Range Extensions of Selected Pin-Lichens and Allied Fungi in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract

Chaenothecopsis rubina, C. subparoica, and C. ussuriensis are reported new to North America, north of Mexico. Specimens corresponding to the taxonomically uncertain species, C. parasitaster and Microcalicium conversum, are also reported for North America, north of Mexico. Twenty-two species are reported as new to California, Oregon, or Washington. While the pin-lichens and allied fungi (Caliciales sensu lato) have received reasonable attention in northern Europe (e.g., Holien 1996; Hyvirinen et al. 1992; Middleborg & Mattsson 1987; Tibell 1992), little notice has been given to them in western North America. Anyone experienced with the group will be surprised at the lack of reports in our area for some species. This list comes from ongoing research in western Oregon, western Washington, and northwestern California, with particular focus in Oregon. The region has a primarily mesic, temperate climate over a mountainous terrain. Forests are generally dominated by Pseudotsuga, Tsuga, or Abies with an increasing amount of Picea toward the coast and of Pinus to the south and the east; lowland valleys and some low hills are often dominated by Fraxinus, Populus, or Quercus. The range extensions reported here (Table 1) supplement the checklist of lichens and allied fungi for the United States and Canada (Esslinger & Egan 1995) and state lists for California, Oregon, and Washington (Tucker & Jordan 1978; B. Ryan & S. Tucker, pers. comm.). Our taxonomic concepts follow Esslinger and Egan (1995), Purvis et al. (1992), and numerous works by Tibell. For each species we provide a brief description of the habitats in which we have found it, an estimate of its distribution and commonality, and principle characters to distinguish it from other members of the same genus. At least one specimen for each species has been placed in a public herbarium. We wish to note that pinlichens and their allies are strongly associated with structures within, or developed from, old-growth forests (Selva 1994; Tibell 1992). Even when we state that species occur frequently, they are restricted to habitats that usually require an old-growth legacy, with the exception of some species that occur on hardwood twigs. Calicium adspersum Pers.-This species occurs on conifer bark in humid forests. It probably occurs sporadically through cool humid forests in our region, possibly becoming more common toward the north. It is considered an antitropical species (Tibell 1994), previously known in North America from British Columbia (Noble 1982; Tibell 1975), Oregon and Washington (B. Ryan, pers. comm.). The stalk and excipulum of the apothecia are generally black, a faint greenish-yellow pruina is present over the spore mass, the spores have a strong spiral ornamentation, and the thallus is superficial and gray. New to California. Specimen.-U.S.A. CALIFORNIA. Del Norte Co., Rikkinen 98232 (H). Chaenotheca brachypoda (Ach.) Tibell.-Occurring mostly in strongly shaded, humid habitats, this species grows over bark or wood on hardwood trunks and occasionally at the bases of conifers. It grows commonly in humid habitats throughout our region. It is considered an antitropical species (Tibell 1994) and was previously known from boreal North America including British Columbia (Tibell 1975), and from California (S. Tucker, pers. comm.). The bright yellow pruina entirely covering the apothecia and becoming whitish with age, the immersed thallus, and the lichenization with Stichococcus distinguish this species from other Chaenotheca. Several of our specimens contain a mix of Stichococcus and Chlorococcales in the substrate and the Chlorococcales can be dominant, however we have not yet determined if lichenization is occurring with the Chlorococcales. Representative specimens.-U.S.A. OREGON. Benton Co., Rikkinen 98038; Lane Co., Peterson 2900; Lincoln Co., Rikkinen 98281; Linn Co. Rikkinen 98553; Polk Co., Peterson 1287 (osc), Rikkinen 98011. WASHINGTON. Thurston Co., Peterson 2932 (osc). Chaenotheca chlorella (Ach.) Mtill. Arg.-Occurring in lowland forests, this species grows main0007-2745/99/370-376$0.85/0 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.159 on Sun, 23 Oct 2016 05:06:11 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 1999] PETERSON & RIKKINEN: PIN-LICHENS 371 TABLE 1. Species recorded for California (CA), Oregon (OR), and Washington (WA). Plus-sign indicates previous reports, N = new reports. Species reported as new to North America are in bold.