13694 10.30848/PJB2026-7(10) <p> <em>Inocybe sineofibulae </em>sp. nov. (<em>Sect. Marginatae</em>), a new clamp-less ectomycorrhizal species from Kumrat valley, KP, Pakistan</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> Rizwan Amanat, Muhammad Hanif, Atta Ul Mustafa Zain, Zubaria Ashraf, Sammar Bashir, Nousheen Yousaf and Samina Sarwar <p> A new clamp-less ectomycorrhizal species, <em>Inocybe sineofibulae</em> sp. nov., collected from the Lamleek Forest of Kumrat Valley, KP, Pakistan. Morpho-anatomical and molecular characterization classified it in <em>Inocybe</em> sect. <em>Marginatae</em>. This newly described species is characterized by small sized basidiomata (pileus 1.8&ndash;2.3 cm) having pale brown fibrillose pileus with cracked margins, orange adnexed lamellae and a longitudinally striate stipe (3.1&ndash;5.6 &times; 0.4 cm). Large amyloid basidiospores (11.2&ndash;11.5 &times; 7.2&ndash;7.6 &mu;m), exceptionally large metuloid cystidia and absence of clamp connections. It resembles <em>I. cryptica</em> in its small basidiomata and smooth, ellipsoidal spores but differs by having larger amyloid spores, significantly larger cystidia and the absence of clamp connections, which are abundant in <em>I. cryptica</em>. Phylogenetic analysis (ITS) declares its genetic distinctness, showing ~90% ITS similarity to <em>I. cryptica</em>. This finding highlights the unexplored fungal diversity of the Hindukush regions of Pakistan and emphasizes the value of integrative taxonomy in resolving cryptic lineages.</p> Published 2026 58 7 1498 1506