Genea mexicana, sp. nov., and Geopora tolucana, sp. nov., new hypogeous Pyronemataceae from Mexico, and the taxonomy of Geopora reevaluated

Two new species of hypogeous Pezizalesin the Pyronemataceaeare described from montane cloud forestsin Mexico. Geneamexicana can be recognised by ITS sequence analysisand its distinct spore and setadimensions; Geoporatolucana by ITS sequence analysisand its light brown hymenium, broadly ellipsoid ascosporesand host preference. It belongs to the group of Geopora cooperiHarkn., which appears to be a rather heterogeneous assemblage, comprising a number of cryptic species. Our results indicate that the genus Geoporais non-monophyletic, occurring in two distinct phylogenetic clusters comprising species with either epigeousapothecial or hypogeousptychothecial ascomata. Moreover, molecular divergence of Geoporais much higher than that of the neighbouring genera. Accordingly, we propose to reassign the cupulate apothecial Geoporaspecies to the genus Sepultaria.