The Lichenologist 45(5): 657–664 (2013) 6 British Lichen Society, 2013 doi:10.1017/S0024282913000406 Two new Crypthonia species and a new Syncesia from Chapada do Araripe, Ceara´, NE Brazil (Ascomycota: Arthoniales), with a key to Crypthonia Aline Anjos MENEZES, Amanda Barreto XAVIER-LEITE, Katia Almeida de JESUS, Andre´ APTROOT and Marcela Eugenia da Silva CA´ CERES Abstract: Two new species of the small genus Crypthonia are described from the Chapada do Araripe, an isolated table mountain in the state of Ceara´, in NE Brazil. Both share the thallus and ascoma organization with the other known species of the genus, and are mainly characterized by differences in ascospores and chemistry. Crypthonia lichexanthonica A. A. Menezes, M. Ca´ceres & Aptroot has 7- septate ascospores and contains lichexanthone in the thallus, and C. submuriformis A. A. Menezes, M. Ca´ceres & Aptroot has (sub)muriform ascospores and also contains lichexanthone, but only in the ascigerous areas. A key to all known species of the genus Crypthonia is provided, in which Crypthonia olivacea Frisch & G. Thor is newly reported from Argentina. The new species Syncesia byssolomoides A. A. Menezes, M. Ca´ceres & Aptroot is described from the same area. It also has a thin byssoid thallus, but differs by the narrowly fusiform ascospores and by containing psoromic acid. It differs from all Syncesia species by the absence of carbonization and the presence of psoromic acid. The epiphytic lichen flora in this Caatinga forest area is dominated by crustose lichens, with Graphis and Poly- meridium as the most speciose genera. Key words: Arthoniaceae, corticolous, lichens, lichexanthone, Roccellaceae, taxonomy Accepted for publication 11 May 2013 Introduction with Graphis and Polymeridium as the most speciose genera. The Caatinga is a lichen- The Chapada do Araripe is an isolated table rich vegetation because of its open structure. mountain located at the confluence of the The angiosperm diversity is high (Ribeiro- borders of Ceara´, Pernambuco and Piauı´ Silva et al. 2012), but the lichen diversity States. The Araripe plateau, with an altitude of this biome is still largely unexplored range of 870–980 m (Siebra et al. 2011), (Ca´ceres 2007). comprises at least four different vegetation The genus Crypthonia was recently de- types, including rainforest patches and also scribed (Frisch & Thor 2010) to accommo- areas of Caatinga, with Cerrado and Cerra- date species of Arthoniaceae somewhat simi- ˜ dao forests (Sampaio et al. 1981). lar to Coniarthonia but with a felty to byssoid The epiphytic lichen flora in this Caatinga thallus. So far 11 species are known in the forest area is dominated by crustose lichens, genus, all with clavate to fusiform, 1–4- septate ascospores. A. A. Menezes & A. B. Xavier-Leite: Programa de Po´s- Two undescribed species of this genus Graduac¸a˜o em Ecologia e Conservac¸a˜o, Universidade were recently found on Chapada do Araripe Federal de Sergipe, CEP: 49100-000, Sa˜o Cristo´va˜o, in Brazil. Both share the thallus and ascoma Sergipe, Brazil. organization with the other known species of K. A. de Jesus & M. E. S. Ca´ceres: Departamento de the genus. They are mainly characterized by Biocieˆncias, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, CEP: 49500-000, Itabaiana, Sergipe, Brazil. their ascospores and chemistry. Crypthonia A. Aptroot (corresponding author): ABL Herbarium, lichexanthonica has 7-septate ascospores and G.v.d.Veenstraat 107, NL-3762 XK Soest, The Nether- contains lichexanthone, and C. submuriformis lands. Email: [email protected] Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. University of Athens, on 05 Oct 2021 at 06:38:51, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282913000406 658 THE LICHENOLOGIST Vol. 45 has (sub)muriform ascospores and also con- clavate, 45–55 Â 12–15 mm, thick-walled, tains lichexanthone, but only in the asciger- sometimes visible from above as pale brown- ous areas. A further new species is described ish spots in the ascigerous structures. Asco- from the same area. It has a similar thallus spores 8 per ascus, hyaline, 7-septate, broadly but narrowly fusiform ascospores, and it fusiform, 15–19 Â 6Á0–7Á5 mm, lumina ellip- contains psoromic acid; it belongs to the soid, IKI+ reddish brown (dextrinoid), wall genus Syncesia. A revised key to all species c. 1Á0–1Á5 mm thick, ends rather rounded. of the genus Crypthonia is provided. Pycnidia not observed. Chemistry. Thallus and ascigerous struc- -- -- -- Material and Methods tures UV+ yellow, C ,P ,K . TLC: liche- xanthone. Identification and descriptive work was carried out in Itabaiana, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, using a Ecology and distribution. On smooth bark of Leica EZ4 stereomicroscope and a Leica DM500 com- trees in Caatinga forest. Known only from pound microscope, and also in Soest using an Olympus Brazil. SZX7 stereomicroscope and an Olympus BX50 com- pound microscope with interference contrast, connected Discussion. This species differs from all to a Nikon Coolpix digital camera. Sections were mounted known species of Crypthonia (Frisch & Thor in tap water, in which all measurements were also taken. The specimens from this study are preserved in ISE. 2010) by the presence of lichexanthone. This The chemistry of the type specimens was investigated substance occurs in some other Arthoniales, by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using solvent A especially in the related genus Cryptothecia. (Orange et al. 2001). It differs from the following species by the as- cospores, which are only transversely septate. The species is very close in aspect to some The Species other species of Crypthonia, such as C. bisep- Crypthonia lichexanthonica A. A. tata (Aptroot & Wolseley) Frisch & G. Thor Menezes, M. Ca´ceres & Aptroot sp. nov. and the species described below, and can only be differentiated when chemistry and MycoBank No.: MB 802584 internal structures are examined. The thallus Crypthonia with lichexanthone and 7-septate ascospores is thinner than that of most other Crypthonia 15–19 Â 6Á0–7Á5 mm. species, and as a consequence a distinct hy- Type: Brazil, Ceara´, Chapada do Araripe, on bark of tree, c. 900 m alt., May 2012, K. A. de Jesus & A. A. pothallus is not discernible. Menezes (ISE 15898—holotype). Crypthonia submuriformis A. A. (Fig. 1) Menezes, M. Ca´ceres & Aptroot sp. nov. Thallus crustose, byssoid, surface finely MycoBank No.: MB 802585 granular to felty, not corticate, dull, pale Crypthonia with lichexanthone in the ascigerous areas glaucous grey, closely appressed, without but not in the thallus, and submuriform (4–)7 Â 0–1- hypothallus, surrounded by a white to brown septate ascospores 18–21 Â 7–8 mm. byssoid prothallus. Hyphae c. 2 mm wide, Type: Brazil, Ceara´, Chapada do Araripe, on bark of tree, c. 900 m alt., 24 January 2011, A. A. Menezes 701 incrusted with hyaline crystals. Algae trente- (ISE—holotype). pohlioid, 7–12 mm diam. Ascigerous structures rounded to elongate or (Fig. 2) slightly lobate and flattened, 0Á3–0Á7 Â 0Á4– Thallus crustose, byssoid, not corticate, dull, 1Á5 mm wide, central part (disc) white to cream, margin white. Interascal filaments pale glaucous green, c.0Á1 mm thick, closely appressed, without a distinct hypothallus but densely anastomosing and curled, c. 1Á0– buff to brownish where in contact with the 1Á5 mm wide. Hymenium densely incrusted with hyaline crystals, hydrophobic, without bark, surrounded by a white byssoid pro- thallus up to 2 mm wide. Hyphae c. 2 m gelatine, IKI+ pale blue (hemiamyloid). Asci m Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. University of Athens, on 05 Oct 2021 at 06:38:51, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282913000406 2013 New Crypthonia and Syncesia from NE Brazil—Menezes et al. 659 Fig.1. Crypthonia lichexanthonica, holotype. A, habitus; B, hyphae; C, ascus; D, ascus with opened exoascus and still intact endoascus; E & F, ascospores; G, prothallus. Scales: A & G ¼ 0Á5 mm; B–D ¼ 20 mm; E & F ¼ 5 mm. In colour online. Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. University of Athens, on 05 Oct 2021 at 06:38:51, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282913000406 660 THE LICHENOLOGIST Vol. 45 Fig.2.Crypthonia submuriformis, holotype. A, habitus; B, asci; C & D, ascospores; E, prothallus. Scales: A & E ¼ 0Á5 mm; B ¼ 10 mm; C & D ¼ 5 mm. In colour online. wide, incrusted with hyaline crystals. Algae 0Á9 mm diam., surface mauve, flattened, trentepohlioid, 7–10 mm diam. margin byssoid, white. Interascal filaments Ascigerous structures slightly raised, rounded densely anastomosing and curled. Hymenium to lobate or elongated but usually with irreg- pallid brown by incrusted crystals, hydro- ular outline, solitary or in loose groups, 0Á4– phobic, without gelatine, IKI+ pale blue Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. University of Athens, on 05 Oct 2021 at 06:38:51, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282913000406 2013 New Crypthonia and Syncesia from NE Brazil—Menezes et al. 661 (hemiamyloid); epihymenium pale brown; Syncesia byssolomoides A. A. Menezes, hypothecium hyaline; excipulum hyaline, by- M. Ca´ceres & Aptroot sp. nov. ssoid. Asci numerous, clavate, with 8 irregu- MycoBank No.: MB 801922 larly arranged ascospores which react IKI+ reddish (dextrinoid), 60–75 Â 18Á0–22Á5 Syncesia with psoromic acid, hyaline hypothecium, ab- sence of carbonization and slender 3-septate ascospores mm, at the top sideways up to 6 mm thick. 45–50 Â 4Á0–5Á5 mm. Ascospores hyaline, submuriform (4–)7 Â 0– Type: Brazil, Ceara´, Chapada do Araripe, on bark 1-septate, 18–21 Â 7–8 mm, fusiform, ends of tree, c.