László Lőkös

Three New Monotypic Genera of the Caloplacoid Lichens (Teloschistaceae, Lichen-Forming Ascomycetes).

Abstract Three monophyletic branches are strongly supported in a phylogenetic analysis of the Teloschistaceae based on combined data sets of internal transcribed spacer and large subunit nrDNA and 12S small subunit mtDNA sequences. These are described as new monotypic genera: Jasonhuria S. Y. Kondr., L. Lőkö s et S. -O. Oh, Loekoesia S. Y. Kondr., S. -O. Oh et J. -S. Hur and Olegblumia S. Y. Kondr., L. Lőkös et J. -S. Hur. Three new combinations for the type species of these genera are proposed.

Two new records of the lichen genus placynthiella elenkin in South Korea.

Abstract This study describes two new records of the lichen genus Placynthiella (P. hyporhoda and P. icmalea) from South Korea. A brief taxonomic description and comments are provided for the new records. An artificial key is also provided for known species of this genus in South Korea.

Pseudocyphellaria crocata (Ascomycota: Lobariaceae) in the Americas is revealed to be thirteen species, and none of them is P. crocata

Abstract We provide a phylogenetic revision of the Pseudocyphellaria crocata complex in the Americas. Specimens traditionally identified as P. crocata, based on their cyanobacterial photobiont, yellow pseudocyphellae, at least partially white medulla, and yellow soralia or soralia-like structures, are shown to represent 13 distinct species, forming a monophyletic group divided into four large clades, three comprising one species each and one containing eight species, plus two taxa for which no molecular data are available. Seven species correspond to what was previously recognized as P. crocata and one to P. dozyana, whereas a further one is identified as the sorediate counterpart of the usually apotheciate taxon P. lechleri and another as a pseudosorediate morph of the usually phyllidiate species P. neglecta. Surprisingly, none of the species represents P. crocata s.str., which must therefore be excluded from the American lichen biota. The 13 recognized species include three species new to science and three new combinations: P. citrina (Gyeln.) Lücking, Moncada & S.Stenroos, comb. nov. [bas.: Cyanisticta citrina Gyeln., nom. nov. pro Sticta citrina Pers. nom. illeg.], P. desfontainii (Delise) Vain., P. deyi Lücking, sp. nov., P. dozyana (Mont. & Bosch) D.J.Galloway, P. epiflavoides (Gyeln.) Lücking, Farkas & Lőkös, comb. nov. [bas.: Cyanisticta epiflavoides Gyeln.], P. hawaiiensis H.Magn., P. hillii (C.W.Dodge) D.J.Galloway, P. holarctica McCune, Lücking & Moncada, sp. nov., P. lechleri (Müll. Arg.) Du Rietz, P. neglecta (Müll. Arg.) H.Magn., P. punctata Lendemer, Lücking & Moncada sp. nov., P. sandwicensis (Zahlbr.) Moncada & Lücking, comb. nov. [bas.: Sticta crocata f. sandwicensis Zahlbr.], and P. xanthosticta (Pers.) Moncada & Lücking. Based on sequenced specimens, a neotype is selected for P. citrina and epitypes for P. hawaiiensis, P. lechleri, P. sandwicensis and P. xanthosticta. A key to all sorediate or pseudosorediate species of this complex in the Americas is presented, and all species are described, discussed and illustrated.

New Species and New Records of Buellia (Lichenized Ascomycetes) from Jeju Province, South Korea

Abstract A new species and 2 new records of lichen genus Buellia were discovered from Chuja-do Island in Jeju Province during a recent floristic survey: B. chujana X. Y. Wang, S. Y. Kondr., L. Lőkös & J.-S. Hur sp. nov., B. halonia (Ach.) Tuck., and B. mamillana (Tuck.) W. A. Weber. The new species is characterized by a brown, areolate thallus, the presence of perlatolic acid, and a saxicolous habitat. Together with previously recorded species, 10 Buellia species were confirmed from Jeju-do Island. Among these species, 3 growing in the exposed rocky area contained xanthone (yellowish lichen thallus, UV + orange), indicating that production of xanthone in this genus might be a defense strategy against the harm of UV light. Although the genus Buellia has been thoroughly studied in Korea before, novel species have been discovered continuously, and large species diversity has been found in this crustose genus, even from a small rocky island. This study indicates that the coastal area harbors a vast number of crustose lichen species, and there is great potential to discover unknown lichens in the coastal rocky area in Korea.

Three new species of lichenized fungi from Qinghai Province, China

Three new species of lichenized fungi—Calogaya qinghaiensis, Caloplaca zeorina,Verrucaria eminens—are described from Qinghai province, China, and compared with closely related species. Key words—biodiversity, Teloschistaceae, Verrucariaceae, taxonomy

Xanthoparmelia mougeotii (Parmeliaceae, lichenised Ascomycetes) new to the lichen flora of Hungary

Xanthoparmelia mougeotii is a usnic acid containing, small foliose, sorediate, parmelioid lichen species with a pantemperate distribution. In Europe it occurs in most countries especially in cool, humid, “suboceanic” habitats, mainly on acidic rocks, and rather sporadic in the continental areas, e.g. isolated populations in Slovakia (near Strečno) or in Ukraine (Crimea). Recently another isolated Central European population was discovered in the Zemplén Mts (NE Hungary), approx. 200 km far from the Slovak population.

Mosses and lichens in dynamics of acidic sandy grasslands : Specific response to grazing exclosure

Cryptogams, a neglected segment in vegetation dynamics, can form a large part of biomass in sandy grasslands. Since the pioneer work of Verseghy (early 1970s) their biomass and productivity has not been analyzed in Hungary. We intended to contribute to the knowledge of dynamics of cryprogams in dry acidic grasslands. Study objects were permanent plots in endangered open sandy grasslands ‘Pannonic inland dunes’ (EU Habitat Directive, 2340). Vegetation of CORYNEPHORETUM CANESCENTIS (CC) and FESTUCETUM VAGINATAE (FV), characteristic vegetation types of the Nyirseg region (NE Hungary) has been monitored in grazed and experimentally fenced stands. Fencing was used to model the overall trend of falling stocking densities. Biomass of cryptogams has been sampled in 2013, five years after grazing exclosure then hand-sorted into species. Morphological studies, spot tests and HPTLC have also been applied to identify critical lichen taxa. Fencing has led to an increased biomass of cryptogams. Biomass of mosses exceeded those of lichens irrespective of the community or management. Cryptogamic biomass tended to be lower in CC than in FV and lower in grazed stands compared to fenced ones. Most frequent cryptogams (Brachythecium albicans, Cladonia rangiformis, C. rei, Polytrichum piliferum) have been supported by exclosure. Lichens benefitted relatively more from exclosure than did the mosses. The only lichen favoured by moderate grazing has been Cladonia magyarica. Soil traits (pH, organic material, P2O5) had contrasting effects on biomass fractions under different management (Spearman’s rank correlation). More significant correlations have been revealed in fenced stands than in the grazed ones. FV had more correlations than the CC. The few strict correlations included preference of Syntrichia ruralis for higher while that of Polytrichum piliferum for lower pH values. Low phosphorous content has been positively correlated with Cladonia rangiformis, Polytrichum piliferum, total moss and total of cryptogams while higher values only supported Brachythecium albicans. This suggests more organized assemblages in ungrazed stands and in the FV, respectively. Compared to soil traits microtopography had a minor effect on cryptogam distribution. Initial establishment pattern or random patch formation seem to be as important as all above-mentioned factors together. Long-term grazing exclosure is likely to promote further spread of the dominants, Cladonia rangiformis and Polytrichum piliferum. Short spells of grazing are likely to promote cryptogam biodiversity. Chemical analyses have been supported by OTKA K81232 and NKFIH K_17/124341.

The lichen collection of András Horánszky in the Hungarian Natural History Museum

A total of 100 species of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi are enumerated from the small lichen collection of the late botany professor Andras Horanszky. Th e 250 specimens donated to the Hungarian Natural History Museum were collected primarily in Hungary and Austria, and secondarily from Germany, Serbia, and Slovenia. Th ese locality records have never been published; many of them are new for the given area, including some legally protected species, e.g. Cladonia arbuscula, C. magyarica, C. rangiferina, Usnea fl orida, Xanthoparmelia pulvinaris, and two of the lichenicolous fungi, Athelia arachnoidea and Xanthoriicola physciae. Agonimia globulifera is new to Hungary.