Aims: As the main component of ecosystem, macrofungi have important ecological functions and economic values. In this study, we aim to understand the species diversity, compositions, and resources of macrofungi in Beijing by performing comprehensive investigations, identifications, and analyses.
Methods: The macrofungal investigations were carried out in 2020-2022 by using line transect and random sampling methods. Specimens were identified by using morphological and molecular methods, and the complete list of macrofungi in Beijing was obtained based on both identification results and literature surveys. Species composition analyses, floristic geographical component analyses and resource evaluations were carried out based on the list by using statistical methods and literature surveying.
Results: A total of 5,448 specimens were collected, and 608 species were identified. The complete list of macrofungi in Beijing containing 619 species belong to 277 genera, 93 families, 22 orders, 6 classes, 2 phyla. Among all the species, 24 belong to Ascomycota, 595 belong to Basidiomycota, five were records new to China, 120 were new to Beijing. There were 19 dominant families with more than 10 species, accounting for 59.61% of the total species, including Agaricaceae, Polyporaceae, Psathyrellaceae, Russulaceae, Tricholomataceae, and so on. There were 33 dominant genera with more than 5 species, accounting for 38.13% of the total species, including Cortinarius, Gymnopus, Inocybe, Leucoagaricus, Russula, and so on. Cosmopolitan, north temperate, and pantropical genera accounted for 61.37%, 31.05%, and 5.42%, respectively. There were 71 edible, 43 medicinal, 22 poisonous, 45 both edible and medicinal fungi.
Conclusion: The species diversity of macrofungi in Beijing is high, and the economic resources are rich. The geographical composition of the flora reflects typical north temperate distribution characteristics. The species number of macrofungi in Beijing could be increased in the future since some large genera of mushrooms, such as, Cortinarius, Entoloma, Inocybe, Russula have not been sufficiently studied.