Some Lichens from Kashmar, NE Iran

AL SC R IEN 286 TU C A E N F D O

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T Journal of Applied and Natural Science 1(2): 286-290 (2009)

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A ANSF 2008 Some lichens from Kashmar, NE Iran

Mahroo H. Moniri1 *, Aazam Soltani1 and Saleh Kamyabi1

1Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran. * Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Rahnamaie str., Mashhad, Iran * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract : The present paper is based on recent collection of lichens made between 2007-2008 on Kashmar in the central part of the Razavi Khorasan province. A total of 31 taxa of lichens are reported from three localities in the investigated area. Two species are new to Iran, eight species are new to the province. Keywords: Lichenized fungi, Iran, New record INTRODUCTION 2. IRAN: Razavi Khorasan province, Kashmar, Kalate The current lichen diversity of Iran remained poorly albalou, 35°202 552 2 N and 58° 272 152 2 E, 1560 m. studied until recently (Szatala., 1940, 1957). Iran’s first 3. IRAN: Razavi Khorasan province, Kashmar, Kalate checklist has published in 2004 by Seaward et al. which albalou, 35°212 102 2 N and 58°262 402 2 E, 1850 m. includes 396 lichenized fungi. Of course in the revised Due to the inadequacy of the literature available for mentioned checklist, 63 species have been recorded from identification about 40 samples could be identified to Razavi Khorasan province so far (Seaward et al., 2008). species level so far. The samples were identified by using Although it seems that there is more species in this zone anatomical and morphological techniques, usual chemical based on the different climate, heights and the substrates. reagents. The study is based on a comprehensive In the course of approach to better result in determination evaluation of the literature mostly Purvis et al. 1992, Nash of the lichenized fungi in Razavi Khorasan, Kalate albalou et al. 2002 and herbarium specimens. The 4-digit numbers countryside of Kashmar with a surface area of ca. 2/78 indicate voucher specimens deposited in the first + km2, in the center of the province has been investigated author’s lichen collection, duplicated in FUMH with in this study. Only a few data on lichen biodiversity are selected specimens in B. available for Kashmar (Hadjmoniry et al., 2005). The area Taxa reported: The Collection is representative of 31 species, 16 genera, 11 families including two new records is located between 35°202 312 2 -35°212 292 2 N and 58°262 72 2 -58°272 592 2 E (Fig. 1), altitude range from to Iran (*) and eight to the province (**). 1380 to 2040 m. At the point of geomorphological, Alkaloid **Acarospora anatolica H. Magn. feldspar granite rocks predominated in this area which Thallus squamulose,apothecium usually less; disc 0.1– related to Oligocene period (Aghanabati, 2004). The 0.25 µm diam; hymenium 120–135 µm tall, upper part average annual temperature and humidity are recorded yellow-brown; paraphyses 0.1–1.5 µm thick; colorless; 17/6 and 40% respectively. The vegetation in the area is asci more than 200-spored, clavate, 95-110 × 17-20 µm; steppic plants with Juglans regia L., the dominant ascospores sometimes ellipsoid 3-5 × 2 µm. wooden species (Rashed et al., 1982-1987). Specimen Examined: 1: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, The present study which is the first taxonomic 2007, # 2043. investigation of the lichen flora of Kalate albalou, has a Acarospora bullata Anzi primary objective: to provide a floristic account of the Thallus crustose, pale brown, reddish-brown to dark lichen and increase our knowledge of lichens in the brown, epruinose, orbicular, distinctly lobate at periphery, province. marginal lobes 1–2 mm long, 1 mm wide, at center rimulose-areolate; apothecium sunken in central areoles; MATERIALS AND METHODS ascospores ellipsoid, 3–4(-5) × 1.7 µm. During 2007–2008, more than 100 samples were collected Specimen Examined: 1: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, from the three localities are listed below in the 2007, # 2044. investigated area by the second author. Acarospora strigata (Nyl.) Jatta 1. IRAN: Razavi Khorasan province, Kashmar, Kalate Thallus squamulose, cracked-areolate, ± white or blue albalou, 35°202 512 2 N and 58° 272 452 2 E, 1440 m. +Ferdosi University Mashhad Herbarium

Fig. 1. Geomorphological area of Iran. Fig. 2. Thallus of Caloplaca microthalina (Wedd.) Zahlbr. pruinose, apothecium scarce, 1–1.5 mm diam, 100–120 soredia absent,1–1.5 wide; ascomata apothecia, (-140) µm high; asci 100-200 spored, ascospores clavate, apothecium lecanorine; paraphyses often swollen; 3–4.5 ×2–2.5 µm. ascospores 9–5 × 16–9 µm, ellipsoid. Specimen Examined: –2: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, Specimen Examined: –2: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, 2007, # 2046. 2007, # 2050. Aspicilia calcarea (L.) Körb. *Caloplaca microthalina (Wedd.) Zahlbr. (Fig. 2) Thallus crustose, rather thick, continuous or usually Thallus of contiguous or often ± scattered, small, cracked-areolate, chalky or grey-white, more infrequently individual microsquamules, yellowish orang; ascomata grayish; ascomata apothecia; apothecium ± immersed, apothecia; apothecium to 1 mm diam, yellow-orang, at rounded or angular; disc black, not or slightly white- first, reduced or ± crenulate when mature; paraphyses pruinos; asci 4-spored; ascospores 18–30 × 14–27 µm, often with apical cell swollen; ascospores 12–15 × 6–8 broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, with a thin perispore. µm, ellipsoid, septum (1-)3 µm wide. Specimen Examined: –3: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, Specimens Examined: –2: on Alkaloid feldspar granite 2008, # 2047. rock, 2007, # 2051, 2153. Aspicilia desertorum (Krempelh.) Mereschk. **Caloplaca variabilis (Pers.) Müll. Arg. Thallus crustose, thick to very thick, to 5 mm thick, light- Thallus crustose, gery to deep grey or grayish brown; to dark-brown, muddy yellow, blackish olive, or rusty apothecium black, to 1 mm diam, scattered to crowded, ± red, areolate; apothecium numerous, immersed, 1-4(10) sessile, flat, becoming slightly convex; epithecium pale; per areole, large, (0.5)1–3.5(5.5–7) mm wide, rounded, paraphyses broadening and becoming rather stout older one usually shapeless, often bent; disc black, matt, towards the tips; ascospores14–16 (-21) × 7–9 µm, bare, or finely white-pruinose, concave then flat or with ellipsoid, septum 2–3(-5) µm wide. flexuose surface; asci 1-4 spored; ascospores uniseriate, Specimens Examined: –1: on Alkaloid feldspar granite almost globose (31)15–22(28) µm. rock, 2007, # 2052, 2074 Specimen Examined: –3: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, Candelariella aurella (Hoffm.) Zahlbr. 2008, # 2048. Thallus of scattered, yellow, to green- yellow, convex **Aspicilia oxneriana O.B. Blum granules; ascomata apothecia; apothecium discrete, ± Thallus foliose, monophylous, yellowish-olive, regularly dispersed, yellow; asci 8-spored; ascospores yellowish-brownish, or brownish-yellow above, lower 10–18 × 5–6 µm, oblong, ellipsoid, straight or curved. surface of the thallus light brownish-yellow, smooth, Specimen Examined: –3: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, sometimes with small pits, mostly in the center; 2008, # 2053. apothecium numerous, 1–4(5) per areole, at first immersed, *Candelariella medians (Nyl.) A. L. Sm. (Fig. 3) later emergent; disc black or blackish-brown, densly Thallus placodioid, orbicular, radiating, yellow, citrine or whitish pruinose, often cracked, rounded, at first concave, grey- green yellow, the centre granular-areolate to later flat to convex; asci cylindrical-clavate, (1)3–4(8)- minutely coralloid-isidiat; apothecium small, 0.3–1.2 mm spored; ascospores (16)21–29(31) µm, globose. diam, occasional, dull yellow, flat to slightly convex with Specimen Examined: –3: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, a smooth to crenulate margin; asci 8-spored; ascospores 2008, # 2049. 11–17 × 4–6 µm, simple, occasionally 1-septate, rather Caloplaca biatorina (A. Massal.) J.Steiner variable, ellipsoid, oblong, tear-drop or slipper-shaped. Thallus crustose, lobed, yellow, orang-red, isidia and Specimens Examined: –2: on Alkaloid feldspar granite 288 Mahroo H. Moniri et al. / J. Appl. & Nat. Sci. 1(2): 286-290 (2009)

Thallus usually immersed and inconspicuous, more rarely areolate, pale grey; ascomata apothecia; apothecium constricted at the base slightly raised, often in small groups and then becoming angular by compression; thalline exciple well developed, persistent, white, regularly deeply crenate with 5–8 segments, discs rather variable in colour, reddish brown to yellowish or brownish-black, grey or blue-grey-pruinose; epithecium brownish or blue; hymenium 55–70 µm, yellow-brown above; paraphyese sparsely branched, apices capitate, the terminal cell brownish and swollen; ascospores 6– 10(-15.5) × (4-)4.5–6(-7) µm. Specimen Examined: – 2: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, Fig. 3.Thallus of Candelariella medians( Nyl.) A. L. Sm. 2007, # 2059. **Lecanora dispersa (L.) Sommerf. rock, 2007, # 2054, 2256, 2383. Thallus immersed or sometime consisting of scattered **Candelariella vitellina (Hoffm.) Müll. Arg. granules, white to pale grey; apothecium sessile, Thallus yellow, orang to brown-orang, continuous and constricted below, thalline exciple well developed, coarsely cracked or in scattered patches, usually rather persistent, entire to crenulate to contorted or flexuose; thick, composed of nodular or squamulose granules; discs very variable in colour, pinkish brown to olivaceous apothecium frequent, 0.5–1.5 mm diam, flat, margin brown, or pale yellowish or greenish grey, sometime prominent, persistent, smooth to crenulate; disc grayish white-pruinose; epithecium pale yellowish brown or yello, sometimes darkening when old; asci (12-)16- to 32- brownish; hypothecium sometimes brownish; spored; ascospores 9–15 × 3.0–6.5 µm, simple to weakly paraphyese branched, asci broadly clavate, short-stalked. 1-septat. ascospores (7-)8.5–14 × (3-)4–7 µm. Specimen Examined: –3: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, Specimen Examined: – 3: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, 2008, # 2055. 2008, # 2060. Dermatocarpon miniatum (L.) W. Mann Lecanora garovaglii (Körb.) Zahlbr Thallus foliose, single-lobed and attached to substratum Thallus placodioid, 4–6 cm or more in diam, 0.5–2(3)mm by a usually central holdfast, or multi-lobed; upper surface thick in centre, distinctly rosetted, the lobe tips and reddish brown to grey-brown, grey-white pruinose; lower occasionally edges frequently dark olivaceous to bluish surface pale tan-brown, smooth or warted; ascomata black; areoles contiguous, irregular; upper cortex perithecia; asci 50–67 × 9–12 µm, cylindrical; ascospores without dead algal cells, 15–50 µm thick; medulla whith, (8-)9–12(-14) × (4.5)5–6(-7) µm, ellipsoid or ovoid- or darkening towards lower side, very loose, becoming ellipsoid. hollow in center; lower surface pale grey and arachnoid, Specimens Examined: –3: on Alkaloid feldspar granite or towards edges and tips smooth and strong to dark rock, 2008, # 2056, 2082. grayish to yellowish brown or green to black; lowr cortex Dimelaena oreina (Ach.) Norman 8–18 µm thick, ± continuous; apothecium scattered, to Thallus thin to thick, placodioid, with radiate-plicate crowded towards thallus centre, asci narrowly clavate, marginal lobes, areolate towards the center; surface 8-spored; ascospores hyaline, simple, ellipsoid to broadly greenish yellow due to usnic acid in the cortex; ascomata ellipsoid or ovoid-globose, 8–12 × 5–6(7) µm. apothecia; apothecium black, lecanorine, innate or more Specimens Examined: –1: on Alkaloid feldspar granite usually adnate; disc black or or sometimes white- rock, 2007, # 2061, 2081. pruinose, plane to slightly convex; asci cylindrical, 8- Lecanora muralis (Schreb.) Rabenh. spored; ascospores brown, 1-septat, 9–13 × 5–7 µm. Thallus placodioid, rosettes, marginal lobes flat to Specimen Examined: –2: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, concave; thallus centre sometimes areolate, greenish 2007, # 2057. yellow to yellow brown, apothecium sessile, densely Glypholecia scabra (Pers.) Müll. Arg. aggregated in the centre of the thallus; thalline exciple Thallus foliose and umbilicate, white to gray, areolate; well developed, entire to crenulate or flexuose; disc apothecium brown, sunken in the thallus; asci more than yellow-brown to reddish brown, flat to slightly convex, 8-spored; ascospores simple. not pruinose; epithecium pale yellowish or brownish; Specimens Examined: –1: on Alkaloid feldspar granite paraphyese mainly simple or sparsely branched above, rock, 2007, # 2058, 2080. apices not swollen or capitate; asci 30–40 × 8–12 µm; Lecanora crenulata Hook ascospores 9–15(-16) × (4-)5–7 µm. Mahroo H. Moniri et al. / J. Appl. & Nat. Sci. 1(2): 286-290 (2009) 289

Specimens Examined: –1: on Alkaloid feldspar granite Rhizoplaca melanophthalma (Ramond) Leuckert & poelt rock, 2007, # 2062, 2084. Thallus mostly 0.5–1.5 (-2.5) cm across, polyohyllous and **Lecidea tessellate Flörke often appearing squamulose or pulvinate; upper surface Thallus crustose, usually well developed, ± regulary dull to shiny, occasionally ± pruinose, usually light to areolate to rimose-areolate, whitish grey to pale bluish moderate greenish yellow; lower surface blue-black near grey, esorediate; prothallus black, obvious at the margine edges, usually continuous, smooth to uneven or of the thalli or indistinct or lacking; ascomata apothecia; roughened; ascomata apothecia; apothecium immersed apothecium black, singular or in sometimes large and then sessile; disc cocave to plane or undulate, yellowish dense groups; asci clavate, 8-spored; ascospores hyaline, brown to moderate brown, olive, or greenish to bluish simple, broadly ellipsoid to oblong- ellipsoid. black, epruinose or weakly to densely pruinose; Specimen Examined: –3: on Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, ascospores ± ellipsoid to subglobose but rather variable 2008, # 2063. in size and shape. Lecidella carpathica Körb. Specimen Examined: –2: Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, Thallus verrucose, usually well developed, white or pale 2007, # 2069. to dark grey; apothecium immersed, at first flat, later **Rhizoplaca peltata (Ramond) Leuckert & poelt becoming ± convex; epithecium partly greenish black, Thallus to 3 cm across, distinctly umbilicate, usually brownish tinged; hypothecium semi-opaque, bright red- monophyllous but sometimes strongly lobed; upper brown; ascospores 10–16 × 6–8.5 µm. surface ± pale greenish yellow to yellow, continuous to Specimens Examined: –2, 1560 m, on Alkaloid feldspar strongly rimose, epruinose to partly pruinose, matt or granite rock, 2007, # 2064, 2083. slightly nitid, edges concolorous or blackened, sometime Psora decipiens (Hedw.) Hoffm. with thallospores; lower surface ± yellowish brown, to Thallus squamulose, sometimes overlapping, adpressed, bluish black near edges, smooth to uneven, ± strongly bright pink-red-brown, epruinose or partly white- cracked towards centre, with medulla showing through; pruinose, apothecium sessile, marginal, black, epruinose apothecium usually common, to 2–3 mm diam, long or ± white-yellow- pruinose; ascospores 11–18 × 6–8 µm. remaining immersed to broadly adnate or at least adnate; Specimen Examined: –2: Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, disc concave then plane or sometimes convex, epruinose, 2007, # 2065. orangish yellow to yellowish or reddish brown; Rhizocarpon geminatum Körb. ascospores ellipsoid to subglobose, 9–12 × 5–8 µm. Thallus crustose; rounded, flat to convex gray areolate; Specimen Examined: –3: Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, on black prothallus which is visible among the areoles 2008, # 2070. and sometimes at the margin of thallus. apothecium Toninia candida (Weber) Th. Fr. between or on thallus areoles; disc convex, black, Thallus squamulose; rosulate, marginal squamules epruinose. asci 2-spored; ascospores dark greenish brown, weakly concave to weakly convex, forming more or less strongly muriform. radiating lobes; apothecium up to 2 mm diam, weakly Specimens Examined: –3: Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, concave to weakly convex, persistently marginate, 2008, # 2066. densely pruinose; hypothecium medium brown to dark Rhizocarpon geographicum (L.) DC. reddish brown in upper part, paler in lower part; hymenium Thallus crustose, with angular, flat to convex scattered 60–70 µm high; epithecium gery; ascospores fusueform, areoles; on or among a conspicuous black prothallus 1-septate, 15–24 × 3–4 µm. that is also visible at the margin of the thallus; surface Specimen Examined: –3: Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, yellow-green or bright yellow. Apothecium between areoles; 2008, # 2071. disc round or angular, flat to slightly convex, black, Toninia diffracta (A. Massal.) Zahlbr. epruinose. asci clavate, 8-spored; ascospores (20-)22–40(- Thallus squamulose; upper surface grey, densely white- 46) × 10–19(-22) µm, dark greenish brown-black, moriform. pruinose or more rarely partly not pruinose; apothecium Specimen Examined: –3: Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, black, weakly concave to weakly convex; epithecium grey; 2008, # 2067. hymenium colourless to pale brown; hypothecium lower Rhizocarpon viridiatrum (Wulfen) Körb. part brown, upper part dark brown, ascospores 14–20 × Thallus crustose; convex areolate; lichenicolous, surface 3–5 µm, 1-septate, fusiform. matt, bright green; conspicuous prothallus. apothecium Specimen Examined: –3: Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, relatively large, on or between areoles; disc black, convex, 2008, # 2072. rounded, epruinose; asci clavate, 8-spored; ascospores **Verrucaria lecideoides Trevis. 12–24 × 7–13 µm, dark brown, moriform. Thallus cracked-areolate, gery to greyish brown; Specimen Examined: –3: Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, prothallus present or absent; algal layer 5–20 µm thick; 2008, # 2068. ascomata perithecia; perithecium 1-2 per areole; 290 Mahroo H. Moniri et al. / J. Appl. & Nat. Sci. 1(2): 286-290 (2009) ascospores 5–9 × 14–20 µm. Nash, T. H., Ryan, B. D., Gries. C. and Bungartz, F. (2002). Specimen Examined: –3: Alkaloid feldspar granite rock, Lichen Flora of The Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol II, 2008, # 2073. Arizon Stata University, Tempe, Arizon, USA. 742 pp. Xanthoria elegans (Link.) Th. Fr. Orange, A., W. James, P and J. White, F. (2001). Microchemical methods for the Identification of Lichens. British Lichen Thallus to 4 cm, forming ± regular pale orange to reddish Society, UK.102 pp. orange rosettes; lobes ± uniformly 0.5–1 mm wide Oxner, A. N. (1971). Genus Aspicilia. - Pp. 146-217 in: throughout their length, ± nodulose, contiguous or ± Kopaczevskaja, E. G., Makarevicz, M. 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