Opuscula Philolichenum, 16: 153-187. 2017. *pdf effectively published online 17March2017 via (http://sweetgum.nybg.org/philolichenum/) Notes on new and interesting lichens from Ontario, Canada - III CHRISTOPHER J. LEWIS1 AND SAMUEL R. BRINKER2 ABSTRACT. – We report on fifty-seven lichen species from forty-four genera that are new either to Canada or the Province of Ontario, are the first published records in approximately the last century, or are additional provincial records of rare species with few collections. Ranges of several species are also expanded in northeastern North America. The first published reports of Abrothallus microspermus, Lecanora epanora, Parmotrema hypotropum, and Placidium arboreum in Canada are presented, as well as, the first published reports of Arthrorhaphis alpina, Dermatocarpon intestiforme, Menegazzia subsimilis, Multiclavula vernalis, Parmelia neodiscordans, Polychidium muscicola, Porpidia melinodes, Protothelenella corrosa, and Ramalina sinensis in Ontario. We report the first documented records since the late 19th to early 20th century for Ontario of Arthonia ruana, Heterodermia hypoleuca, Leptogium corticola, Lithothelium septemseptatum, Phaeophyscia hispidula ssp. hispidula, and Scyntinium dactylinum. Details on the following additional rare species are also provided: Acarospora sinopica, Anaptychia palmulata, Arthothelium spectabile, Catapyrenium cinereum, Chrysothrix chlorina, C. xanthina, Evernia prunastri, Gyalecta jenensis, Heppia adglutinata, Lecanora fugiens, Lepraria humida, Scytinium subtile, S. teretiusculum, Microcalicium arenarium, Myriospora smaragdula, Normandina pulchella, Opegrapha mougeotii, O. rufescens, Parmeliella triptophylla, Psilolechia lucida, Psora decipiens, P. globifera, P. pseudorussellii, Punctelia appalachensis, Rhizocarpon oederi, Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca, Teloschistes chrysophthalmus, Thyrea confusa, Toninia sedifolia, and Usnea longissima. KEYWORDS. – Rare lichens, Appalachian-Great Lakes, arctic-alpine, metallophytes, range extension, Ontario lichens. INTRODUCTION The lichen flora of Ontario has received an increased focus in recent years with several publications documenting new and interesting species (e.g. Brodo et al. 2013, McMullin & Lewis 2013, McMullin et al. 2015). During lichen focused fieldwork over the past several years by professional lichenologists and botanists, several interesting, rare, or otherwise noteworthy lichen species have been discovered. The present contribution to the provincial lichen flora documents these discoveries, and provides discussions on ecology, morphological features useful for identification, and comments on distributions and range extensions. This paper, along with other recent contributions on Ontario lichens, serve as an official documentation of newly discovered/reported species and also highlights our incomplete knowledge of the lichen flora of the province. MATERIALS AND METHODS Specimens were identified with a compound or stereo microscope and chemical spot tests using para-phenylenediamine dissolved in ethyl alcohol (PD), sodium hypochlorite (C), 10% potassium hydroxide (K), and Lugol’s iodine (I) following methods set out in Brodo et al. (2001). Thin-layer 1CHRISTOPHER J. LEWIS – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry 51 Heakes Lane, Kingston, Ontario K7M 9B1, Canada. – e-mail: [email protected] 2SAMUEL R. BRINKER – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Natural Heritage Information Centre 300 Water St. Peterborough, Ontario K9J 3C7, Canada. – e-mail: [email protected] 153 chromatography, following Culberson and Kristinsson (1970) and Orange et al. (2001), was performed with solvents A, B and C to detect lichen substances that could not be reliably detected using spot tests. In situ images were captured with either a Canon EOS 7D or Sony Alpha 100 digital SLR camera, mounted with a 100 mm 2.8f macro lens. Image sharpness and size were very slightly augmented for publication with Adobe Photoshop. Range maps were created using ESRI ArcMap 10.1 with digitized specimen data from 64 institutions from the Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria (CNALH). The CNALH, which aims to digitize lichen label data from lichen collections in North American herbaria, formed in order to provide access to data housed in institutions that would be otherwise difficult to obtain, and we have based our assumptions of species’ distributions on records contained in this database. To validate the claims of species being new to their respective regions, specimens were examined at the Canadian Museum of Nature (CANL) and the New York Botanical Garden (NY). Other relevant literature, herbarium materials and herbarium staff were also consulted. All specimens are deposited as indicated in CANL, NY, or the herbarium of the Władysław Szafer Institute of Botany (KRAM). RESULTS: NEW AND INTERESTING REPORTS The reports presented below are arranged alphabetically by genus and species. Names preceded by an asterisk (*) are new for Ontario and names preceded by two asterisks (**) are new to Canada. Those preceded with a dagger (†) are the first reports since the late 19th or early 20th century. Nomenclature follows Esslinger (2016). Taxonomic authorities follow Brummitt and Powell (1996). **Abrothallus microspermus Tul. NOTES. – This is the first confirmed report of Abrothallus microspermus from Canada. It was found growing on a Punctelia species. Specimen examined. – CANADA. ONTARIO. KENORA DIST.: Lake of the Woods, Cliff Island, dry oak savannah on south-facing slope, 10.vi.2013, on Punctelia caseana Lendemer & Hodkinson, C.J. Lewis 1545a (NY; det. J.C. Lendemer). Acarospora sinopica (Wahlenb.) Körb. NOTES. – A recent record of Acarospora sinopica was published for southern Ontario by McMullin et al. (2015). Reported here are several additional records that extend its range in the province north to the Thunder Bay District. Acarospora sinopica is a metallophyte, or heavy metal-loving species restricted to naturally exposed rock or old mine slag piles high in certain heavy metals, especially iron or copper (Fletcher et al. 2009a). Its distinctive rusty-red to orange “oxydated” colour is likely at least in part due to the oxidation of pyrite, an iron sulfide material found in the substrate that becomes hydrated iron oxide in the lichen thallus, though this requires further study (Purvis 2014). It has a cosmopolitan distribution, and is known from Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and Africa (Kerr & Zavada 1989, Rajakaruna et al. 2011). It is typically found in association with other metallophytes (e.g. Myriospora smargdula (Wahlenb. ex Ach.) Nägeli ex Uloth, Rhizocarpon oederi (Weber) Körb., Diploschistes scruposus (Schreber) Norman) and James et al. (1977) referred to this distinctive lichen community in Britain as the Acarosporion sinopicae. We have found it to co-occur in Ontario with the metallophytes Porpidia melinodes (Korber) Gowan & Ahti, R. oederi, M. smaragdula, and Lecanora epanora (Ach.) Ach. Specimens examined. – CANADA. ONTARIO. HASTINGS CO.: E of Tommy Lake, dry, W- facing exposed rock outcrop with lateral secretions of iron and sulphur precipitate, 27.iii.2013, on rock, S.R. Brinker 2814 (CANL). RENFREW CO.: 12 miles SW of Calabogie, cliff E of hydro dam on the N side of the Madawaska River, mixed marble, sandstone and granite, 16.ii.1974, on rock, I.M. Brodo 20279 (CANL). TEMISKAMING DIST.: South Lorrain Township, approximately 19.5 km E of Temagami and 82 km N of North Bay, waste pile of metal rich rocks beside an old mine in the Cooper Lake/McDonald Creek area, 28.ix.2010, on rock, C.J. Lewis 496 (NY). THUNDER BAY DIST.: Cavern Lake Provincial Nature Reserve, 57 km NE of Thunder Bay, steep-sided canyon with talus slopes, 21.viii.2016, on exposed boulders, S.R. Brinker 5161 (CANL); Little Pigeon Bay Rd., 45 km SW of Thunder Bay, shaded rock face near entrance to old mine shaft, 18.vii.2016, on exposed near-vertical rock, S.R. Brinker 5096 (CANL). 154 Anaptychia palmulata (Michx.) Vain. FIGURE 1A NOTES. – This species was listed by Wong and Brodo (1992) as infrequent in southern Ontario (then known from five counties), though several of their reports were historical and from counties (e.g. Peel and Northumberland) that have seen major declines in forest cover since the pre-settlement era (Larson et al. 1999). We assert these populations are likely extirpated as they have not been relocated in modern times. Other authors of historical and present-day lichen floras in the Great Lakes region have reported Anaptychia palmulata as one of numerous sensitive species lost due to the combined effects of air pollution and habitat loss (e.g. Wetmore 1989, Nelson et al. 2007). It was also reported as uncommon and potentially declining in New England (Hinds & Hinds 2007). Anaptychia palmulata is typically corticolous, found on maples (Acer spp.) and ash (Fraxinus spp.) in the southern portion of the province, and on cedar (Thuja occidentalis) further north. Wong and Brodo (1990) also reported it as occurring on crystalline rock in especially humid situations. Anaptychia palmulata is endemic to eastern North America and eastern Asia (Esslinger 2007). Specimens examined. – CANADA. ONTARIO. GREY CO.: Kinghurst Forest Reserve, NE of Hanover, mature Acer-Fagus forest, 200-300 years old, 14.iv.2012, on large Acer saccharum trunk, C.J. Lewis 1023 (OAC), C.J. Lewis 1024 (CANL), C.J. Lewis 1025 (NY). FRONTENAC CO.: Salmon River, N of the Hamlet of Ardendale, adjacent to Hwy 7, 09.iii.2011, on shaded NE-facing