Opuscula Philolichenum, 8: 107-120
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Opuscula Philolichenum, 8: 107-120. 2010. New and interesting lichens, lichenicolous and allied fungi from Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.A. 1 2 3 JAMES C. LENDEMER , KERRY KNUDSEN & ALAN M. FRYDAY ABSTRACT. – Caloplaca lecanoroides, a corticolous sorediate species is described as new to science. The nomenclature and typification of Lecanora semitensis is discussed, a lectotype is selected and a brief treatment of the species is provided. Rhizocarpon bolanderi var. sulphurosum is raised to the species level as R. sulphurosum. Naetrocymbe saxicola is reported new to North America and California. The following taxa are newly reported for California: Acarospora sinopica, Arthonia excentrica, Ionaspis lacustris, Niesslia peltigericola (on Peltigera didactyla), Pezizella epithallina (on Peltigera didactyla), and Xylographa soralifera. Lichenothelia scopularia is discussed and verified as occurring in California. INTRODUCTION During September 18–23, 2009 we participated in a foray to Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The purpose of the foray was to bring together a group of lichen specialists to survey the lichen diversity of sites in the National Park. A checklist of the lichen biota of the National Park is currently being prepared by the organizers of the foray: however a number of new and interesting species were encountered that require more explanation or description than can be afforded in the context of a checklist. We thus compiled the present contribution. Other collections are still undergoing investigation, and further additions to the lichenized mycobiota of California are expected, which will be dealt with in future publications. MATERIALS AND METHODS Specimens were studied dry using a Bausch and Lomb StereoZoom 7 and Leica dissecting microscopes and subjected to chemical analysis using standard spot tests (reagents are abbreviated following Brodo et al. (2001)) and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). TLC was carried out using solvent systems A and C following the standardized methods of Culberson and Kristinsson (1970). Microscopic characters were measured in water and images were captured using an Olympus DP20 digital camera with Microsuite Special Edition by JCL at NYBG. Illustrations were prepared using Adobe Photoshop. Mounts were prepared by hand with a razor blade and placed in water. Measurements are based on water mounts. Reported size ranges of the soredia, paraphyses tips, and ascospores in the description of Caloplaca lecanoroides are expressed as (Xbar-1SD)-Xbar-(Xbar+1SD) followed by the sample size. The ascospore size ranges of Lecanora semitensis are expressed as above except that the highest and lowest bounds are also given in brackets at either end of the range. 1 JAMES C. LENDEMER — Institute of Systematic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126, U.S.A. – e–mail: [email protected] 2 KERRY KNUDSEN — The Herbarium, Dept. of Botany & Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A. – e-mail: [email protected] 3 ALAN M. FRYDAY — Herbarium, Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824–1312, U.S.A. – e–mail: [email protected] 107 I – NEW AND INTERESTING LICHENS 1. Acarospora sinopica (Wahlenb.) Körb. This crustose species is cosmopolitan (Fletcher et al. 2009a). It has been reported in North America from Greenland and eastern Canada south to the White Mountains in the United States (Thomson 1997). Acarospora sinopica absorbs iron. At Pigeon Gulch, where it was locally abundant, the rock was rich in iron as well as barium. It is part of Acarospora s. str. and not part of the A. smaragdula group (Wedin et al 2008). The species is here reported new for California. For a good description see Fletcher et al. (2009a). Specimen Examined. – U.S.A. CALIFORNIA. MARIPOSA CO.: Yosemite National Park, Moss Creek Boardwalk, elev. 653 m., on rock, 20.ix.2009, J.C. Lendemer 19651 (NY), J.C. Lendemer 19656 (NY); ibid., Mouth of Pigeon Gulch at Highway 140, elev. 621 m., on iron-rich rock, 20.ix.2009, K. Knudsen 11665 (UCR, hb. Yosemite NPS). A.M. Fryday 9307, 9324 (MSC). 2. Caloplaca lecanoroides Lendemer sp. nov. Mycobank #518078. PLATE 1 (PAGE 109). Ad Caloplacae obscurellae sed thallo areolato et robusto, apotheciis grandioribus (0.6-1.0 mm diam.) et Lecanorae subfuscae similis. TYPE: U.S.A. CALIFORNIA. MARIPOSA CO.: Yosemite National Park, vicinity of base of Bridal Veil Falls, elev. 1298 m., massive granite boulders in stream ravine with cold air flow, mixed conifer (Abies, Pinus, Calocedrus) forest with occasional hardwoods, on Quercus, 22.ix. 2009, J.C. Lendemer et al. 19722 (NY, holotype; LD, isotype). DESCRIPTION. – Thallus pale gray, sorediate, areolate-verruculose, 80-110 µm thick; cortex 10–20 µm thick, prosoplectenchymatous, with the uppermost layer of cells weakly pigmented (K-); algal layer variable, 60–80 µm thick; soralia laminal on the areoles, excavate and with a distinct raised margin (e.g., cupuliform), 0.15–0.25 mm in diameter; soredia globose, fine, often with distinctly pigmented outer layer (K-), (24)–27–(30) µm in diameter (n=20). Apothecia sessile, round to irregular, resembling those of the Lecanora subfusca group, 0.6–1.0 mm in diameter; disc reddish-brown, flat to weakly convex with age; proper margin hyaline, with a distinctly prosoplectenchymatous layer composed of cells 3-5 µm wide; thalline margin present and well developed, sometimes becoming slightly excluded with age; epihymenium brown to light reddish-brown, K-, without granules; hymenium hyaline, not inspersed, 70-80 µm tall; hypothecium hyaline, weakly inspersed with oil droplets, 60–80 µm tall; paraphyses apically expanded, (3.5)–3.8–4.2–(4.5) µm wide (n=20); asci Teloschistaceae-type; ascospores (12.5)–13.4–(14.3) x (5.8)– 6.6.–(7.3) µm (n=20), isthmus (3.5)–4.7–(5.5) µm (n=20). ETYMOLOGY. – The epithet “lecanoroides” refers to the resemblance of the apothecia to those of the genus Lecanora. ECOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION. – The new species is known only from the type collection, which was found growing on the bark of an oak (Quercus) in a densely shaded, humid, boulder strewn ravine leading away from the base of a waterfall. DISCUSSION. – As the epithet suggests, the most striking feature of Caloplaca lecanoroides is the resemblance of the apothecia to those of the Lecanora subfusca group. The only other Caloplaca species with apothecia that have been described in a similar manner is C. diphasia (Tuck.) Wetmore. While both C. diphasia and C. lecanoroides lack thalline anthraquinones and have similarly sized ascospores, C. diphasia lacks soralia and has a dark golden brown pigmented epihymenium that reacts K+ yellow or red-violet (Wetmore 1994). Also the two species are allopatric: C. diphasia is restricted to southwestern North America (Mexico and Texas, U.S.A.) while C. lecanoroides is known only from a high elevation site in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of north/central California. 108 Plate 1. Caloplaca lecanorioides (all from holotype). Figure 1, soralia and deformed apothecium (scale = 0.5 mm). Figure 2, gross morphology of thallus with mature apothecia (scale = 0.5 mm). Figure 3, detail of soralia (scale = 0.1 mm). Figure 4, section of apothecium (scale = 50 µm) and an ascospore inset (scale = 5 µm). Among the North American sorediate species with a gray thallus (Wetmore 1996, 2009) Caloplaca lecanoroides is only likely to be confused with C. obscurella (J. Lahm ex Körb.) Th. Fr. and C. pratensis Wetmore. Indeed, C. obscurella and the new species share the characters of ascospore size, cupuliform soralia, prosoplectenchymatous proper exciple, and absence of anthraquinones. Caloplaca obscurella differs markedly from the new species in having much smaller apothecia (less than half the size, compare plates 1 and 2 herein) that lack a well developed persistent thalline margin, and a much thinner thallus in which the areoles are almost imperceptible (Wetmore 1994; Søchting 1994). Caloplaca pratensis is also readily distinguished from the new species in having K+ purple pigments in the thallus and apothecia, irregular soralia that are not discrete and cupuliform, and larger ascospores (15.5–17.0 x 7.0–8.5 µm) with a narrower isthmus (<2 µm). Neither of these species have been reported from California. COMPARATIVE SPECIMENS OF CALOPLACA OBSCURELLA EXAMINED. – AUSTRIA. STEIERMARK: Leoben District, 2 km W of the village Proleb, 24.vii.2004, on Fraxinus excelsior, J. Vondrák s.n. (NY; distributed as Selected exsiccates of Caloplaca 1: 10). BULGARIA. KHASKOVO PROV.: Rhodope Mountains, Madzharovo District, Silen, 18.viii. 2004, on Populus nigra, J. Vondrák s.n. (NY; distributed as Selected exsiccates of Caloplaca 1: 13).CANADA. BRITISH COLUMBIA: Vancouver, Stanley Park, 2.xii.1995, on Acer, T. Tønsberg 23748 (NY). GERMANY: in der Umgegend von Münster im Westfahlen, sine date, on Populus dilatata, Nitschke & Lahm s.n. (NYx2; distributed as Flechten Europa 881). 109 Plate 2. Caloplaca obscurella. Figures 1-4, variability of apothecia from a single specimen (Vondrák s.n. = Sel. Exs. Caloplaca 10; scale = 500 µm except in four where scale = 0.1 mm). Figure 5, apothecia with thalline margin (Hepp s.n. = Fl. Eur. 881, scale = 500 µm). Figure 6, gross aspect of thallus (Hepp s.n. = Fl. Eur. 881, magnified 2 x). 110 3. Ionaspsis lacustris (With.) Lutzoni This distinctive orange-brown crustose lichen is cosmopolitan (Fletcher et al. 2009b). Ionaspis alba Lutzoni is frequent in central California (Owe-Larsson & Nordin 2008), but previously I. lacustris has only been reported from western North America as far south as Oregon (Brodo et al. 2001; previous reports from California are apparently erroneous). The species was growing on iron-rich rock in Pigeon Gulch where it would be inundated part of the year. It is reported new for California. For a color illustration see Brodo et al. (2001) and for a description see Fletcher et al.