Lichen Collections Research Articles

Mary and William Pool and their (mostly her) Malagasy lichen and plant collections

William and Mary (née Crage) Pool spent the decade from 1865 to 1875 in Madagascar as missionaries employed by the London Missionary Society. For amusement, Mrs Pool collected lichen and plant specimens, which her husband eventually donated to Kew. Even though Mrs Pool collected most of these specimens, her husband invariably receives credit: his name appears on the labels of plants collected by her, and her collections are attributed to him in a number of contemporary publications.

The study of lichens in the state natural reserve «Zavolzhsky» (Chuvash Republic)

The paper provides information about lichens found on the territory of the state natural reserve Zavolzhsky, which is a specially protected natural area of the Chuvash Republic. It was established for the protection of the unique natural landscape, located on the territory of Cheboksary and Cheboksary District, as well as for rare and endangered animals, plants and other organisms from high anthropogenic activity. As a result of lichen investigations (20112016) 134 species belong to 59 genera from 31 families of lichen flora were recorded. It emphasizes a high environmental significance of this territory. The paper shows substrate and biotope confinement for each lichen species. The investigations were conducted in detail-route method using a GPS-navigator. In the paper the locations of rare lichen species are given according to the new quarterly network of the Cheboksary forestry. We examined the lichen diversity in 14 quarters of 3 forest districts: Pihtulynskoe, Severnoe, Sosnovskoe; lichen collections were carried out in 36 habitats. The habitat of rare and endangered lichen Lobaria pulmonaria was found on the territory of the reserve. This species is included to the Red Data Book of Russia. According to the results of the study we recommend to include 15 rare lichen species to the new edition of Red Data Book of the Chuvash Republic: Arthonia cinereoprunosa, Acrocordia gemmata, Bryoria implexa, Bryoria subcana, Bryoria nadvornikiana, Dimerella pineti, Lobaria pulmonaria, Mycobilimbia epixanthoides, Mycobilimbia carneoalbida, Mycobilimbia tetramera, Platismatia glauca, Usnea dasopoga, Usnea lapponica, Usnea subfloridana, Xanthomendoza ulophyllodes.

Bryophytes and lichens in 16th-century herbaria

The diversity of bryophyte and lichen collections in 9 of the oldest preserved herbaria (dating from ca 1542 to 1577) was compared, including the first reports of bryophytes and lichens from the ‘En Tibi’ herbarium (possibly 1542–1544) and the herbarium of Leonhard Rauwolf (1560–1563). Bryophytes and lichens formed only a minority in each herbarium compared to the numbers of vascular plant specimens; numbers ranged from representatives of 21 genera in the herbarium of Ulisse Aldrovandi to the single genus Conocephalum in the Rauwolf herbarium. The focus was on large, handsome species of bryophytes and macrolichens, apart from small amounts of additional species collected as ‘by-catch’ in mixed collections. All herbaria together included 34 genera of bryophytes (36 species and 10 specimens identified to genus level) and 13 genera of lichens (24 species and 4 specimens identified to genus level). The diversity of mosses was higher than that of liverworts, and pleurocarpous mosses were more diverse than acrocarpous mosses. The collectors probably aimed at selecting material that was either characteristic of the vegetation in the respective areas of collecting or used for certain purposes (or both). The former hypothesis is supported by the small overlap in taxonomic diversity between the herbaria, and the latter by the fact that several moss, liverwort, and lichen genera are included whose traditional uses are well documented.

New lichen species from Brazil and Venezuela

Among hitherto unidentified collections of lichens from Brazil and Venezuela, we have encountered several new taxa, twelve of which are described in the present paper, viz. Absconditella rosea, Absconditella viridithallina, Allographa hypostictica, Astrothelium miniannulare, Astrothelium rhinothallinum, Astrothelium trematum, Chiodecton graphidastroides, Graphis halonata, Lecanactis malmideoides, Maronora cyanosora, Rinodina densisidiata and Rinodina maronisidiata. The new genus Maronora is described to accommodate an enigmatic species with Lecanora habitus but with a Fuscidea ascus.

Экотоксикологичеcкая оценка состояния городской среды на примере мегаполиса Москвы

Using lichinoindication and biotesting on the basis of bacterial luminescence the ecological state of the air environment and soils of 14 streets 8 of the administrative districts of the city of Moscow was assessed. Lichens of 28 species are distinguished, mainly in relation to air pollution of the I and II classes of toxicophobia. The influence of specificity of chemical contamination by pollutants of the air environment on the growth of certain lichen species is discussed. A large number of identified nitrophilous lichen species indicates a specific ecology of the urban environment. Express method (30 min) of biotesting on the basis of bacterial luminescence identified the toxicity index of soil samples from the lichen collection sites. Many soil samples were toxic or very toxic. In some soil samples soil mosaic was revealed, in which samples of one soil sample had different toxicity indices. The joint use of lichinoindication and biotesting on the basis of bacterial luminescence can be useful for eliminating local pollutants and an essential link in the improvement of habitats. This indicates the expediency of practical use of these biomonitoring methods.

Rare Lichens Collected in California by Judith (Judy) and Ron Roberston

Judy and Ron Robertson were outstanding amateur lichenologists in California. Their huge lichen collection (over 8,500 collections) was donated to the University of California Herbarium after their deaths. This article describes 36 unusual lichens that they collected in California, together with their provenance, many of them extremely rare or new to the California flora.

Lichen Holdings at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario Herbarium at the University of Guelph, Ontario

The history and current status of the lichen collections at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario Herbarium (OAC) are presented, including a list of all taxa. Seven hundred and seventy-three lichen and allied fungi in 239 genera have been deposited into the herbarium since 2005.

Trade and legislation: consequences for the conservation of lichens in the Nepal Himalaya

Lichen harvest and trade are closely associated with the livelihood of most of the rural people in Western Nepal. The present study investigates the commercial collection of lichens, quantifies the traded volume and relates it to a market scenario, and discusses conservation measures in relation to established legal practices in Nepal. Data on lichen trade and revenue generated for the 12 years (2000–2011) were collected and analyzed from 74 districts of Nepal. Voucher specimens were deposited at TUCH (Tribhuvan University Central Herbarium) in Nepal. The lichens collected in West Nepal are mainly used in international trade, while those in East Nepal are used locally for food. A total of 20 commercially important species of lichens were identified from five trade centers and one local market. During 2000–2011, Nepal legally exported 2020 tons of lichens and collected NRs 25,293,305 (USD 240,000). The average annual quantity of turnover was 168 tons, though it is estimated that much was exported illegally. The hill districts in Nepal, which traded 1774 tons, were more important for the collection of commercial lichen species than the Mountainous and inner-Tarai districts, which traded 167 and 108 tons, respectively. Through the Forest Act, Forest Regulations and its amendment in 2011, the collection of lichens for harvest, trade and export in any crude or processed form was banned. However, the legislation lacks an effective implementation strategy, and sustainable harvest of lichen resources based on scientific data would better serve local livelihood and lichen conservation in Nepal.

Vilmos Piers’ lichen collection in the Savaria Museum, Szombathely

Establishing and maintaining a considerable plant herbarium Vilmos Piers (1838– 1920) a famous teacher of natural history in the historical military secondary school in Kőszeg became one of the most productive plant collectors of Vas County. His famous herbarium the so-called “Piers-herbarium” deposited in the Savaria Museum (SAMU; Szombathely, Vas County, Hungary) contains a smaller lichen collection as well. His lichen collection consists of 717 specimens, 427 of them are kept in paper bags, a further 290 specimens are mounted on cardboards prepared for educational purposes. Evaluable locality data are provided for 362 specimens of those in paper bags. 155 of them represent the lichen flora of the region of Kőszeg town at that time, including also some specimens from nearby areas belonging to Austria today. Most of the specimens collected outside the Carpathian Basin are originated from exsiccates. As a result of our revision a total of 210 lichen taxa from 103 genera, furthermore six taxa of microfungi and one liverwort taxon were identified or confirmed. 170 specimens were collected by Piers himself, others were gathered by 24 collectors altogether from 14 countries. Identifications were carried out by the collectors, as well as by Viktor Cypers von Landrecy and Dr Albert Latzel. Specimens indicated by collecting dates were collected between 1875 and 1910, collections by Piers himself date back between 18 July 1889 and 6 November 1909. The lichen collection of Piers represents the most important lichenological data source of the Kőszeg Mts and adjacent areas, several lichen species are known from this region exclusively from Piers’ collections (e.g., Anaptychia ciliaris, Cladonia cervicornis, Cladonia cornuta, Enchylium polycarpon, Lathagrium auriforme, Nephroma parile, Peltigera leucophlebia, Tuckermannopsis chlorophylla). A great part of the collection was revised by Laszlo Galle more than 40 years ago, but a detailed enumeration has never been published by him. The most complete catalogue of the lichen collection based on revised specimens was published by us recently in Savaria Bulletin of Museums of County Vas 38 in 2016, Szombathely. Chemical analyses necessary for species identifications were financed by the grant OTKA K 81232.

Noteworthy Collections of Lichens and Allied Fungi from Western Wake County, North Carolina, USA

Abstract. A seemingly undescribed Peltigera and several noteworthy collections were made during a gradient study examining highway effects on forest lichen communities in western Wake County, North Carolina, USA. Rebentischia massalongii is here newly reported from North Carolina. Acrocordia megalospora, Gyalolechia flavorubescens, and Porina scabrida are new records for the Piedmont ecoregion in the state. Lobaria quercizans is noteworthy as belonging to a group of pollution-sensitive cyanolichens that until recently have not been recorded from the Triangle area of central North Carolina. Historical occurrences of Triangle Lobariaceae are also presented.

Новинки лихенофлоры Магаданской области

In 2007–2016 the author of the article was studying lichen flora from the Ola (valley of the Taui R. and the Ola R., Talan Island, Atargan, Yamsk, Ola and Kava-Chelomdzha areas of the Magadan nature reserve), Magadan (surroundings of Magadan and Snezhnaya Dolina settlement), Severo-Evensk (valley of the Gizhiga R. and Nayakhan R.), Srednekansky (surroundings of Ezop mountain) and Khasynsky (Yablonevy pass and 86th km of the main highway) regions of Magadan Oblast. Certain samples were collected by the institute workers: by E. A. Andriyanova, N. A. Sazanova, M. G. Khoreva and O. A. Mochalova. Processing of lichen collections resulted in discovery of new locations for 20 species of lichens. Three of them (Peltigera continentalis, P. ponojensis, and P. scabrosella) are reported for first time for the Far East. Another 17 (Brodoa oroarctica, Cetraria aculata, Cladonia stygia, Flavocetraria minuscula, Hypogymnia tubulosa, Lecanora bicincta, Nephroma bellum, Peltigera collina, P. neckeri, P. praetextata, Physciella chloantha, Placopsis cribellans, Porpidia cinereoatra, Psora decipiens, Solorina bispora var. bispora, S. saccata, and Xanthoria candelaria) are newly reported to Magadan Oblast of Russia. The information about general distribution of all mentioned species is also presented.

The "Martian" flora: new collections of vascular plants, lichens, fungi, algae, and cyanobacteria from the Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

The Mars Desert Research Station is a Mars analog research site located in the desert outside of Hanksville, Utah, U.S.A. Here we present a preliminary checklist of the vascular plant and lichen flora for the station, based on collections made primarily during a two-week simulated Mars mission in November, 2014. Additionally, we present notes on the endolithic chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, and the identification of a fungal genus also based on these collections. Altogether, we recorded 38 vascular plant species from 14 families, 13 lichen species from seven families, six algae taxa including both chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, and one fungal genus from the station and surrounding area. We discuss this floristic diversity in the context of the ecology of the nearby San Rafael Swell and the desert areas of Wayne and Emery counties in southeastern Utah.

LICHENS AND LICHENICOLOUS FUNGI OF RESERVED TRACTS "NEDOHIRSKYY FOREST" (VELYKOOLEKSANDRIVKA DISTRICT, KHERSON REGION, UKRAINE)

The inventory results of the lichen biota of the reserved tracts "Nedohirskyy forest" (Velykooleksandrivka district, Kherson region) are given. Lichens were collected on the territory of tracts "Nedohirskyy forest" during expeditions in 2012-2015 by the standard method. The identification of species was carried out in the laboratory of biodiversity and ecological monitoring of Kherson State University. Collection of lichens is stored in the lichenological herbarium of Kherson State University (KHER). The lichen biota of reserved tracts "Nedohirskyy forest" constitutes 49 species of lichens and 4 species of lichenicolous fungi belonging to 18 genera, 8 families, 2 orders. Five species Anaptychia ciliaris (L.) Koerb. Ex A. Massal., Bryoria implexa (Hoffm.) Brodo & D. Hawksw., Endocarpon pusillum Hedw., Peltigera didactula (With.) JR Laundon, Usnea hirta (L.) Weber ex FH Wigg. are included in the Red List of Kherson region. Species Catillaria nigroclavata is new for the steppe zone of Ukraine. Buellia griseovirens (Turner & Borrer ex Sm.) Almb., Catillaria nigroclavata (Nyl.) J. Steiner, Vulpicida pinastri (Scop.) J.–E. Mattsson are rare for the steppe zone of Ukraine and need to be included into the Red List of Kherson region.

The lichen collection of András Horánszky in the Hungarian Natural History Museum

A total of 100 species of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi are enumerated from the small lichen collection of the late botany professor Andras Horanszky. Th e 250 specimens donated to the Hungarian Natural History Museum were collected primarily in Hungary and Austria, and secondarily from Germany, Serbia, and Slovenia. Th ese locality records have never been published; many of them are new for the given area, including some legally protected species, e.g. Cladonia arbuscula, C. magyarica, C. rangiferina, Usnea fl orida, Xanthoparmelia pulvinaris, and two of the lichenicolous fungi, Athelia arachnoidea and Xanthoriicola physciae. Agonimia globulifera is new to Hungary.

An Historical Lichen Collection from New Caledonia

Abstract: Aptroot, A. & John, V. 2015. An historical lichen collection from New Caledonia — Herzogia 28: 307–321. 108 taxa of lichens (lichenized Ascomycetes), collected in connection with the French-Swiss expedition to New Caledonia in 1950 and 1951 by M. G. Baumann-Bodenheim, A. Guillaumin and H. Hurlimann are presented. Six of the 88 species identified in the c. 200 studied samples are endemic and 40 species are new records for New Caledonia. Cladonia macilentiformis is a new combination and raised to species level.

Distribution of neptunium and plutonium in New Mexico lichen samples (Usnea arizonica) contaminated by atmospheric fallout

The concentrations of 237Np, 239Pu and 240Pu were determined in lichen samples (Usnea arizonica) that were collected from ten locations in New Mexico between 2011 and 2013 using isotope dilution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-ICP-MS). The observed isotopic ratios for 237Np/239Pu and 240Pu/239Pu indicate trace contamination from global and regional fallout (e.g. Trinity test and atmospheric testing at the Nevada Test Site). The fact that actinide contamination is detected in recent lichen collections suggests continuous re-suspension of fallout radionuclides even 50 years after ratification of the Limited Test Ban Treaty.

The lichens from the City of Petrozavodsk in the Herbarium of the Botanical Museum, University of Helsinki

A historical lichen collection in the Herbarium of the Botanical Museum, University of Helsinki, collected in the 19th and 20th centuries from the territory of Petrozavodsk (Republic of Karelia, Russia) was examined. A revision of 354 herbarium packets containing 674 specimens resulted in a list of 227 species of lichens and lichenicolous or non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Our historical list added 102 new species to the lichen flora of the city, which now contains 330 species. Xylographa trunciseda is a new lichen record for North-Western Russia. Seven species were registered for Karelia for the first time. 40 species are new to the biogeographic province Karelia olonetsensis and four species – to Karelia onegensis.

Catalogue of type specimens of fungi and lichens deposited in the Herbarium of the University of Granada (Spain).

BackgroundA catalogue of types from the Herbarium of the University of Granada has not previously been compiled. As a result, a search of these collections in order to compile digital images for preservation and publication yielded a large number of formerly unrecognized types.New informationThis dataset contains the specimen records from the catalogue of the nomenclature types of fungi and lichens in the Herbarium of the University of Granada, Spain. These herbarium specimens are included in the GDA and GDAC collections, acronyms from Index Herbariorum (Thiers 2014). At this time, the type collection of fungi and lichens contains 88 type specimens of 49 nominal taxa, most from Agaricales and the genus Cortinarius, described from the western Mediterranean, mainly Spain, by the following authors: V.Antonin, J.Ballarà, A.Bidaud, G.F.Bills, M.Bon, C.Cano, M.Casares, G.Chevassut, M.Contu, F.Esteve-Raventós, R.Galán, L.Guzmán-Dávalos, R.Henry, E.Horak, R.Mahiques, G.Malençon, P.Moënne-Loccoz, G.Moreno, A.Ortega, F.Palazón, V.N.Suárez.-Santiago, A.Vêzda, J.Vila, and M.Villareal.For each specimen, the locality indication, species name, observation date, collector, type status, related information, associated sequences, other catalogue numbers related to each type, and image URL are recorded. The dataset is associated with an image collection named “Colección de imágenes de los tipos nomenclaturales de hongos, líquenes, musgos y algas incluidos en el Herbario de la Universidad de Granada (GDA y GDAC)” (Vizoso and Quesada 2013) which is housed and accessible at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility in Spain (GBIF.ES) Hosting and Publishing Service “Biodiversity Image Portal of Spanish collections” and is also available at the Herbarium of University of Granada institutional web (Vizoso 2014a, Vizoso 2014b). That image collection contains 113 images, of which 56 correspond to the nomenclature types of 49 taxa (47 fungi, 2 lichens), the rest of the images in this collection correspond to documents and specimens or microscopy photographs which are included in the herbarium specimens of fungi. These complement and document the process of the typification.

The flora of Cunningham Inlet, Somerset Island, Nunavut: history, analysis, and new collections of vascular plants, mosses, lichens, and algae

New collections of vascular plants, bryophytes, lichen, and algae are reported for Cunningham Inlet on the north coast of Somerset Island, Nunavut. This list of 48 species of vascular plants, 13 bryophytes, 10 lichens, and five algae includes 136 specimens collected in 2013 and 39 previously unreported specimens from the National Herbarium of Canada at the Canadian Museum of Nature (CAN), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Vascular Plant Herbarium (DAO), and University of Alberta (ALTA). Ten vascular plants from previous collecting in 1958 are re-reported here to give a comprehensive account of the vascular plant flora of the region. Two vascular plants are recorded for the first time for Somerset Island: Smooth Draba (Draba glabella Pursh) and Edlund’s Fescue (Festuca edlundiae S. G. Aiken, Consaul & Lefkovitch).

Foliicolous lichen collections on Mount Kanga, Tanzania (East Africa)

Abstract The Tanzanian Mt Kanga was at first visited by Tamas Pocs in 1987 when he collected foliicolous lichens in lowland rainforest between 800 and 900 m elevation and in submontane rainforest between 900 and 1,250 m. Later, in 1989 he returned there with participants of the Nguru Mts expedition, when the author collected further lichens including foliicolous ones in three different forest types (dry evergreen and semi-evergreen forest at 600–800 m, submontane rainforest at 850–1,200 m and rocky forest at 1,200–1,300 m). Altogether 37 species became known from the area. The comparison of collections revealed that submontane rainforests (including rocky forests) are the richest of the studied forest types in foliicolous lichens. Mt Kanga is characterised by rare species like Calopadia editae discovered by Antonin Vězda in material from Mt Kanga, described and validated in 2011 by Chaves and Lucking based on materials from Mt Kanga and Costa Rica. The new combination Brasilicia dimerelloides (Vězda) Fark...