The Lichenologist 40(2): 111–118 (2008) 2008 British Lichen Society doi:10.1017/S0024282908007469 Printed in the United Kingdom A new species of Lecanora s. lat., growing on Lasallia pustulata Sergio PEuREZ-ORTEGA and Javier ETAYO Abstract: The new species Lecanora lasalliae Pe´rez-Ortega & Etayo is described from Spain. It is included provisionally in Lecanora s. lat as characters such as Lecanora-type ascus, exciple composed of thick radiating hyphae and the usual presence of algal cells in the excipulum or its lichenicolous habitus on Lasallia pustulata, do not fit well within any known genus of lichenicolous or lichenized fungi. Its taxonomic affinities with several taxa are discussed, including the parasitic Lecanora gyrophorina. Key words: Carbonea, Lecidea, lichenicolous fungi, Nesolechia, Phacopsis, Protoparmelia, Ramboldia, Scoliciosporum, Spain Introduction and compare it to other genera with licheni- The umbilicate genus Lasallia Me´rat does colous species with Lecanora-type ascus with not host many species of fungi; so we were which the species could be related or surprised to find several healthy thalli of confused. Lasallia pustulata (L.) Me´rat. with small patches of apothecia growing on the thallus Material and Methods margins, mainly mixed with clusters of isidia. Because of the frequent presence of The material was examined using standard micro- scopical techniques. Photographs were taken with a dispersed algae in the exciple, thick excipu- Leica Mz75 stereomicroscope and a Zeiss Axioskop2 lar hyphae, the nature of the pigments in Plus microscope equipped with differential contrast. paraphyses and excipulum, and the Amyloid reactions were tested with Lugol’s reagent, Lecanora-type ascus, we hesitated to include either without or with a pre-treatment with KOH (I and K/I respectively). Microscopic measurements were it in any known genus. It might be related to made on material mounted in water. Excipular pig- other parasitic Lecanora species growing on ments have been studied in water, K (KOH) and N Umbilicaria, for example Lecanora gyropho- (nitric acid). rina Poelt & Zhurb. We are reluctant to Specimens selected for comparison. Ramboldia stuartii describe a new genus, as long as no similar (Hampe) Kantvilas & Elix. Australia: Tasmania: sum- mit of Mt Charles, 42(09#N 146(15#E, 1040 m, 4 ii species are known and there is an absence of 2006, Kantvilas 112/06 (FR). molecular data by which to define more Ramboldia petraeoides (Nyl. ex C. Bab. & Mitt.) accurately the boundaries among the differ- Kantvilas & Elix. Australia: Tasmania: summit of ent natural groups within the Lecanoraceae. Mt Pearse, 41(30#S 145(37#E, 1000 m, 5 ii 2006, Kantvilas 97/06 (FR). In this paper we will describe the new species Ramboldia insidiosa (Th. Fr.) Hafellner. Spain: Ciudad Real. Horcajo de los Montes, Sierra del Chorito, forest of Pinus pinaster,39(20#21.1$N, S. Pérez-Ortega: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Abt. 4(15#42.2$W, 636 m, 21 ix 2005, Pérez-Ortega 903 Botanik und Molekulare Evolutionsforschung, (hb. Pe´rez-Ortega). D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Protoparmelia badia (Hoffm.) Haffelner. Spain: Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Huesca. Biescas, Valle de Tena, ladera norte de Pen˜a Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, Plaza de Ramón Telera. Ibon de Piedrafita. 30TYN1361, 1600-1700 m, y Cajal s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, E-28040 Madrid, 10 ix 1994, L.G. Sancho 4281 (MAF). Spain. Email: [email protected] Carbonea vitellinaria (Nyl.) Hertel. Austria: Tirol: J. Etayo: Navarro Villoslada 16, 3( dcha., E-31003, O} tztaler Alpen, Obergurgl, entrance of ‘‘Rotmoostal’’ Pamplona, Spain. c. 250 m NNE of ‘‘Scho¨nwieshu¨tte’’, 46(51#00.9$N, Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. University of Athens, on 08 Oct 2021 at 08:58:31, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282908007469 112 THE LICHENOLOGIST Vol. 40 11(01#08.7$E, talus slope along dirt road from blue. Hymenium hyaline, not inspersed, Obergurgl to Scho¨nwieshu¨tte, on Candelariella vitellina, c. 40 m high, the upper part brown, K 2250 m, 25 vii 2005, Printzen & Pérez-Ortega 901 (hb. Pe´rez-Ortega). olive-brown, N , KI+ blue. Paraphyses Carbonea supersparsa (Nyl.) Hertel. Austria: Tirol: numerous, simple or branched especially O} tztaler Alpen, Obergurgl, entrance of ‘‘Rotmoostal’’ near the base or in the apex (Fig. 1E), not c. 250 m NNE of ‘‘Scho¨nwieshu¨tte’’, 46(51#00.9$N, anastomosing, 2–2·5 m wide, capitate with 11(01#08.7$E, talus slope along dirt road from Obergurgl to Scho¨nwieshu¨tte, on Lecanora polytropa, slightly enlarged tips of 3–4·5 m wide, api- ca. 2250 m, 25 vii 2005, Printzen & Pérez-Ortega 902 cal cells with a extra-cellular brown pigment, (hb. Pe´rez-Ortega). K+ pale brown to olive-brown, and glued by a thin gel (Fig. 1D). Asci clavate, 8-spored, 30–369–13 m, ascus wall apically The Species strongly thickened and forming a tholus Lecanora lasalliae Pe´rez-Ortega & KI+ blue, with a non-reactive thin axial Etayo sp. nov. body, outermost layer of the ascal wall and tholus KI+ blue, close to the Lecanora-type Lichen lichenicola in thallo Lasalliae pustulatae crescens. Ascomata apothecioidea, aggregata, fusca vel nigra, (Fig. 1F, G). Ascospores ellipsoid to ovoid, superficialia, 0·15–0·4(–0·5) mm in diametro. Excipu- straight, simple, hyaline, (6·5–)7–9(–10·5) lum subhyalinum vel fuscum, 20–50 m grossum. 3·5–5·5 m (Fig. 1H–K). Hypothecium hyalinum, c. 100 m altum. Hymenium Pycnidia not seen. hyalinum, c.40m altum. Epihymenium fuscum, K+ pallide fuscum vel fusco olivaceum. Asci clavati, octosporati, 30–369–13 m. Ascosporae ellipsoideae Chemistry. No lichen secondary products vel ovoideae, hyalinae, simplices (6·5–)7–9 (–10·5) detected by TLC. 3·5–5·5 m. Typus: Spain, La Rioja, Ezcaray, Valle del ri´o Oja, Ecology and distribution. Lichenicolous, 30TVM9675, 943 m, on Lasallia pustulata on siliceous outcrops, 7 September 2004, V. Atienza (VAL-Lich— growing on Lasallia pustulata thalli, mainly holotypus). in the periphery, usually amongst clusters of isidia, but very rarely growing on them. (Fig. 1) Although we cannot conclude that Lecanora lasalliae is strictly lichenicolous, it is very Thallus absent or restricted to very small likely to be so since two of the localities granules amongst the ascomata; granules not where it was found were examined carefully corticated, brownish. and it was not found growing on other Apothecia dark brown to black, sessile, substrata. Although usually no damage was frequently grouped and regularly constricted observed on the host, in some cases when at the base, 0·15–0·4(–0·5) mm; disc flat, apothecia grew in marginal areas of the thalli finally slightly convex (Fig. 1A). Margin free of isidia, a degradation of the thallus was thin, sometimes excluded when mature, detected, and brown, apparently necrotic then apothecia virtually emarginate. Excipu- areas were evident. The apothecia are aggre- lum in longitudinal section pale but darken- gated in small patches and are very different ing to brown at the outer edge, pale brown in size and shape to the apothecia of the to hyaline in its inner part (Fig. 1B); 20– host. So far, the species is known only from 50 m thick, composed of radiating hyphae three mountainous localities in the north of with wide lumina, c. 5–7 m, in the outer Spain. part (Fig. 1C), and narrower in the inner Additional specimens examined. Spain: Asturias: part, c. 2–4 m; with gelatinized walls; Parque Natural de las Fuentes del Narcea, Degan˜a e external cells with extra-cellular brown pig- Ibias, road from Moal to Mt. Connio, 43(02#N, ment; not cupular. Photobiont green, not 6(41#W, 1026 m, on Lasallia pustulata on siliceous always present, not forming a defined layer, outcrops, 16 v 2005, S. Pérez-Ortega & A. Álvarez- Lafuente (hb. Pe´rez-Ortega 904, hb. Etayo); Parque cells dispersed in the exciple, 6–14 m Natural de las Fuentes del Narcea, La Viliella, Erica diam., sometimes shared in autospores. australis subsp. aragonensis shrub formation close to Hypothecium c. 100 m high, hyaline, KI+ the path from La Viliella to Vega de La Rondiella. Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. University of Athens, on 08 Oct 2021 at 08:58:31, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282908007469 2008 Lecanora lasalliae—Pérez-Ortega & Etayo 113 F.1. Lecanora lasalliae. A, habitus, apothecia; B, longitudinal section of an apothecium; C, detail of excipulum with radiating thick-walled hyphae; D, paraphyses, apex with brown pigment; E, branched paraphyses; F, ascus, detail of apex ; G, ascus with spores; H, I, J & K, spores, variability in age and shape. B, in water; C & D, lactophenol blue;F&G:Lugol after pre-treatment with K; E, H–K, in K. Scales: A=0·3 mm; B=40 m; C, D–F, G=5 m; H–K=2·5 m. Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. University of Athens, on 08 Oct 2021 at 08:58:31, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282908007469 114 THE LICHENOLOGIST Vol. 40 Monte La Viliella, 29TPH9162, 1020 m, 11 ix 2002, Lecanora Ach. 1810 Pérez-Ortega & J. M. Formentí (VAL-Lich). Type species: Lecanora allophana Nyl. Discussion of generic assignment This genus is characterized by asci of the Lecanora-type, simple hyaline ascospores, There are several lecideoid or lecanoroid and crustose thalli, with an apothecial genera including lichenicolous species with margin usually containing algal cells (Ryan Lecanora-type asci; viz.