Cantharellus phloginus, a new pink-colored species from southwestern China

•A new species, Cantharellus phloginus, is reported.•Fruit bodies are fleshy with predominant pink tinges.•Hymenophore is well-developed gill-folds and yellow-orange.•Phylogenetic analysis shows the species is sister to C. cinnabarinus.

A new species, Cantharellus phloginus, is reported from subtropical and tropical areas of Yunnan Province, and described in detail. It was distinctive from other species by unique morphological features such as the light pink color of pileus and pinkish tinges on the stipe in contrast to yellow-orange hymenophore, well-developed gill-folds and the ellipsoid basidiospores (7.5–8.5 × 5.0–6.5(–7.0) μm). The new species was further substantiated by phylogenetic analysis of the transcription elongation factor 1-alpha gene sequences that show it to be a sister-species to the North American C. cinnabarinus, the type species of C. subgen. Cinnabarinus.