Heterobasidion australe, a new polypore derived from the Heterobasidion insulare complex

Heterobasidion australe sp. nov. is derived from the Heterobasidion insulare complex, and its illustrated description is given. It is similar to H. ecrustosum by morphology but closely related to H. orientale genetically. Heterobasidion australe is characterized by the effused-reflexed to sessile basidiocarps with a reddish-brown crust in the pileus, shining pore surface, regular and small pores, and by slightly smaller basidiospores than those in other taxa of the complex. Heterobasidion australe has so far been recorded only from southern China, where it seems to be relatively common in coniferous forests, growing mostly on dead wood of several genera of gymnosperm trees. Occasionally it has been recorded also on living trees, but its pathogenicity is uncertain.