Lucyna Śliwa

Towards a revised generic classification of lecanoroid lichens (Lecanoraceae, Ascomycota) based on molecular, morphological and chemical evidence

The phylogenetic relationship of lecanoroid lichens is studied using two data sets: 1) a 2-locus data set including 251 OTUs representing 150 species, and 2) a 6-locus data set with 82 OTUs representing 53 species. The genus Lecanora as currently circumscribed is shown to be highly polyphyletic and several genera, including Adelolecia, Arctopeltis, Bryonora, Carbonea, Frutidella, Lecidella, Miriquidica, Palicella, Protoparmeliopsis, Pyrrhospora, and Rhizoplaca are nested within Lecanora sensu lato. A core group of Lecanora is supported as monophyletic and includes species of the L. carpinea, L. rupicola, and L. subcarnea groups, and a core group of the L. subfusca group. Three monophyletic clades that are well supported in our analyses and well characterized by phenotypical characters are accepted here: 1) Myriolecis to accommodate the Lecanora dispersa group and Arctopeltis; 2) Protoparmeliopsis for the L. muralis group; and 3) Rhizoplaca is emended to include three placodioid taxa previously classified in Lecanora (L. novomexicana. L. opiniconensis, L. phaedrophthalma), whereas R. aspidophora and R. peltata are excluded from Rhizoplaca. The latter is transferred into Protoparmeliopsis. Lecidella is strongly supported as a monophyletic group. Our studies indicate the presence of additional clades of species currently placed in Lecanora sensu lato that warrant taxonomic recognition but additional data will be necessary before the circumscription of these entities is fully understood. 37 new combinations are proposed into the genera Myriolecis (30), Protoparmeliopsis (2), and Rhizoplaca (5).

Lecanora microloba , a new saxicolous species from Poland

A new lichenized fungus, Lecanora microloba Śliwa & Flakus, is described from the subnival belt of the Polish Tatra Mountains. It is characterized by small, saxicolous thalli with minutely lobulate marginal areoles and mostly broadly sessile and constantly pale coloured apothecia that are grouped predominantly in the centre of the thallus. Anatomically the species is distinguished by coarse granules in the epithecium which are distinctly bright in polarized light. The species contains gyrophoric and usnic acids, zeorin and an unknown terpene as secondary metabolites.

The Lecanora dispersa group ( Lecanoraceae ) in Argentina

A preliminary study of the Lecanora dispersa group in Argentina is presented. Two species (L. dispersa and L. hagenii) have been previously recorded and their known distribution is extended, one species (L. semipallida) is a new record from Argentina, and five taxa (L. flowersiana, L. persimilis L. torrida, L. wetmorei and L. zosterae var. zosterae) are reported for the first time from South America. Three species (L. albescens, L. crenulata and L. populicola) previously recorded for Argentina have not been confirmed as occurring in this country. Lecanora aff. fugiens is also treated and compared to the related species. The morphology, anatomy, secondary metabolites, distribution and ecology of the nine studied taxa are described and discussed, and a key to the taxa is included.