Phaeophyscia esslingeri sp. nov. (Physciaceae, lichen-forming Ascomycota) – a new lichen species from Eastern Asia, with a world-wide key to the hairy species of the genus

Abstract

Phaeophyscia esslingeri, a new species for science, is described from South Korea, Eastern Asia, compared with closely related taxa and illustrated with photographs. It is similar to Phaeophyscia hirtella, but diff ers by larger and light grey thallus, wider lobes, apothecia without a corona of dark rhizines around the base, shorter cortical hairs, and wider ascospores. Status of the hairy taxa of the genus Phaeophyscia from Eastern Asia is discussed. A world-wide key to hairy species of the genus Phaeophyscia is also included.