Apothecial Discs Research Articles

Two new species and additional records of Coenogonium (Ostropales: Coenogoniaceae) from India

Two corticolous species of Coenogonium viz., C. pseudonepalense and C. submoniliforme are described as new to science. Coenogonium pseudonepalense is characterized by a crustose, greenish‐grey thallus, pale‐orange apothecial disc and 13.0–17.0 × 2.5–3.0 µm ascospores. Coenogonium submoniliforme is characterized by appressed‐filamentous thallus, small‐sized apothecia (up to 0.4 mm in diameter), pale orange apothecial disc and 14.0–18.0 × 2.8–3.8 µm ascospores. Coenogonium lueckingii and C. pineti are new records for Indian lichen biota. An updated world key to the known species of Coenogonium is also provided.

First report of poorly known genus Gloeoheppia (Ascomycota: Gloeoheppiaceae), reveals one new species from Pakistan

The new species Gloeoheppia immersusia sp. nov. is described from Darel Valley, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. A comparative morpho-anatomical and chemical study and ITS-based molecular analyse indicated a position of this new species within the genus Gloeoheppia Gyeln. Gloeoheppia immersusia sp. nov. is closely related to G. turgida (Ach.) Gyeln and G. erosa (J. Steiner) Marton, characterized by thallus gelatinose, squamulose to peltate, upper surface blackish brown to dark olive brown, apothecial disc blackish brown to reddish brown, apothecia 0.4 – 1 mm, hymenium 110–150 μm, subhymenium 50–85 μm, exciple 30–42 μm, ascospores 12–18 × 6–9 μm and growing on calcareous rocks. A key and comparison to all existing species of the genus Gloeoheppia is also given.

Byssoloma orientale (Pilocarpaceae, Ascomycota), a new species from East Asia

AbstractA new species, Byssoloma orientale K. Miyaz. & Y. Ohmura, is described from East Asia. It is characterized by a minutely farinose light green thallus, apothecia with a well-developed byssoid margin that spreads laterally over the thallus surface, a pure black apothecial disc caused by the presence of an aeruginous pigment in the epithecium, (7–)9–12(–17)-septate cylindrical colourless ascospores, and oblong conidia. This species grows on living leaves as well as on tree bark. The molecular phylogenetic position of B. orientale within this genus was inferred based on mtSSU sequences, and the species was shown to be closely related to B. vanderystii, which has up to 7-septate ascospores and an absence of aeruginous pigment in the epithecium.

Phylogeny, morphology and chemistry reveal two new multispored species in the Lecanorasubfusca group (Lecanoraceae, Ascomycota).

Two new multispored species from China, Lecanoraanhuiensis Li J. Li & Printzen, sp. nov. and Lecanorapseudojaponica Li J. Li & Printzen, sp. nov. are described and illustrated here, based on morphological, chemical and molecular evidence. Lecanoraanhuiensis is characterised by an epruinose, yellowish-brown to deep brown apothecial disc, an epihymenium with fine crystals, an amphithecium with small crystals, 16-spored asci and the presence of zeorin, in addition to atranorin. Lecanorapseudojaponica is characterised by an epruinose, red-brown apothecial disc, an epihymenium without crystals, an amphithecium with small crystals, 8 or 16- spored asci and the presence of zeorin and the stictic acid complex, in addition to atranorin. Phylogenetic reconstructions, based on mtSSU, nrITS and nrLSU suggest that these two species are members of the Lecanorasubfusca group. They are compared with morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species, based on a nrITS dataset. Phylogenetic results show that the multispored taxa of Lecanora are polyphyletic. The number of ascospores per ascus appears to be a taxonomic character of minor importance. Detailed descriptions, discussions and figures for the two new species from China and a key for the multispored species of Lecanora worldwide are provided.

Chaenothecopsis xishuiensis sp. nov. to Science and Lecanora pseudargentata Newly Reported from China

In order to provide data for lichenologists studying taxonomy, Chaenothecopsis xishuiensis is supported and proposed as a new species from China based on phenotypic, molecular, and metabolite data. It is characterised by leprose thallus, single, conical to hemispherical apothecia, nonbranching stipe, cylindrical, eight-spored asci, and nonseptate and brown spores, and this lichenised fungus contains atranorin and zeorin in the thallus. In addition, Lecanora pseudargentata is reported for the first time as a new record from China. This species is characterised by red-brown to dark brown apothecial discs, eight-spored asci, nonseptate, hyaline spores, and the presence of atranorin and gangaleoidin. The biological activity of its lichen substances is discussed.

A new species and a new record of the genus Squamulea (Teloschistaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) from Pakistan

AbstractA novel species in the genus Squamulea, S. chikarensis, is described from Himalayan moist temperate forest in Pakistan. The morphology, chemistry and ITS sequences support its distinction from other species of this genus. The taxon is characterized by a pale green to yellow thallus, large apothecia up to 0.8–1.8 mm wide, pale yellow to yellow-orange apothecial discs, a hymenium 70–110 μm high, large ascospores (12–20 × 5–11 μm) and a narrow ascospore septum (1.5–3 μm). In addition, S. flakusii is reported as new to Pakistan and Eurasia.

Eight new species of lichenized Basidiomycota in the genera Acantholichen, Cyphellostereum and Dictyonema s.str. (Agaricales, Hygrophoraceae) from northern South America

A study of Acantholichen P.M. Jørgensen, Cyphellostereum D.A. Reid and Dictyonema s.str. C. Agardh ex Kunth from the Venezuelan Andes (Sierra Nevada de Mérida) and the Guayana Highlands (Alto Orinoco) revealed the presence of eight species new to science, viz., Acantholichen dendroideus V. Marcano, Cyphellostereum mucuyense V. Marcano, Dictyonema andinum V. Marcano, D. duidense V. Marcano, D. laurae V. Marcano, D. subinvolutum V. Marcano, D. subsericeum V. Marcano and D. umbricola V. Marcano. Acantholichen dendroideus grows on mosses in shady and humid disturbed forest and is characterized by densely and dichotomously branched microsquamules, with a pruinose surface and large acanthohyphidia. Cyphellostereum mucuyense grows on mosses and sandy soils, lacks a jigsaw-puzzle-shaped hyphal sheath and prothallus, the fibrils are not penetrated by tubular fungal hyphae and the basidiocarp surface is finely arachnoid. This is the first record of Cyphellostereum in Venezuela. Dictyonema andinum might be confused with D. irrigatum (Berkeley & M. A. Curtis) Lücking from the Andaman Islands, but differs in the broader and ascending fibrils, a thicker photobiont layer and hypothallus, as well as the formation of stereoid-corticioid hymenophores. Dictyonema duidense from the Guayana Highlands and D. subsericeum from the Venezuelan Andes belong in the group of shelf-like morphotypes, with a semicircular thallus resembling D. sericeum s.str. Dictyonema duidense grows on tree trunks and is characterized by thick, very broad lobes and an areolate, rugose surface and it lacks clamp connections whereas D. subsericeum grows on tree branches and is characterized by variability of color (white, greenish blue, brown), size and shape (semicircular to hemispherical), filamentous lobes, a hirsute surface, fibrillose margins, clamp connections on the hyphae, cyphelloid hymenophores resembling attachment hapters, and very small, globose to subglobose basidiospores. Dictyonema laurae resembles D. subsericeum but is characterized by a continuous greenish blue crust-like thallus with an irregular surface, with discontinuous, fibrillose, and narrow margins projecting and ascending from the substrate, a hapteriform hymenophore, and its lacks clamp connections on the hyphae. Dictyonema subinvolutum is characterized by a jigsaw-puzzle-shaped hyphal sheath, fibrils penetrated by tubular fungal hyphae, and a smooth, pruinose, resupinate hymenophore. Finally, D. umbricola grows on mosses in very shady habitats and produces a corticioid hymenophore raised from the thallus, resembling apothecial discs, jigsaw-puzzle-shaped cells around the filaments and a distinct, discontinuous, white prothallus. Of the eight species of Dictyonema s.lat. registered from Venezuela, seven are known only from the Venezuelan Andes (A. dendroideus, C. mucuyense, D. andinum, D. laurae, D. subsericeum, D. subinvolutum, D. umbricola) and one is known only from the Venezuelan Amazonas (D. duidense). The high concentration of Acantholichen, Cyphellostereum and Dictyonema species in tropical America and especially of the latter genus in the Venezuelan Andes indicates that this region constitutes an important centre for speciation and endemism of Dictyonema clade/subtribe Dictyonematinae.

A new species of the genus Rinodina (Lichenized Ascomycota, Physciaceae) from Pakistan

Specimens of a species belonging to the genus Rinodina were collected during a lichen diversity study in district Kohistan, Pakistan. Both morphology and ITS sequence data confirm its position within the genus Rinodina and suggest it is distinct from other known species of the genus. The new taxon, described here as Rinodina iqbalii, is characterized by the absence of a prothallus; small apothecial discs up to 0.6 mm in diameter; and small, Milvina–type ascospores, (12.0–)16.0–18.5(–20.0) × (6.5–)8.0–10.0(–12.0) µm, which become more or less Physcia–type during their ontogeny and the presence of atranorin. A tabular comparison of characters between the new species and similar taxa is provided.

Cercidospora navarroi, a new species of lichenicolous fungus from the Central Himalayan region of India

Cercidospora navarroi colonizing the thallus and the apothecial discs of Rinodina intermedia is described as new to science from India and is compared with C. exiguella, C. rinodinae, and C. cf. rinodinae which also colonize the lichen genus Rinodina.

Two New Species of Lichenicolous Fungus Sclerococcum (Dactylosporaceae, Sclerococcales) from India

Two new species ofSclerococcum, viz.S. dendriscostictaeandS. physciae, colonising members ofDendriscosticta, PhysciaandSticta, are described from Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh states of India, respectively.S. dendriscostictaecolonising the host thallus as well as apothecial disc ofDendriscostictaandStictaspecies is generally characterised by its small sized (0.1–0.4 mm) black apothecia, hyaline hymenium, paraphyses without dark apical caps, asci 8-spored, ascospores ellipsoid, hyaline at immature stage and brown at maturity, 1-septate, smooth walled, 9–10–11(–12) × (3–)3.8–5–6.1(–7) µm, whileS. physciaecolonising thallus ofPhysciasp. is characterised by black, rounded to irregular sporodochia (40–100 µm diam.) having ellipsoid or angular, medium to dark brown, mostly simple, rarely 1-septate conidia [(5–)7.5–10–11.7(–14) × (4–)4.7–5.8–6.9(–7) µm]. A key to known Indian taxa is also being provided.

(2795) Proposal to conserve the name Ochrolechia szatalaensis against Pertusaria poriniza (lichenized Ascomycota: Pertusariales, Ochrolechiaceae)

(2795) Ochrolechia szatalaensis Verseghy in Ann. Hist.-Nat. Mus. Natl. Hung. 50: 80. 31 Dec 1958, nom. cons. prop. Typus: Bulgaria, Cepelarska planina: in monte Karlak dag pr. Pasmakli, 1700–2100 m, supra cort., Picea excelsa, 7–8 Jun 1929, Szatala: Lich. Bulgariae (BP No. 20057; isotypus: BP No. 20058). (=) Pertusaria poriniza Nyl. in Flora 57: 8. 1 Jan 1874, nom. rej. prop. Holotypus: Finland, Padasjoki, Nyystölä, lepän kuorella, 1872, Lang (H-NYL No. 26234 [barcode H9508469]; isotypus: TUR No. V 6437). Ochrolechia szatalaensis Verseghy (in Ann. Hist.-Nat. Mus. Natl. Hung. 50: 80. 1958) is a well-known and widespread species characterized by the presence of variolaric acid commonly associated with alectoronic acid (but only in Europe), absence of gyrophoric acid, strongly pruinose apothecial disc, glassy amphithecial cortex in the lower part and the corticolous habitat (Brodo in Canad. J. Bot. 69: 761–762. 1991; Kukwa, Ochrolechia Eur.: 184–194. 2011). It is widely distributed, but in many areas it seems to be an uncommon lichen. It is listed as an accepted name in influential checklists and papers, such as Verseghy (l.c. 1958: 80–81, in Beih. Nova Hedwigia 1: 76–77. 1962), Vězda (Lichenes Selecti Exsicc. XXXIV. 1969), Hanko & al. (in Nova Hedwigia 42: 165–199. 1986), Brodo (l.c.:), Purvis & al. (in Lichenologist 26: 393–397. 1994), Aptroot (in Trop. Bryol. 14: 25–34. 1998), Boqueras & al. (in Cryptog. Mycol. 20: 303–328. 1999), Randlane & Saag (in Folia Cryptog. Estonica 35: 69. 1999), Messuti & Lumbsch (in Biblioth. Lichenol. 75: 33–46. 2000), Brodo & al. (Lichens N. Amer.: 464. 2001), Hafellner (in Fritschiana 36: 1–10. 2002), Pisút (in Prír. Sborn. Slov. Múz. 50: 14–17. 2004), Santesson & al. (Lichen-Forming Lichenicolous Fungi Fennoscandia: 223. 2004), Schmitt & Lumbsch (in Molec. Phylogen. Evol. 33: 1–82. 2004), Kuznetsova & al. (in Norrlinia 16: 44. 2007), Smith & al. (Lichens Gr. Brit. Ireland: 630. 2009), Seaward (in Census Cat. Irish Lichens: 30. 2010), Kukwa (l.c.), Hafellner & Türk (in Stapfia 104: 105. 2016), and Nimis & Martellos (ITALIC 6.0, Inform. Syst. Italian Lichens, http://italic.units.it. 2020). The need for this proposal is caused by the fact that the original material (holotype: H-NYL No. 26234, isotype: TUR No. V 6437) of Pertusaria poriniza Nyl. (in Flora 57: 8. 1874) has been found to represent Ochrolechia szatalaensis. The information on the labels of the Helsinki and Turku specimens is identical and corresponds to the information in the protologue: “In Finlandia, Padasjoki, supra corticem alni (E. Lang)” (Nylander, l.c.). Both specimens represent juvenile thalli of O. szatalaensis Verseghy (l.c. 1958) with young, semiglobose, basally strongly constricted apothecia with punctiform, Pertusaria-like, apothecial discs. Only variolaric acid was detected by thin-layer chromatography. Pertusaria poriniza is a little-used name; it was reported only from Finland from its type locality (in Nylander, l.c.), and since then only that record has been cited in Erichsen (in Rabenh. Krypt.-Fl., ed. 2, 9(5/1): 458–459. 1936), Poelt (Bestimm. Eur. Flechten: 488. 1969), Vitikainen & al. (in Norrlinia 6: 47. 1997) and Santesson & al. (l.c.: 240). In this case, there are two possible solutions. The first is the introduction of a new combination based on Pertusaria poriniza for the species presently known as O. szatalaensis. This would, however, cause the disappearance of a well-established name used for over 60 years and perhaps also severe confusion in placing the older records of O. szatalaensis in P. poriniza. It should also be mentioned that the type material of P. poriniza represents a juvenile form of O. szatalaensis and does not reflect the morphology of the species. The second solution, which appears more reasonable as it avoids introduction of an additional name, is to maintain the name O. szatalaensis. This is possible, however, only with the conservation of the name against P. poriniza. MK, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1560-909X MO, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4068-434X Our thanks are due to Seppo Huhtinen, Head Curator of TUR, for his help during the visit at the herbarium and the loan of material, and to Zdeněk Palice (Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice) for help with literature.

Contributions to the knowledge of lichenicolous fungi growing on baeomycetoid lichens andIcmadophila, with a key to the species

AbstractFive species of lichenicolous fungi are described as new to science:Buelliella ohmuraeZhurb. & Diederich (onIcmadophila), with a non-granulose epihymenium, not or only slightly enlarged, pale brown apical cells of paraphysoids and 1-septate, smooth ascospores;Catillaria japonicaZhurb. & Hafellner (onDibaeisandPseudobaeomyces), with a medium to dark reddish brown epihymenium, exciple and hypothecium, rather frequently branched and anastomosed paraphyses with only slightly enlarged apical cells without a dark cap, andCatillaria-type asci;Cryptodiscus ihleniiZhurb. (onDibaeis), with persistently immersed ascomata, non-amyloid asci and hymenium, not or only slightly enlarged apical cells of paraphyses and narrowly obovate, 1-septate ascospores;Llimoniella chilensisZhurb. (onDibaeisand a sterile microsquamulose lichen), with a K+ green exciple and epihymenium and aseptate, broadly ellipsoid ascospores; andStigmidium phyllobaeidisZhurb., Etayo & Flakus (on apothecial discs ofPhyllobaeis), with a hemiamyloid interascal gel, not previously reported in that genus, well-developed, 1‒2(‒4)-celled periphysoids, elongate asci and hyaline, 1-septate ascospores. An undescribed species ofArthonia(onPseudobaeomyces) is briefly characterized.Sphaerellothecium coniodesis newly reported for Asia. A key to the 32 species of lichenicolous fungi and lichens known to occur on baeomycetoid lichens andIcmadophilais provided.

High diversification in the Neoprotoparmelia multifera complex (Ascomycota, Parmeliaceae) in northeast Brazil revealed by DNA barcoding and phenotypical characters

Phylogenetic studies revealed a high level of diversity within the lichen-forming fungus so far identified with the name Maronina multifera (Protoparmelioideae, Parmeliaceae), currently accommodated in the genus Neoprotoparmelia. Here, six new species of Neoprotoparmelia are described as new to science based on morphological and molecular data, mostly from northeastern Brazil. The new species are: Neoprotoparmelia nigra (Brazil), with 32-spored asci, lacking alectoronic acid, and with pale, K-negative apothecial base, and blackish apothecial disc; N. paramultifera (Brazil), with 64-spored asci, alectoronic acid, pale, K-negative apothecial base, and purplish brown apothecial disc and thick apothecial margins; N. pseudomultifera (Brazil), with 32-spored asci, lacking alectoronic acid, and with pale, K-negative apothecial base and brown apothecial disc (no reddish or purplish tinge); N. purpurea (Brazil), with 32-spored asci, lacking alectoronic acid, and with pigmented, K+ purplish-violet apothecial base and purplish brown apothecial disc; N. rubrofusca (Colombia), with 32-spored asci, lacking alectoronic acid, and with pigmented, K+ purplish-violet apothecial base, and red-brown apothecial disc and thin, evanescent margins; and N. sexdecimspora (Brazil), with 16-spored asci, alectoronic acid, pale, K-negative apothecial base, and purplish brown apothecial disc. The name N. multifera is restricted to a species from the northern Andes with 64-spored asci, alectoronic acid, pale, K-negative apothecial base, and purplish brown apothecial disc with thin margins, while the new combination N. camptotheca is adopted for a species in eastern Brazil with 32-spored asci, alectoronic acid, pale, K-negative apothecial base, purplish brown apothecial disc, and smooth margin (all other species in the complex having crenulate margins). The following two new combinations are also proposed: Neoprotoparmelia saxicola and N. rogersii (syn.: N. capensis V.J.Rico, A.Crespo & Garima Singh).

Sculptolumina yunnanensis, a new species of Buellia s.l. (lichenized Ascomycota, Caliciaceae) from Yunnan, China

Sculptolumina yunnanensis, a saxicolous lichenized fungus in the family Caliciaceae, is described as new from Yunnan, China. Its morphological characters include: ocher and epilithic thalli, pseudolecanorine or lecideine and sessile apothecia, flat and epruinose apothecial discs, Mischoblastia-type ascospores with funnel-shaped cell lumina and filiform conidia. This is the second saxicolous species in the genus Sculptolumina. A molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed for Sculptolumina, including S. japonica and S. yunnanensis, for the first time. A multilocus phylogeny of Buellia s.l. revealed that Sculptolumina forms a monophyletic clade with high support, and S. japonica and S. yunnanensis have a sister relationship within this clade.

Three new species, new combinations and a key to known species ofLobothallia(Megasporaceae)

AbstractThree species,Lobothallia brachylobaPaukov & I. V. Frolov,L. epiadelphaPaukov & A. Nordin andL. zogtiiPaukov & Davydov, from arid regions of Eurasia (Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Mongolia) are described as new to science.Lobothallia brachylobahas flat, firmly attached lobes, immersed apothecia lacking a distinct thalline margin, and contains norstictic acid. BothLobothallia epiadelphaandL. zogtiicontain stictic acid and have a brown thallus and sessile apothecia.Lobothallia epiadelphainitially develops on crustoseCircinariaspp, has thick lobes loosely attached to the substratum, and brown apothecial discs with constant thalline margins.Lobothallia zogtiiis a free-living species with brownish black to jet black apothecial discs surrounded by a receding thalline margin.Lecanora bogdoënsisis synonymized withLobothallia praeradiosaandLobothallia helanensisis synonymized withL. subdiffracta. Three new combinations,Lobothallia hedinii(H. Magn.) Paukov, A. Nordin & Sohrabi,L. lacteola(Oxner) Şenkardeşler, Paukov, Davydov & Sohrabi, andL. subdiffracta(H. Magn.) Paukov, are proposed. Phylogenetic analyses ofLobothallia brachyloba,L. epiadelphaandL. subdiffracta(ITS, mtSSU) are presented, showing their relationships withinLobothallia. The lectotype of the nameAspicilia lacteolaOxner is designated. A key to 18 species ofLobothalliais provided.

Xanthoparmelia krcmarii, a New Species from South Africa with Haemathamnolic Acid

Wirth V. & Sipman H.J.M. 2018: Xanthoparmelia krcmarii, a new species from South Africa with haemathamnolic acid. – Herzogia 31: 505–509.The new species Xanthoparmelia krcmarii is described from Western Cape province in South Africa. It is characterized by the presence of haemathamnolic acid, black apothecial discs, coarsely pruinose lobe tips and subglobose ascospores.

Lecanora shangrilaensis sp. nov., on pinecones from China

Lecanora shangrilaensis from southwestern China is described as a new species. It can be distinguished from other multispored species of Lecanora by the presence of usnic acid instead of atranorin and the epruinose discs with coarse granular epihymenium. It is otherwise characterized by the thin thallus, yellow to yellowish brown apothecial disc, 12–16-spored ascus, and the pinecone substrate.

A new perspective onMelanophloea, ThelocarpellaandTrimmatothelopsis: species previously placed in multiple families are united within a single genus in the Acarosporaceae

Abstract Recent molecular phylogenetic studies of the lichen family Acarosporaceae have shown that genera in this group, as traditionally defined, are not monophyletic and that changes are required to accommodate the discovery that taxa with disparate thallus morphologies are often closely related. Here we use phylogenetic inferences of mtSSU sequence data to show that seven species (Acarospora dispersa, A. rhizobola, A. terricola, Melanophloea americana, M. coreana, M. montana and Thelocarpella gordensis), currently placed in four genera and three families, and with divergent thallus morphologies, all belong to a single strongly supported clade within the Acarosporaceae. Members of the clade all have apothecia with an incurving parathecium which forms globose apothecia in which the apothecial disc is less than or equal to half the width of the equatorial diameter of the hymenium, and long bacilliform conidia. We transfer the species to Trimmatothelopsis, the oldest generic epithet available for the group...

Lecanora inaurata, a new member of theL. subfuscagroup from central North America

AbstractLecanora inaurata, a corticolous member of theL.subfuscagroup, is described as new to science. This species is characterized by typically epruinose, reddish brown apothecial discs, achlarotera-type epihymenium,pulicaris-type amphithecium, and chloroatranorin and zeorin as major constituents, often with accessory calycin in the thalline margins of the apothecia, imparting a distinctive yellow halo appearance when present in sufficient concentrations.Lecanora inaurataoccurs in open hardwood-dominated woodlands of the Edwards Plateau and grasslands of the southern Great Plains in Oklahoma and Texas.

Three new lichen species from Nicaragua, with keys to the known species of Eugeniella and Malmidea

AbstractEugeniella palleola, Graphis paraschiffneri, and Malmidea cineracea are described from Nicaragua. Eugeniella palleola is characterized by having pale apothecial discs and prominent, white margins, and producing a complex chemistry including atranorin, stictic and norstictic acids, and an unknown substance. Graphis paraschiffneri has lirellae with a lateral thalline margin, striate labia, a completely carbonized excipulum, transversely septate ascospores, and contains norstictic acid in the thallus. Malmidea cineracea is characterized by a granulose-isidiate thallus with a yellowish medulla and a compact, crystal-encrusted excipulum. Malmidea nigromarginata and M. piperina are proposed as new combinations. Keys are presented to all known species of Eugeniella (9) and Malmidea (50).