# Cortinarius mapuveronicae from South America, a chemical and morphological link between European and Australian dermocyboid Cortinarii

## TL;DR

A new species of Cortinarius, found in South America, is described using chemical, morphological, and genetic data, linking it to related species in Europe and Australia.

## Contribution

The discovery of a new Cortinarius species with unique chemical compounds and phylogenetic insights connecting European and Australian species.

## Key findings

- Cortinarius mapuveronicae exhibits a red color reaction with KOH and purplish brown spores.
- A new anthraquinonoid pigment, clavorubin-8-O-methylether, was identified along with known compounds.
- Phylogenetic analysis shows C. mapuveronicae is closely related to C. rubrobasalis.

## Abstract

The new species Cortinarius mapuveronicae from Andean-Patagonian Nothofagus-forests is described in a polythetic approach combining chemical analysis of the anthraquinonoid secondary metabolites, microscopical and morphological characteristics, as well as molecular phylogeny. C. mapuveronicae exhibits an intense red color reaction of the basidiomata by treatment with KOH, whereas the basidiospores are turning purplish brown. As responsible compound, the new anthraquinonoid pigment clavorubin-8-O-methylether (1), together with the known monomeric and dimeric anthraquinones (+)-7,7-emodinphyscion (2), emodin (3), emodin-6,8-di-O-methylether (4), questin (5), (+)-(S)-skyrin (6), (+)-(S)-aurantioskyrin (7), hypericin (8), dermolutein (9), and endocrocin (10) could be identified, showing also remarkable activity in a (photo)antimicrobial and (photo)cytotoxic assay. Phylogenetic analysis (ITS, LSU, rpb1) demonstrates a sister group relationship with the holotype of C. rubrobasalis.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13659-025-00552-5.