Richard C. Harris

The family Trypetheliaceae (Loculoascomycetes: lichenized Melanommatales) in Amazonian Brazil.

The family Trypetheliaceae is redefined including a key to the genera. Exiliseptum gen. nov. is described. Keys to the species are provided for the six genera which occur in Amazonian Brazil along with brief comments on the three other genera. Thirty-five species are included, tem new species described and ten new combinations proposed.

Resolving the genus Graphina Müll. Arg. in North America: new species, new combinations, and treatments for Acanthothecis, Carbacanthographis, and Diorygma

As part of our ongoing studies of the Graphidaceae in North America, we resolve the status of all taxa traditionally assigned to the genus Graphina that have been reported from the continent north of Mexico. Treatments for the North American members of Acanthothecis, Carbacanthographis, and Diorygma are presented because several species of Graphina have been reassigned to these genera, and our studies of accumulated herbarium materials revealed the existence of several previously unreported and unrecognized species. The following new combinations are made: Acanthothecis leucopepla, A. mosquitensis, A. peplophora, and A. poitaeoides. Carbacanthographis muriformis is described as new to science based on material from Florida. The following taxa are reported from North America for the first time: Acanthothecis poitaeoides, Diorygma junghuhnii, D. reniforme.

A Review of the Lichens of the Dare Regional Biodiversity Hotspot in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain of North Carolina, Eastern North America

ABSTRACT  The results of a large-scale biodiversity inventory of lichens (including lichenicolous and allied fungi) in the Dare Regional Biodiversity Hotspot (DRBH) are presented. The DRBH is a region within the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain (MACP) of eastern North America that was recently delineated based on its unique and diverse lichen communities relative to other areas of the Atlantic Coast. Drawing on 4,952 newly generated voucher specimens from 49 sites, patterns of biodiversity and biogeography are presented and discussed within the context of both the DRBH and the broader MACP. Relationships between natural communities, vegetation, and lichen communities are discussed, as are threats to the lichen biota. A series of conservation actions are presented together with avenues for future study. In addition, supplementary resources are provided in the form of: (a) a checklist of DRBH lichens, lichenicolous fungi, and allied fungi; (b) keys to DRBH lichens and lichenicolous and allied fungi; and (c) formal descriptions of the following species new to science that were discovered during the inventory: Albemarlea pamlicoensis gen. et. sp. nov., Arthonia agelastica sp. nov. (on Lecanora louisianae B. de Lesd.), Arthonia hodgesii sp. nov. (on Graphis lineola), Arthonia stevensoniana sp. nov. (on Haematomma accolens), Lichenochora haematommatum sp. nov. (on Haematomma persoonii), Megalaria alligatorensis sp. nov., Minutoexcipula miniatoexcipula sp. nov. (on Pertusaria epixantha), Trichosphaerella buckii sp. nov. (on Punctelia rudecta).

Lecanora thysanophora, a Common Leprose Lichen in Eastern North America

Abstract Lecanora thysanophora R. C. Harris, n. sp. is described. It is a common lichen in eastern North America, most often found as a sterile corticolous crust, but apothecia are not uncommon when the species grows along streams. Besides being recognizable in the field, it is distinctive chemically, containing usnic acid, zeorin, often porphyrilic acid, and several species-specific terpenoids.

Xyleborus nigricans, a second species for the previously monospecific genus newly found in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain of North America

Abstract A second species of the genus Xyleborus, X. nigricans, is described as new to science from the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain of eastern North America where it appears to be endemic. The species is illustrated and compared to the allopatric X. sporodochifer, which occurs in the Ozark Highlands and Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America. The northern temperate and Appalachian floristic elements within the Atlantic Coastal Plain are also discussed.

Studies in Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi—No. 18: Resolution of Three Names Introduced by Degelius and Magnusson Based on Material from the Great Smoky Mountains

ABSTRACT Arthonia biseptata is shown to be a species of Mycoporum, likely narrowly endemic to high elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains and the new combination M. biseptatum is proposed. Lecidea degelii is shown to apply to the sorediate morphotype of Porpidia albocaerulescens. The results of molecular phylogenetic analyses of nrITS and mtSSU sequence data of sorediate and esorediate populations of P. albocaerulescens are presented. These analyses recovered the sorediate and esorediate morophotypes together in a single clade as strongly supported monophyletic entities. As a result the new combination Porpidia degelii is proposed, the species illustrated, and the North American distribution of P. degelii with respect to P. albocaerulescens is discussed. These data refute the notion that “species pairs” do not exist in Porpidia. Lecidea subtilis is placed in synonymy with Pyrrhospora varians.

Buellia sharpiana (Physciaceae, Lichenized Ascomycetes), Another New Species from the Great Smoky Mountains of Eastern North America

ABSTRACT   Buellia sharpiana is described as new to science based on material from a single locality at the summit of Mt. LeConte in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the southern Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America. The species is characterized by its ascospore size, thallus morphology, medullary I reaction, and the production of xanthones. Comparison is made to two morphologically similar species, B. ocellata (Flörke ex Flot.) Körb. and B. jugorum (Arnold) Arnold.

Heterodermia neglecta (Physciaceae), a new lichen species from eastern North America

Abstract A new species, Heterodermia neglecta, is described to accommodate material from eastern North America and eastern Asia previously referred to Heterodermia propagulifera.

The faces of Bacidia schweinitzii: molecular and morphological data reveal three new species including a widespread sorediate morph

Abstract Bacidia schweinitzii is a common crustose lichen that is widespread in eastern North America. It is comprised of three distinct morphotypes differing in apothecial pigmentation. Here we show that molecular data from the mtSSU region affirms the distinctiveness of these morphotypes, prompting the recognition of three species: B. schweinitzii s.str., B. ekmaniana sp. nov. and B. purpurans sp. nov. We also show that a common sorediate crustose lichen, sympatric with B. schweinitzii, represents a monophyletic lineage whose relationship with B. schweinitzii s.str. could not be resolved with certainty using analyses of ITS and mtSSU sequence data. We recognize this sorediate lineage as a distinct species, B. sorediata sp. nov. All four taxa are described, illustrated and mapped.

The New York Botanical Garden Lichen Herbarium: A unique resource for fungal biodiversity research and education

The history and development of the lichen research program and herbarium at The New York Botanical Garden are reviewed.