) × (3 –) 4 – 4.5 – 5.5 (– 6.5) µm (n = 62). Context: without cystidioid and oleiferous hyphae.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
EAA8EEFA166459E29C0E442C4A589617.taxon	etymology	Etymology. For Flora, the daughter of the authors of this species.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
EAA8EEFA166459E29C0E442C4A589617.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Only known from the Kota gallery forest in Benin.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
D39A9978234350C48022B2215086211D.taxon	description	Figs 21, 22, 23	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
D39A9978234350C48022B2215086211D.taxon	description	Short description. Russula hiemisilvae is a rather robust, mild, annulate species with a greyish-red pileus, stipe with rose hue and ellipsoid spores with a reticulate ornamentation with spines up to 1.5 µm high, occurring in savannah woodlands.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
D39A9978234350C48022B2215086211D.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Widely distributed in tropical African savannah woodlands. Known from Benin, Burundi, Madagascar, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
4AE91A5285785ED29D803A153137D6A3.taxon	description	Figs 24, 25, 26, 27, 28	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
4AE91A5285785ED29D803A153137D6A3.taxon	description	Short description. Basidiomata small to medium-sized, pileus surface pinkish, stipe with fugitive annulus, hyphal terminations in the pileipellis of two types including presence of distinctly thick-walled, sparsely septate, very long hyphae repent over other elements of the suprapellis, occurring in gallery forests and savannah woodlands.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
4AE91A5285785ED29D803A153137D6A3.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Widely distributed in rainforests, gallery forests and savannah woodlands in tropical Africa. Associated with Asteropeia mcphersonii G. E. Schatz, M. Lowry & A. - E. Wolf, Gilbertiodendron dewevrei and Uapaca spp. Known from Benin, Cameroon, DRC, Gabon, Madagascar and Senegal.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
73625515B6BD5E4FBD61564B4A1C38BB.taxon	description	Figs 29, 30, 31	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
73625515B6BD5E4FBD61564B4A1C38BB.taxon	description	Short description. Basidiomata small and ephemerous, pileus surface whitish to pale pinkish, pileocystidia distinctly inflated, broadly fusoid with dense crystalline contents and pileipellis a trichoderm composed of long, narrowly lanceolate terminal cells on top of short and inflated subterminal cells, occurring in gallery forests. Growth habit: basidiomata solitary. Pileus: small, 20 mm in diam., plane, centrally deeply depressed; margin uplifted, strongly tuberculate-striate up to ½ of the pileus radius, somewhat undulate and slightly crenulate; cuticle smooth, matt, not peelable, colour near the margin white, near the centre pinkish-white (10 A 2). Lamellae: approx. 2 mm wide, 8 – 9 lamellae present along 1 cm near the pileus margin, narrowly adnate, white, furcations, anastomoses and lamellulae absent; edges entire, concolourous. Stipe: 27 × 4 mm, cylindrical, bulging here and there, smooth, annulus absent, white; hollow. Context: approx. 0.5 mm thick at half pileus radius, white, unchanging when bruised, brittle, taste mild, odour inconspicuous, macrochemical reactions not observed. Spore print: not observed, probably white or cream. Spores: (9.4 –) 9.9 – 10.3 – 10.8 (– 11.3) × (9.1 –) 9.4 – 9.8 – 10.3 (– 10.7) µm (n = 30), Q = (1 –) 1.02 – 1.05 – 1.08 (– 1.11), globose to subglobose, ornamentation of distant amyloid spines (1 – 3 in a circle of 3 µm diam.), 1.8 – 2.6 µm high, abundantly connected by distinct lines [1 – 3 (– 5) in the circle] forming a complete reticulum, isolated elements absent, spines and line connections with frequent secondary warts only visible by SEM, suprahilar plage medium-sized, with a distinct central amyloid spot. Basidia: (32.5 –) 36 – 41.5 – 46.5 (– 49.5) × (12 –) 13 – 14 – 15 (– 16) µm (n = 20), broadly clavate, 4 - spored; basidiola approx. 9 – 12 µm wide, clavate. Hymenial cystidia: on lamellae sides (83 –) 91.5 – 99.5 – 107.5 (– 109.5) × (13 –) 15 – 17 – 18.5 (– 21.5) µm (n = 20), widely dispersed, 100 – 135 / mm 2, fusiform, originating in subhymenium and somewhat protruding over basidia, thin-walled, apically obtuse, with a 4 – 10 (– 15) µm long appendage; heteromorphous contents predominantly densely crystalline, turning dark grey violet in sulphovanillin. Hymenial cystidia near the lamellae edges distinctly shorter and narrower, (47.5 –) 51 – 63 – 75 (– 88) × (10 –) 11 – 12.5 – 14.5 (– 15.5) µm (n = 20), shape and heteromorphous contents similar to the one on hymenial cystidia on lamellae sides. Lamellae edges sterile, densely covered with marginal cells. Marginal cells: (19 –) 20 – 32.5 – 45 (– 67) × (6 –) 7.5 – 8.5 – 9.5 (– 11) µm (n = 20), fusiform or lanceolate, sometimes with long appendages, optically empty, thin-walled. Pileipellis: orthochromatic in Cresyl blue, sharply delimited from the underlying context, 80 – 105 µm deep; suprapellis a trichoderm, 23 – 38 µm deep, composed of a thin layer of erect, not gelatinised hyphal terminations arranged in tufts; well delimited from the 55 – 73 µm deep subpellis, of loose, gelatinised, interwoven, irregularly orientated, 3 – 5 µm wide hyphae, becoming denser and horizontally arranged towards the context. Acid resistant encrustations absent. Hyphal terminations: near the pileus margin composed of (1 –) 2 unbranched cells, thin-walled, terminal cells (18.5 –) 27.5 – 37 – 46.5 (– 63.5) × (2.5 –) 3 – 3.5 – 4 (– 5) µm (n = 30), attenuated, subulate, slender, slightly flexuous, apically obtuse; subterminal cells distinctly shorter, 3.5 – 6.5 µm wide, cylindrical, ellipsoid or subglobose. Hyphal terminations near the pileus centre composed of up to 3 unbranched cells, terminal cells (15 –) 26.5 – 36 – 45.5 (– 56.5) × (2.5 –) 3 – 3.5 – 4.5 (– 5.5) µm (n = 30), similar in shape to the ones near the pileus margin; subterminal cells shorter, 3.5 – 10 µm wide, inflated, ellipsoid to subglobose. Pileocystidia: near the pileus margin (28 –) 30 – 39.5 – 49 (– 66) × (11 –) 12.5 – 14.5 – 16.5 (– 18) µm (n = 20), one-celled, inflated, broadly fusiform, originating in the suprapellis, thin-walled, apically obtuse, with a 3 – 16 µm long finger-like appendage; heteromorphous contents dense, crystalline, turning to grey, surrounding cytoplasm to dark pink in sulphovanillin. Pileocystidia near the pileus centre similar in size and shape to those near the pileus margin (25 –) 27.5 – 39 – 50 (– 66) × (11 –) 12 – 14 – 16.5 (– 19.5) µm (n = 20), with a single or rarely two, 3 – 18 µm long appendages; heteromorphous contents similar. Context: without cystidioid and oleiferous hyphae.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
73625515B6BD5E4FBD61564B4A1C38BB.taxon	etymology	Etymology. molliculus (lat.) = dainty, tender. Referring to the small and tender habit of the basidiomata of this species.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
73625515B6BD5E4FBD61564B4A1C38BB.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Only known from the Bassila gallery forest in Benin.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
8AA73A2EBA0C5857BFD857D4BAAAF95C.taxon	description	Figs 32, 33, 34	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
8AA73A2EBA0C5857BFD857D4BAAAF95C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Basidiomata relatively robust, pileus surface yellow-orange, taste mild, terminal cells of the pileipellis hyphae lanceolate near the pileus margin and narrowly cylindrical near the pileus centre, occurring in savannah woodlands. Differs from Russula aureola Buyck by a lower spore ornamentation.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
8AA73A2EBA0C5857BFD857D4BAAAF95C.taxon	description	Description. Growth habit: basidiomata solitary. Pileus: medium-sized to large, 80 – 90 mm in diam., soon expanding plane, centrally depressed; margin even, finely tuberculate-striate up to 10 mm, regularly shaped; cuticle smooth, matt, peelable up to ¾ of the pileus radius, colour butter yellow (4 B 5), near the margin pale orange (5 A 3) or light orange (5 A 4), near the centre, melon (5 A 6) or golden yellow (5 B 7). Lamellae: 6 – 7 mm wide, 8 – 9 lamellae present along 1 cm near the pileus margin, narrowly adnate, white to pale cream, furcations frequent at the stipe attachment, anastomoses absent, lamellulae occasionally present; edges entire, concolourous. Stipe: 90 – 100 × 18 – 22 mm, cylindrical, smooth to slightly rugose, annulus absent, white; cottony stuffed, cavernate with 2 – 3 distinct chambers. Context: 6 – 7 mm thick at half pileus radius, white, unchanging when bruised, brittle, taste mild, odour inconspicuous to pleasant, macrochemical reactions: guaiac after 8 – 10 seconds (++) on stipe and weakly positive (+) on lamellae surfaces, FeSO 4 weak salmon orange, sulphovanillin negative, KOH negative or slightly discolouring on the pileipellis, phenol negative. Spore print: not observed, probably white or cream. Spores: (6.9 –) 7.4 – 7.7 – 8.1 (– 8.7) × (6.1 –) 6.4 – 6.7 – 7 (– 7.4) µm (n = 60), Q = (1.03 –) 1.10 – 1.15 – 1.20 (– 1.26), subglobose to broadly ellipsoid; ornamentation of moderately distant, dense to very dense, pustules [(5 –) 6 – 9 (– 12) in a circle of 3 µm diam.], not well defined, by light microscopy up to 0.5 µm high, connected by abundant, short lines [(2 –) 3 – 6 (– 8) in the circle] forming a complete reticulum, isolated or partially connected elements very rare to absent, occasionally to frequently fused (approx. 1 – 4 fusions in the circle); suprahilar plage small, inamyloid, without ornamentation. Basidia: (36.5 –) 42 – 47.5 – 53 (– 58) × (9 –) 10 – 11 – 12 (– 12.5) µm (n = 40), narrowly to broadly clavate, 4 - spored; basidiola approx. 5 – 8 µm wide, cylindrical to clavate. Hymenial cystidia: on lamellae sides (60.5 –) 71 – 83.5 – 95.5 (– 114) × (8.5 –) 9.5 – 10.5 – 11.5 (– 12.5) µm (n = 40), predominantly lanceolate, sometimes with slight moniliform constrictions, originating in subhymenium and somewhat protruding over basidia, thin-walled, apically obtuse, usually with a 2 – 13 µm long appendage; heteromorphous contents moderately dense, mostly amorphous, rarely crystalline, mostly located in the upper two-thirds, not reacting to sulphovanillin. Hymenial cystidia near the lamellae edges distinctly shorter and narrower, (38.5 –) 42.5 – 51 – 60 (– 70) × (6 –) 6.5 – 7.5 – 9 (– 11) µm (n = 40), lanceolate or rarely cylindrical, apically predominantly mucronate, with broad, 2.5 – 11 µm long appendages; heteromorphous contents similar to the one in hymenial cystidia on lamellae sides, but less dense. Lamellae edges: sterile, consisting of cystidia and marginal cells. Marginal cells: (23.5 –) 27.5 – 32.5 – 38 (– 48.5) × (4 –) 4.5 – 5.5 – 6.5 (– 8) µm (n = 40), narrowly utriform, lageniform or lanceolate, rarely cylindrical with slight constrictions, sometimes with a forked apex, optically empty, thin-walled. Pileipellis: orthochromatic in Cresyl blue, gradually passing to the underlying context, 125 – 165 µm deep; suprapellis a trichoderm, 30 – 40 µm deep, composed of erect hyphal terminations; gradually passing to a 95 – 130 µm deep subpellis of loose, strongly gelatinised, intricate, irregularly orientated, 1.5 – 4 µm wide hyphae, becoming denser and horizontally arranged near the context. Acid resistant incrustations absent. Hyphal terminations: near the pileus margin composed of 1 – 4 unbranched cells, thin-walled, frequently covered with a glutinous coating well visible in Congo red, terminal cells (8 –) 11.5 – 19.5 – 27 (– 40) × (2 –) 2.5 – 3 – 3.5 (– 4.5) µm (n = 60), predominantly lanceolate or subulate, rarely cylindrical, apically obtuse or acute; subterminal cells usually shorter, 3 – 6 µm wide, cylindrical or slightly inflated, branched or not. Hyphal terminations near the pileus centre composed of 1 – 3 unbranched cells, thin-walled, terminal cells shorter, (6.5 –) 9 – 13 – 17 (– 26) × 2 – 2.5 – 3 (– 3.5) µm (n = 61), slender, straight, cylindrical; subterminal cells equally long, 2 – 3.5 µm wide. Pileocystidia: near the pileus margin (15 –) 27 – 37.5 – 47.5 (– 55.5) × (3 –) 3.5 – 4.5 – 5.5 (– 7.5) µm (n = 44), one-celled, cylindrical or clavate to subcapitate, rarely lanceolate, flexuous, slightly moniliform, originating in the suprapellis, thin-walled, occasionally with a 2 – 3 µm long appendage; heteromorphous contents amorphous, not reacting to sulphovanillin. Pileocystidia near the pileus centre similar in size, shape and heteromorphous contents to those near the pileus margin, (24.5 –) 32 – 40 – 48.5 (– 55) × (4 –) 4.5 – 5 – 5.5 (– 6.5) µm (n = 40). Context: without cystidioid hyphae, oleiferous hyphae dispersed.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
8AA73A2EBA0C5857BFD857D4BAAAF95C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Reference to the African plant Costus spectabilis (Fenzl) K. Schum., the flower of which is similarly coloured.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
8AA73A2EBA0C5857BFD857D4BAAAF95C.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Only known from the Sudanian woodlands in Atakora in Benin.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
71F274E852F95A86A66B5632167A28A7.taxon	description	Figs 35, 36, 37	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
71F274E852F95A86A66B5632167A28A7.taxon	description	Short description. Russula sublaevis is a species with medium-sized basidiomata, a bright yellow pileus, white stipe, mild taste and cream-coloured spore print. Microscopically, the small subglobose spores with a very low ornamentation are noticeable.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
71F274E852F95A86A66B5632167A28A7.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology. Widely distributed in Sudanian woodlands in tropical Africa. Kown from Benin, DRC and Zimbabwe.	en	Manz, Cathrin, Amalfi, Mario, Buyck, Bart, Hampe, Felix, Yorou, Nourou S., Adamčík, Slavomír, Piepenbring, Meike (2025): Just the tip of the iceberg: uncovering a hyperdiverse clade of African Russula (Basidiomycota, Russulales, Russulaceae) species with signs of evolutionary habitat adaptations. IMA Fungus 16: e 140321, DOI: 10.3897/imafungus.16.140321
