Fazli Maula, Malka Saba, Muhammad Asif, Afifa Kainat Rani, Wajahat Akram, Fahim Ullah, Saher Batool, Kainat Bakhsh, Ayesha Bibi, Aiman Izhar, Najam Ul Sehar Afshan, Abdul Nasir Khalid
A novel species, Leucocoprinus aurantiopileus , is described from Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad, Pakistan, using an integrated approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on combined internal transcribed spacer and large subunit sequences confirm its placement within Leucocoprinus . L. aurantiopileus is distinguished by a conical to campanulate, subumbonate to umbonate pileus, dark red center, and light orange margins, along with subcylindrical to oblong basidiospores. We provide detailed descriptions, colored photographs, microscopic structures, and a phylogenetic tree. This discovery highlights the mycological diversity of Margalla Hills and emphasizes the need for further fungal exploration in the region.