Phylloporia in tropical Africa: Morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic data support four undescribed species from the East African coastal forest at Arabuko Sokoke National Park, Kenya

This study is a part of the revision of Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Basidiomycota) in tropical Africa. On the basis of morphological, ecological, and multilocus phylogenetic data, four new species are described, originating from the East African coastal forest phytochorion, at Arabuko Sokoke National Park, Kenya. Phylloporia arabukoana forms small, mostly applanate to shortly triquetrous basidiomes, emerging in multiple, dense clusters of 10–20 pilei each, dispersed along living trunks of Bourreria petiolaris (Boraginaceae). This species is phylogenetically related to P. afropectinata and P. beninensis. Phylloporia pulchella forms small (up to 10 mm diam), mainly circular, dorsifixed, applanate basidiomes, emerging from living small twigs in the upper foliage of Heinsia crinita cf. subsp. parviflora, a shrubby to small-stemmed Rubiaceae of the understory compartment. The species has neither morphological nor phylogenetic relatives so far in tropical Africa or elsewhere. Phylloporia sokokeana is described based on stipitate, pleuropodal basidiomes emerging from soil. It is related, morphologically, ecologically, and phylogenetically, to P. mutabilis, known from southern, coastal Benin. Phylloporia thecacoris forms soft, spongy, and dimidiate to amplectens basidiomes on living stems of small, bushy Phyllanthaceae, Thecacoris spathulifolia. It is morphologically comparable to P. littoralis, known from the western edge of the Guineo-Congolian forest but, from a phylogenetic perspective, has no relatives to date. A key to the Phylloporia species currently reported from tropical Africa is presented.