Walter Obermayer

Corticolous Species of the Genus Rinodina (Lichenized Ascomycetes, Physciaceae) in Southern Africa

Abstract: Mayrhofer, H., Obermayer, W. & Wetschnig, W. 2014. Corticolous species of the genus Rinodina (lichenized Ascomycetes, Physciaceae) in southern Africa. — Herzogia 27: 1–12. Four corticolous species of Rinodina are recorded from southern Africa: Rinodina albocincta, R. australiensis, R. capensis and R. ficta. Rinodina boleana is regarded as a synonym of R. ficta. A key to the species is provided. Characters, distribution and habitats are discussed.

Molecular support for the recognition of the Mycoblastus fucatus group as the new genus Violella (Tephromelataceae, Lecanorales).

The crustose lichen genus Mycoblastus in the Northern Hemisphere includes eight recognized species sharing large, simple ascospores produced 1-2 per ascus in strongly pigmented biatorine apothecia. The monophyly of Mycoblastus and the relationship of its various species to Tephromelataceae have never been studied in detail. Data from ITS rDNA and the genes coding for translation elongation factor 1-α and DNA replication licensing factor mini-chromosome maintenance complex 7 support the distinctness of Mycoblastus s. str. from the core of the Tephromelataceae, but recover M. fucatus and an undescribed Asian species as strongly supported within the latter group. We propose accommodating these two species in a new genus, Violella, which is characterized by its brownish inner ascospore walls, Fucatus-violet hymenial pigment granules and secondary chemistry, and discuss the position of Violella relative to Calvitimela and Tephromela. We describe the new species Violella wangii T. Sprib. & Goffinet to accommodate a new species with roccellic acid from Bhutan, China, India and the Russian Far East. We also exclude Mycoblastus indicus Awasthi & Agarwal from the genus Mycoblastus and propose for it the new combination Malmidea indica (Awasthi & Agarwal) Hafellner & T. Sprib.

2-Hydroxyvirensic Acid, a New Depsidone from the Lichen Sulcaria sulcata

The new depsidone 2-hydroxyvirensic acid (4-formyl-2,3,8-trihydroxy-1,6,9-trimethyl-11-oxo-11H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]dioxepin-7-carboxylic acid) (6) has been isolated from a chemical race of the lichen Sulcaria sulcataand the structure (6) deduced from a combination of spectroscopic data.

NOTES ON ARTHRORHAPHIS AND ITS LICHENICOLOUS FUNGI IN GREENLAND

Three yellow colored Arthrorhaphis-taxa (Arthrorhaphis alpina, A. citrinella, and A. vacillans) are floristically treated for Greenland. A key and a distribution map are included. In addition, short descriptions are provided for these taxa as well as for three lichenicolous fungi on Arthrorhaphis Cercidospora soror, C. trypetheliza, and Merismatium decolorans, all of which are reported as new to Greenland. The taxa of the genus Arthrorhaphis in Europe and Greenland have previously been revised by Obermayer (1994). Ihlen (1998) treated the Norwegian taxa. Three species-Arthrorhaphis alpina, A. citrinella, and A. vacillans-all of them yellow-colored due to the occurrence of rhizocarpic acid, were recognized for Greenland. The last-mentioned species (syn. Bacidia anziana Lynge) has also been discussed by Lynge (1940) and Hansen and Poelt (1987). A map outlining the distribution of Arthrorhaphis vacillans and A. alpina in the American Arctic has recently been presented by Thomson (1998). With the intention of mapping the Greenland occurrences of these species in detail, we investigated the available material. The four non-yellow (rhizocarpic acid lacking) species of Arthrorhaphis, A. aeruginosa R. Sant. & Tensberg, A. grisea Th. Fr., A. muddii Obermayer, and A. olivacea R. Sant. & Tensberg have so far not been found in Greenland. MATERIAL AND METHODS About 200 specimens from the herbaria c and GZU (including representative material of duplicates from herbarium o) have been studied with Zeiss light microscopes. The cited material is kept in c and GZU. KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ARTHRORHAPHIS CONTAINING

Contributions to the Knowledge of the Lichen Flora of the Himalayas III. On Lecanora Somervellii Paulson (Lichenized Ascomycotina, Lecanoraceae)

The lichen Lecanora somervellii Paulson, first described from the northern slopes of Mt Everest in Tibet, has been collected at four other localities in the High Himalayas, at altitudes between 3750 and 5540 m. As the type material appears to be missing, a neotype is designated here. The species has an unusual lemon yellow colour due to the pigment calycin; this compound is in addition to usnic acid, which is widespread in Lecanora. Lecanora somervellii is otherwise very similar in essential characters to the complex including Lecanora concolor Ram. and L. orbicularis (Schaerer) Vainio, high alpine species well-known, for example, from the Alps. It is supposed, that L. somervellii is derived from this aggregate by the produc- tion of calycin (in addition to usnic acid), which acts as an additional protective pigment at these very high altitudes.

Miriquidica invadens, an obligate youth parasite on Sporastatia, with remarks and a key to species of the M. griseoatra group

The new species Miriquidica invadens Hafellner, Obermayer & Tretiach is described and reported from Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland, France and Spain. From a morphological point of view the species belongs to the M . griseoatra group, in which it is, so far, the only constantly lichenicolous taxon. Chemically it is characterized by the regular presence of miriquidic acid, stictic acid, and constictic acid (in variable amounts). It starts its ontogenetic life cycle as an obligate youth parasite on Sporastatia , usually S . polyspora . Morpho-anatomical treatments of other species of the Miriquidica griseoatra group occurring in Europe, based on the examination of type material, are also presented. According to the characters exhibited by the lectotype of Lecidea contigua var. griseoatra Flot., M . griseoatra (Flot.) Hertel & Rambold is the correct name for a montane species with subdivided areoles and immersed, laterally adnate apothecia with a pigmented hypothecium. Specimens exhibiting this set of characters were usually named M . obnubila auct. According to the characters observed on the lectotype of Lecidea ( Biatora ) obnubila Th. Fr. & Hellb., M . obnubila (Th. Fr. & Hellb.) Hertel & Rambold is a species with sessile apothecia with a hyaline hypothecium. Lecidea subplumbea Anzi does not constitute a heterotypic synonym of Lecidea griseoatra (Flot.) Schaer. but is the legitimate name at the species level for Miriquidica griseoatra sensu auct., and therefore M . subplumbea (Anzi) Cl. Roux is the correct name for that taxon. Lecidea inserena Nyl. is confirmed as a heterotypic synonym of Lecidea subplumbea Anzi. Lecidea plumbea Garov. ex A. Massal. is an earlier heterotypic synonym of Miriquidica limitata Hertel & Rambold and, therefore, the new combination M . plumbea (Garov. ex A. Massal.) Hafellner, Obermayer & Tretiach is introduced. Lectotypes are designated for Lecidea contigua var. griseoatra Flot., Lecidea inserena Nyl., Lecidea obnubila Th. Fr. & Hellb., Lecidea plumbea Garov. ex A. Massal., and Lecidea subplumbea Anzi. A key to the taxa of the M . griseoatra -group and other Miriquidica taxa with a grey thallus is provided.

The genus Menegazzia (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycetes) in the Tibetan region

Material of the genus Mellegazzia from the Tibetan region was revised. Four species were recognized, viz. two fertile (primary) species (M. neolropica ssp. rolllndicwpa, M. primaria) and two sorecliate (secondary) species (M. subsimils, M. lerebraw). Mellegazzia lIeolropica ssp. rOlundicClllx/ is reported for the first time from outside the Neotropics, and M. primaria is reported for the first time from outside Taiwan, from a single locality near Yulong Shan. Menegazziasubsimilis is new to Tibet. The most common species is M. lerebrala. Notes and illustrations of morphological variation, as well as a distribution map. are provided.

Morphological and chemical studies on Platismatia erosa (Parmeliaceae) from Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan

Abstract The occurrence of Platismatia erosa in Tibet and adjacent regions is reported. The shape of (hitherto rarely found) apothecia and pycnospores (the latter observed for the first time) are illustrated and compared with those of European material of P. glauca. TLC analyses of P. erosa samples revealed two substances, hitherto unknown in Platismatia, namely pannaric acid and jackinic acid, the latter also found in fruiting material of Platismatia glauca from Europe. Two chemotypes of P. erosa are recognized: chemotype I with caperatic acid as main fatty acid, and chemotype II (found only once) with jackinic acid as main aliphatic substance.

Arthonia parietinaria – A common but frequently misunderstood lichenicolous fungus on species of the Xanthoria parietina-group

Arthonia parietinaria is described as new to science. Host of the type and at the same time the only confirmed host species is the foliose macrolichen Xanthoria parietina. Sequence data of nucLSU rRNA genes reveal a close relationship to Arthonia molendoi. A. parietinaria is recorded for many countries in Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa.

Management of a lichen Herbarium

Lichen herbaria store preserved specimens of lichenized (and often lichenicolous) fungi. The main tasks of lichen (and all other) herbaria are as follows: Taxonomic studies must be at least in part based upon herbarium specimens, of which the so called type-specimens are the most important. It is on these that descriptions of new taxa are based, and they serve in perpetuity as the reference for these names. For a new species to be validly published, the herbarium in which the type specimens are lodged must be specified. Locations, contents, acronyms etc. of the world’s public herbaria can be found in “Index Herbariorum“, compiled by Holmgren et al. 1990. A searchable internet-version is available at: http://www.nybg.org/bsci/ih/.