Leif Tibell

Ribosomal DNA and β-tubulin data do not support the separation of the lichens Usnea florida and U. subfloridana as distinct species

The lichens Usnea florida and U. subfloridana have since long been recognised as distinct species. They show many similarities in morphology, but have different reproductive strategies. Usnea flori ...

Mycocaliciales, a new order for nonlichenized calicioid fungi

The new order Mycocaliciales is described. It includes the nonlichenized Mycocaliciaceae and Sphinctrinaceae, which occur as saprobes or commensals on lichens. They are further characterized by having stalked or sessile ascomata consisting of sclerotized,

Phylogeny and taxonomy of Aspicilia and Megasporaceae

Phylogenetic analyses based on nuLSU and mtSSU indicate that Megasporaceae is monophyletic. Aspicilia species were distributed among three main well supported groups and one group with low support that included the type species; a division of the family into five genera is proposed. The old names Circinaria and Sagedia are reintroduced for groups not including A. cinerea, the type of Aspicilia. The monotypic Megaspora is closely related to Circinaria, while Lobothallia is the sister group of the other Megasporaceae genera. Aspicilia recedens and A. farinosa are transferred to Lobothallia. Species of the ‘Sphaerothallia group’ are nested in Circinaria. Aspilidea is not a member of Megasporaceae but seems to be more closely related to Ochrolechiaceae. Aspilidea myrinii is neotypified, and lectotypes are designated for Aspicilia gibbosa, A. leprosescens and Lecanora gibbosula.

Molecular phylogeny and systematics of Polyblastia (Verrucariaceae, Eurotiomycetes) and allied genera

Phylogenetic relationships of the lichen genus Polyblastia and closely related taxa in the family Verrucariaceae (Verrucariales, Chaetothyriomycetidae) were studied. A total of 130 sets of sequences (nuLSU rDNA, nuITS rDNA and RPB1 region A-D), including 129 newly generated sequences, were analysed. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using a Bayesian approach based on two datasets. A first analysis of a larger, two-locus dataset (nuLSU and RPB1) for 128 members of the Verrucariaceae, confirmed the polyphyly of Polyblastia, Thelidium, Staurothele, and Verrucaria, as currently construed. The second analysis focused on 56 Polyblastia and allied taxa, but using an additional locus (nuITS rDNA) and two closely related outgroup taxa. The latter analysis revealed strongly supported groups, such as Polyblastia s. str., the Thelidium group (a mixture of Polyblastia, Thelidium, Staurothele and Verrucaria species). The genus Sporodictyon, which is here accepted, also accommodates Sporodictyon terrestre comb. nov. Morphological features traditionally used for characterizing Polyblastia, Thelidium, Staurothele and Verrucaria, such as spore septation and colour, occurrence of hymenial photobiont, involucrellum structure, and substrate preference, were found to be only partially consistent within the strongly supported clades, and thus are not always reliable features for characterizing natural groups.

Species of Chaenothecopsis and Mycocalicium (Caliciales) on Exudate

The taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of five species of Chaenothecopsis and three species of Mycocalicium growing on exudate of vascular plants are described. The species occur in both temperate and tropical areas of Eurasia, India, the Americas, and N

LICHENIZED AND NON-LICHENIZED CALICIOID FUNGI FROM NORTH AMERICA

taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of nineteen species in Jive calicioid genera from the United States and Canada are described, and keys are presented to the North American species of Chaenotheca, Chaenothecopsis, Phaeocalicium, Sclerophora, and Stenocy

Afrocantharellus gen. stat. nov. is part of a rich diversity of African Cantharellaceae

A new genus in the Cantharellaceae, Afrocantharellus, is recognized based on results from phylogenetic analyses of rDNA LSU and concatenated LSU/5.8-ITS2/ATP6 data. It was previously recognized as a subgenus, but comprehensive fieldwork and the acquisition of numerous sequences for previously neglected African Cantharellus species formed the basis for a reappraisal of generic and species delimitations. Afrocantharellus is characterized morphologically by the basidiomes having thick, distantly spaced diverging folds of variegated colour. In contrast to most of Cantharellus, Afrocantharellus mostly lacks clamp connections. Phylogenies of Cantharellus and Afrocantharellus based on LSU and a concatenated data set are provided, along with descriptions of and a key to the four species and one form of Afrocantharellus recognized. Six new combinations are made.

Molecular and morphological data place Blarneya in Tylophoron (Arthoniaceae)

Based on morphological, anatomical, chemical, ecological and molecular evidence, Blar- neya is synonymized here with Tylophoron. The molecular phylogeny derived from sequences obtained from sporodochia of Blarneya places this genus, described to accommodate an anamorphic lichen with white cushion-shaped sporodochia, within Tylophoron. This conclusion is further supported by the discovery of Tylophoron-type ascomata emerging directly from thalli with Blarneya-type sporodochia and producing identical hyaline conidia. In one specimen pycnidia were also observed. This represents a surprising variety of morphologically different conidiomata. A different anamorphic type was previously reported from Tylophoron, and this is confirmed here by molecular analysis for T. modera- tum: besides thalli with ascomata this species has anamorphic thalli with an irregularly delimited brown sporodochial felt and brown conidia. Ascomata are not known from these entirely anamorphic thalli, whereas they do occur infrequently in Tylophoron species with Blarneya-type sporodochia. A key to all currently accepted species of Tylophoron is provided. In addition to the corticolous Tylophoron hibernicum, confined to humid forests, two saxicolous species with Blarneya-type sporodochia are described here as new: T. galapagoense, known only from Galapagos, differs from T. hibernicum by a thicker, more compact, beige rather than white, more strongly C+ red thallus, growing below sheltered rock overhangs in dry forests; T. stalactiticum has a Cthallus with stipitate, white, C+ red sporodo- chia; the species is known only from a single locality in Tenerife, on a large slope with volcanic boulders.

Comments on Caliciales exsiccatae III

Remarques de taxonomie, chimie, ecologie et distribution geographique. 24 especes de Nouvelle-Zelande

Atla, a new genus in the Verrucariaceae (Verrucariales)

The new genus Atla forms a well-supported clade in a molecular phylogeny based on the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and LSU regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. The genus has a crustose thallus, a hamathecium at ...