Candelariella (Candelariaceae) in western United States and northern Mexico: the species with biatorine apothecia

Abstract

Three species of Candelariella in western North America, characterized by biatorine apothecia, are treated. Two new species are described, C. biatorina and C. lichenicola. Candelariella biatorina is a corticolous species growing in montane conifer forests in western North America. Candelariella lichenicola, described from northwestern Mexico, is a lichenicolous fungus that lacks an independent thallus and the apothecia develop on the thallus of Candelina submexicana. The third species, C. subdeflexa, is a rare species on bark in Arizona, Colorado and Utah in western North America. Macroconidia are described in the Candelariaceae for the first time in C. biatorina. In C. subdeflexa conidia are borne externally on the lower side of the thallus squamules. The distribution of the three species in western North America is mapped.