The lichen genus Opegrapha s. l. in Poland: morphological variability, ecology, and distribution

Anetta Wieczorek

doi:10.5586/mb.2018.001

Abstract

This monograph presents the results of research on the morphological and anatomical variability, ecology, and distribution of Opegrapha s. l. in Poland. The study is based on roughly 1,400 specimens from Polish and some European herbaria. Out of the 18 species of the genus Opegrapha s. l. recorded from Poland, seven species belong to the genus Opegrapha Ach., four species now belong to the genus Alyxoria Ach. ex Gray, two species each are found in the genera Arthonia Ach. and Zwackhia Körb, and one species belongs to each of the genera Gyrographa Ertz &amp; Tehler, Phacographa Hafellner, and Pseudoschismatomma Ertz &amp; Tehler. One of the species, Zwackhia sorediifera, has been reported from Poland for the first time. Among the 18 species of the genus Opegrapha s. l., 10 are epiphytic, five epilithic, and two lichenicolous. The first modern identification key for the species of Opegrapha s. l. in Poland is presented. Numerous new regional records are provided that complement our knowledge of the geographic distribution of some poorly known taxa, such as Alyxoria culmigena, A. mougeotii, A. ochrocheila, Arthonia calcarea, Opegrapha dolomitica, O. geographicola, O. lithyrga, and Phacographa glaucomaria. All species are characterized and discussed, and their diagnostic characters illustrated. Geographic ranges of each species in Poland are presented on maps based on revised herbarium materials.

Highlights

Wieczorek / The lichen genus Opegrapha s. l. in PolandOpegrapha s. l. is a species-rich genus of crustose lichens
My observations show that Alyxoria culmigena has slightly longer and straighter ascospores and conidia
Alyxoria culmigena differs from A. ochrocheila by much shorter, unicellular conidia and a lack of pruina, and it differs from P. rufescens by having wider ascospores and the presence of a perispore

Summary

Introduction

Wieczorek / The lichen genus Opegrapha s. l. in PolandOpegrapha s. l. is a species-rich genus of crustose lichens. Wieczorek / The lichen genus Opegrapha s. L. is a species-rich genus of crustose lichens. Individuals are typically found on the bark of various tree species or on rocks, decaying wood, and thalli of other lichens. They are distributed in all climatic zones across the planet. Molecular studies resulted in the introduction of a new family, the Lecanographaceae, which included the genera Alyxoria, Lecanographa, and Zwackhia [7,8]. In 2015, several new genera, including Gyrographa and Pseudoschismatomma, were described in an additional study by Ertz et al [9]

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