Laurens B. Sparrius

Angiactis, a New Crustose Lichen Genus in The Roccellaceae, with Species from Bermuda, The Galápagos Islands and Australia

Abstract The new genus Angiactis Aptroot & Sparrius is described, with three species, A. bermudensis LaGreca sp. nov. from Bermuda, A. littoralis (Kantvilas) Aptroot & Sparrius comb. nov. from Australia and A. spinicola Aptroot & Sparrius sp. nov. from the Galápagos. The new genus differs from Lecanographa in the presence of a thalline exciple, and from Llimonaea in the non-corticate thallus and presence of a thalline exciple.

Bacidia adastra , a new sorediate lichen species from Western Europe

Abstract Bacidia adastra Sparrius & Aptroot is newly described from the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Germany. It is related to Bacidia arnoldiana s. lat. and differs from Bacidia caligans, B. neosquamulosa and B. viridescens by thallus structure and pigmentation of the excipulum and epithecium. It usually grows on acid or neutral, eutrophicated bark. It is characterized by the remarkable, pale green, thick, leprose thallus, the pale apothecia with aeruginose or dark brown flecks in the epihymenium and excipulum, and the hyaline hymenium and hypothecium.

Additions to the lichen flora of Vietnam, with an annotated checklist and bibliography

Abstract The lichen flora of Vietnam was investigated. A bibliography is presented of all papers citing lichen species from what is now Vietnam, and a comprehensive checklist is given, with the reported and the current names. To give an impression of the state of the current knowledge of the lichen flora, the results of a recent field trip are presented as well. The total lichen flora known to date comprises 275 species, 122 of which are reported here from Vietnam for the first time.

Crustose Roccellaceae in the Galapagos Islands, with the new species Schismatomma spierii

Abstract The crustose Roccellaceae, excluding Opegrapha, on the Galapagos Islands were investigated. In total, 24 species were identified, most of which are new records not only for the archipelago, but also for Ecuador. These include Schismatomma spierii, which is described as new to science. Lecanographa laingiana is reported for the first time from the New World and Bactrospora denticulata, Dirina catalinariae, Lecanographa hypothallina, L. illecebrosula, Sclerophyton murex and S. vertex are first records from the Southern Hemisphere. Previous records of Roccellina from the Galapagos are regarded as erroneous. A key to the species is provided.

Enterographa Oregonensis (Roccellaceae), a New Foliicolous Species from The Northwest Coast of North America

Abstract A new foliicolous lichen species, Enterographa oregonensis (Ascomycota: Arthoniales: Roccellaceae) is described from temperate coastal North America. It differs from similar, tropical species in its combination of 5(–7)-septate spores, a gelatinous perispore, short lirellae and presence of gyrophoric acid. The ecology of this species is discussed and a conservation assessment is recommended.

A new lichenicolous Enterographa species from Britanny (France)

Enterographa brezhonega, a fourth lichenicolous species in the genus is described. The species has been collected in an ancient woodland in western France growing on Porina rosei and probably other crustose lichens with a Trentepohlia photobiont. It shows affinities with the similar Enterographa epiphylla, but has an even number of septa and short-lirelliform ascomata.

The Genus Menegazzia (Parmeliaceae) in Taiwan

Abstract The genus Menegazzia comprises five species in Taiwan, three of which are newly described: M. anteforata, M. primaria, and M. pseudocyphellata. All new species have the stictic acid complex chemistry, two-spored asci, bifusiform conidia, and lack soredia and isidia. They differ in medullary hyphae color, perforation shape and size, and apothecium margin ornamentation, as well as by gross morphology of the thallus and lobe configuration.

Diversity and ecology of lichens on churches in The Netherlands

This study presents the results of an inventory of lichen species on the walls of 344 medieval and renaissance churches in the Netherlands. In total, 194 species were recorded, of which several are more or less confined to this habitat in the country. We found several regional differences in species composition: 1. Churches in the Southwest are characterized by soft-limestone inhabiting species such as Opegrapha rupestris and Verrucaria calciseda; 2. Churches in the Rhine-Meuse-IJssel valleys are relatively species-rich and often harbour large quantities of Lecanora pannonica; and 3. Churches in the Northwest have many species that are usually found as epiphytes, like Cliostomum griffithii, Lecanora chlarotera and Lecidella elaeochroma. Multivariate analysis (PCA) shows four main ecological species groups: 1. epiphytes; 2. shaded limestone species; 3. sun-exposed limestone species; and 4. acidophilous species. The main determining factors are sun-exposition, substrate acidity and air-humidity.

Dirina calcicola, a New Lichen Species from Florida, U.S.A

Abstract A new species in the lichen genus Dirina (Ascomycota: Arthoniales: Roccellaceae) is described. It is similar to Dirina neozelandica and related species in the genus with immersed ascomata lacking a thalline margin. Dirina calcicola is only known from two specimens collected in 1898 by Roland Thaxter in Monroe Co., Florida, U. S. A.

Estimating the population size of the endemic lichens Anzia centrifuga (Parmeliaceae) and Ramalina species (Ramalinaceae) on Porto Santo (Madeira archipelago)

Abstract Due to isolation, islands are known to harbor a high number of endemics. Although most lichen species are widespread, a number of genera are well-known for the large number of endemics. Often, those endemic taxa have a low population size and are vulnerable to ecosystem change. We carried out a survey of all seven endemic lichens of the island of Porto Santo (Madeira, Portugal, 42 km2) in order to generate data for a IUCN Red List assessment. Six km2 of suitable habitat for the species were searched and mapped at 100 m resolution. The main habitat for the species consisted of volcanic outcrops, mainly basalt peaks and lava flows on the slopes. All accessible areas—circa 90% of the peaks and 50% of all outcrops—were surveyed by the authors during one week as a volunteer project. The population size of Anzia centrifuga was estimated to be 50–100 individuals. It occurred only on exposed, stable, vertical, N to W facing rock faces above 240 m, restricting the potential habitat to less than 1.0 km2. Ramalina nematodes occurred often abundantly on most of the larger exposed ridges. Ramalina confertula and R. portosantana each occur on several rock outcrops in the N part of the island. Ramalina erosa, R. jamesii and R. timdaliana were restricted to an area often less than 1000 m2 in the surroundings of their type localities. After application of the IUCN criteria, all studied endemics fitted well into category Critically Endangered although no immediate threats seem present.