Three New Fungi from China: A Potentially Psychoactive Psilocybe and Two Deconica Species

The saprotrophic genera Deconica and Psilocybe exhibit broad geographic distributions across temperate and subtropical biomes globally. Despite China's rich fungal diversity, taxonomic studies of these genera remain limited, with few species previously documented. In this study, 64 specimens of Deconica and Psilocybe from China were examined using an integrative taxonomic approach combining detailed morphological characterization with multilocus phylogenetic analyses (ITS, nrLSU, rpb2, and tef1-α). We identified six known Psilocybe species, three known Deconica species, and three species new to science, i.e., Deconica lignicola, D. shannanensis, and Psilocybe striata. In addition, at least six not yet described taxa were identified as members of the two genera. Psilocybe striata is distinguished by a white pileus covered with distinctive striate veils and exhibits a bluing reaction, which was discovered in Chongqing, representing the expansion of the known geographic range of Psilocybe in China. Deconica lignicola is characterized by pleurocystidia of the chrysocystidia type and narrowly lageniform cheilocystidia with short necks, and it is a typical lignicolous fungus, which grows on decaying wood. Deconica shannanensis produces small, reddish-brown to dark brown basidiomata, with abundant narrowly lageniform to lageniform cheilocystidia and does not have pleurocystidia; it is a coprophilous species inhabiting high-altitude meadows. These findings not only enrich the recorded species diversity of Deconica and Psilocybe in China but also deepen the understanding of their ecological adaptations and geographical distribution.