James C. Lendemer

Molecular Data Confirm Morphological and Ecological Plasticity within the North-American Endemic Lichen Willeya diffractella (Verrucariaceae)

Abstract n Willeya is a recently resurrected genus comprising crustose pyrenolichens common on rock in terrestrial habitats in southeastern Asia, Australasia, and eastern North America. The generic type W. diffractella is endemic to eastern North America, and is currently delimited to include considerable morphological and ecological variation. Previous molecular studies including W. diffractella have included sequences from a single specimen, which is morphologically distinct and ecologically discordant from the lectotype. Here we examine the delineation of W. diffractella using ITS sequences from 21 specimens and two specimens of Endocarpon tenuissimum, a closely related Appalachian endemic. Our results show that: 1) E. tenuissimum is nested within a monophyletic W. diffractella, and thus E. tenuissimum is placed in synonymy, 2) morphological variation within W. diffractella does not correlate with phylogeny, affirming that the observed variability is infraspecific, 3) there is no phylogenetic structure corresponding to biogeographic patterns within W. diffractella, and 4) within W. diffractella all but one sample from calcareous substrates clustered within a single well-supported lineage, suggesting an avenue for further study.

A revision of the saxicolous, esorediate species of Ainoa and Trapelia (Baeomycetaceae and Trapeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) in North America, with the description of two new species

Abstract Discovery of a new species of Trapelia and one of Ainoa prompted a taxonomic revision of saxicolous, esorediate members of the genera Ainoa and Trapelia that occur in North America north of Mexico. In addition to the description of A. bella and T. stipitata, both from eastern North America, revised descriptions and distributions are presented for T. coarctata and T. glebulosa. All of the species are illustrated, and A. mooreana (syn. T. mooreana) is excluded from the North American checklist.

The Status of Sticta sylvatica, an ‘Exceedingly Rare’ Lichen Species, in Eastern North America

Abstract The presence of the foliose cyanolichen Sticta sylvatica in eastern North America has been called into question due to the absence of high-quality, verifiable material and the common misuse of its name. Recently, specimens collected in the Great Smoky Mountains have been verified as having the typical S. sylvatica morphology. Although molecular data remain inconclusive regarding the entitys genetic distinctiveness from the phenotypically dissimilar S. limbata, we argue that the decline in the abundance of this morphological entity worldwide along with the need for further genetic study make continued conservation efforts imperative.

Typification of seabeach amaranth, Amaranthus pumilus (Amaranthaceae)

Amaranthus pumilus is known from coastal Massachusetts to South Carolina and from ballast in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is currently listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as a threatened species.Amaranthus pumilus was originally described by Rafinesque in 1808 from southern New Jersey, but he did not cite specimens. Here, the nameA. pumilus is lectotypified using the only known original element, a Rafinesque specimen at the herbarium of The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (PH).

NEOTYPIFICATION OF RUBUS CUNEIFOLIUS PURSH (ROSACEAE)

ABSTRACT The distribution, nomenclature, and taxonomy of Rubus cuneifolius Pursh are briefly reviewed. Since there is no known original material for the name R. cuneifolius, a neotype is chosen using recently collected material from southern New Jersey, an area where Frederick T. Pursh most likely observed the species. The misapplication of the name R. parvifolius L. by Thomas Walter in his Flora Caroliniana is also reviewed.

Type Specimens of Pandanaceae in the Herbarium of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Abstract The personal herbarium of the late-20th century botanist Benjamin C. Stone (1933–1994) was deposited with the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia in the late 1980’s and has long been recognized for the important material collected by him and others in Madagascar, Malaysia, New Caledonia, and other neotropical areas in the vicinity of southeast Asia. Of particular interest is the large collection of Pandanus that represents Stone’s work for over two decades. The contents and curation of the Stone herbarium are discussed and an index to the type specimens of Pandanaceae present at PH is provided.