Multi-origin analysis of the traditional Chinese medicine Leiwan

By

Zhang, Wen-Hao
Zhang, Guo-Li
Lei, Han-Chi
Xu, Chang
Li, Jia
Xia, Xing
Jiang, Shuai
Li, Na
Tang, Li-Ping

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-11-26

Original Publication

MycoKeys

Volume

125

Pages

325--345

Subjects

Medicinal fungi , Moniliophthora , phylogenetics , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2011-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.125.164001

 

Abstract

<br> This study investigates the taxonomic identity of Leiwan (雷丸), a traditional medicinal fungus used in Chinese herbal medicine. Over the past two decades, 21 specimens were collected from herbal markets and through extensive field surveys across multiple provinces in China. Both morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal that Leiwan originates from multi-evolutionary lineages, represented by at least three distinct species:<br> Gerronema brunneosquamulosum<br> (雷丸老伞),<br> G. sinense<br> sp. nov.<br> (中华老伞) and<br> Moniliophthora sclerotium<br> sp. nov.<br> (菌核丛梗霉皮伞). We confirm that<br> G. brunneosquamulosum<br> is a valid name for the traditional Chinese medicine Leiwan and propose<br> G. lapidescens<br> as its synonym. Furthermore,<br> M. sclerotium<br> is the first report of a sclerotium-forming species within this genus, marking a significant expansion of its known ecological and morphological diversity. This study provides a taxonomic framework for Leiwan, establishing a scientific basis for future mycological and pharmacological research.<br>