Diversity of the Genus Xylaria in European Atlantic Lauroid Forest: New Records and Description of Eight New Species

A recent study reveals that European Atlantic laurel forests, including both insular and continental regions, harbor significantly higher diversity of the fungal genus Xylaria (Xylariaceae) than previously recognized. By analyzing over 80 collections from Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and mainland Iberia, researchers identified at least 13 species, eight of which are newly described. The study employed an integrative approach combining morphological observations with multilocus phylogenetic analyses using ITS, LSU, RPB2, and TUB2 loci to resolve species boundaries, particularly in morphologically cryptic lineages. This research underscores the importance of these ecosystems as reservoirs of fungal diversity and evolutionary novelty, contributing to our understanding of Xylaria's global distribution and biodiversity.

De la Peña-Lastra, S., Mateos, A., García-Martín, A., Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A., & Serrano, M. (2026). Diversity of the Genus Xylaria in European Atlantic Lauroid Forest: New Records and Description of Eight New Species. Life, 16(6), 993. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16060993