Background and aims – Lentinus species are a major component of the agaricoid flora of tropical Africa where fifteen species have been documented with few studies in Cameroon. This work aims to contribute to the taxonomy of the genus Lentinus by describing a putative new species collected in south-western Cameroon. Methods – A unique lentinoid fungi specimen collected in Korup National Park in the South-West region of Cameroon and preserved in the Edinburgh herbarium (E) was examined macro- and microscopically following classical mycological description methods. Key results – The sp ecimen examined possesses squamules on the pileus and stipe surface, no annulus, furcated branching dichotomous lamellae, oblong-cylindrical basidispores, basidia generally bearing four sterigmata (sometimes two or one) reaching 5 μm long, skeleto-ligative hyphae and pleurocystidia. The simultaneous presence of both pleurocystidia and skeleto-ligative hyphae has never been encountered in the genus Lentinus . Due to this unusual combination and other specific features of this specimen, it is considered as a representative of a new species within the genus Lentinus . Discussion – Lentinus cystidiatus exhibits some similar characteristics with Lentinus squarrosulus that possesses squamules on the pileus and stipe surface and mostly with species of the sub-genus Lentinus section Dicholamellatae that are characterized by furcated lamellae. As skeleto-ligative hyphae is characteristic of the sub-genus Lentinus and pleurocystidia characteristic of sub-genus Panus, the simultaneous presence of elements brings into question the taxonomic position of this new species and the systematics of the genus Lentinus in general. Conclusions – The existence of this new species in Cameroon opens a door on the necessity of a taxonomic revision of the genus Lentinus and allied genera.

CAMEROON; CENTRAL AFRICA; KORUP NATIONAL PARK; LAMELLATE POLYPORACEAE; PLEUROCYSTIDIA; SKELETO-LIGATIVE HYPHAE