Zdeněk Palice

A molecular phylogeny of the Lecanora varia group, including a new species from western North America

The phylogeny of the Lecanora varia group is inferred from ITS sequences using Bayesian and ML phylogenetic analysis methods. According to our data, usnic acid-containing, corticolous Lecanora species do not form a monophyletic group but occur in three major clades together with other groups of Lecanora and Protoparmeliopsis. The new combination Lecanora filamentosa (Stirt.) Elix & Palice is proposed. The new species Lecanora schizochromatica is described from northwestern North America. It produces atranorin as a major substance and is closely related to the morphologically and chemically similar L. filamentosa. The American Biatora pullula Tuck. is synonymised with Lecanora anopta Nyl., which is hereby reported for continental North America for the first time. The phylogenetic relationships between the major clades of Lecanora are still largely unresolved and require more intensive taxon and character sampling.

Diagnostics for a troubled backbone: testing topological hypotheses of trapelioid lichenized fungi in a large-scale phylogeny of Ostropomycetidae (Lecanoromycetes)

Trapelioid fungi constitute a widespread group of mostly crust-forming lichen mycobionts that are key to understanding the early evolutionary splits in the Ostropomycetidae, the second-most species-rich subclass of lichenized Ascomycota. The uncertain phylogenetic resolution of the approximately 170 species referred to this group contributes to a poorly resolved backbone for the entire subclass. Based on a data set including 657 newly generated sequences from four ribosomal and four protein-coding gene loci, we tested a series of a priori and new evolutionary hypotheses regarding the relationships of trapelioid clades within Ostropomycetidae. We found strong support for a monophyletic group of nine core trapelioid genera but no statistical support to reject the long-standing hypothesis that trapelioid genera are sister to Baeomycetaceae or Hymeneliaceae. However, we can reject a sister group relationship to Ostropales with high confidence. Our data also shed light on several long-standing questions, recovering Anamylopsoraceae nested within Baeomycetaceae, elucidating two major monophyletic groups within trapelioids (recognized here as Trapeliaceae and Xylographaceae), and rejecting the monophyly of the genus Rimularia. We transfer eleven species of the latter genus to Lambiella and describe the genus Parainoa to accommodate a previously misunderstood species of Trapeliopsis. Past phylogenetic studies in Ostropomycetidae have invoked “divergence order” for drawing taxonomic conclusions on higher level taxa. Our data show that if backbone support is lacking, contrasting solutions may be recovered with different or added data. We accordingly urge caution in concluding evolutionary relationships from unresolved phylogenies.

Caloplaca subalpina and C. thracopontica, two new saxicolous species from the Caloplaca cerina group (Teloschistales)

Abstract: Caloplaca subalpina Vondra´k, S{oun & Palice and C. thracopontica Vondra´kS the latter grows on maritime cliffs ofthe Black Sea and is conspicuous by the lobules and pustules which are usually present on its thallusand by its apothecia which are typically large and abundant. The placing of the two species in the C. cerina group was confirmed by molecular studies using nrDNA ITS sequences. The chemosyn-dromes of both new species correspond to chemosyndrome A, which is in accordance with theirposition in the C. cerina group. A key to the saxicolous species of the C. cerina group is provided. Key words: Black Sea, Europe, lichenized fungi, nrDNA ITS, Teloschistaceae Introduction The concept of the Caloplaca cerina groupgroup has varied with different authors. Forexample, Clauzade & Roux (1985) andmore recently Wetmore (2007) have inter-preted it in a broad sense to include specieswith zeorine apothecia, which are not relatedto

Molecular data confirm that Omphalina foliacea is a lichen-forming basidiomycete

We examined the phylogenetic position of Omphalina foliacea and its putative closest relative, the lichen-forming basidiomycete Lichenomphalia lobata. Both species are restricted to specific habitats in the high andine regions of tropical America. We generated nuclear ITS and LSU rDNA sequences of two collections of each species and analysed the data together with sequences of omphalinoid basidiomycetes retrieved from GenBank using a Bayesian and a maximum parsimony approach. Our analyses show that both, O. foliacea and L. lobata are lichenized basidiomycetes. L. lohata is related to other species of the genus Lichenomphalia, whereas O. foliacea is not closely related to other Omphalina or Lichenomphalia species, but probably belongs in the hymenochaetoid clade. The analysis of a nuclear LSU data set of a broader sampling of hymenochaetoid basidiomycetes supported the placement of O. foliacea in this clade, but did not reveal any close relative.

Lichens of the Virgin Forest Reserve Žofínský Prales (Czech Republic) and Surrounding Woodlands

Abstract Malíček, J. & Palice, Z. 2013. Lichens of the virgin forest reserve Žofínský prales (Czech Republic) and surrounding woodlands. — Herzogia 26: 253–292. Žofín virgin forest in the Novohradské hory Mts is one of the most valuable woodland localities in the Czech Republic. This old reserve covering 102 ha is dominated by beeches, spruces, and silver firs. We have explored the nature reserve (its virgin forest including the protection zone) as well as managed forests and avenues in the surrounding area. Žofínský prales nature reserve is currently the area with the highest diversity of epiphytic and epixylic lichens in the Czech Republic. In total, 312 lichenized, 14 lichen-allied and 11 lichenicolous fungi species were recorded in a broad area of Zofin woodland region. 267 species altogether were recorded from the reserve, including three recently published taxa not confirmed by us. Fifteen lichenized fungi (Arthonia excipienda, Biatora ligni-mollis, Candelariella xanthostigmoides, Cliostomum leprosum, Fellhanera gyrophorica, Fuscidea pusilla, Lecania croatica, Lecanora thysanophora, Lecidella subviridis, Micarea parva, Mycobilimbia pilularis, Opegrapha trochodes, Rhaphidicyrtis trichosporella, Rinodina degeliana and R. excrescens) and two lichen-allied fungi often associated with algae (Kirschsteiniothelia aethiops and Peridiothelia filiguncta) are reported for the first time from the Czech Republic. Several suboceanic species, and many rare and critically endangered lichens regarded sometimes as old-growth indicator species, have been recorded. Macrolichens are relatively rare in the reserve in comparison to similar habitats in the neighbouring Šumava Mts. The reserve serves as an important source of diaspores for surrounding woodlands. Several rare lichens appear to have spread from the virgin forest into the surrounding “old” forests (which are more or less extensively managed). Fortysix interesting, rare or poorly known lichenized and lichen-allied taxa are discussed in more detail, sometimes amended with additional records from other regions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Five species are new for Slovakia (Agonimia flabelliformis, Biatora albohyalina, B. mendax, Lecidella subviridis and Rinodina degeliana).

Puttea, gen. nov., erected for the enigmatic lichen Lecidea margaritella

Abstract A new genus Puttea S. Stenroos & Huhtinen is described for the lichen species formerly known as Fellhanera margaritella (Hulting) Hafellner. The study was based on phylogenetic analyses of the mtSSU as well as on anatomical and ecological investigations. Puttea is characterized by its inconspicuous thallus, gelatinized exipulum of radiating hyphae, hemiamyloid asci of the Psora-type arising from croziers, non-septate spores and a crystalline layer covering the hymenium and excipulum. The currently monospecific genus grows almost exclusively on the liverwort Ptilidium pulcherrimum and has so far been reported from Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland. The taxonomic position of Puttea could not be reliably assessed but in the present analyses it appears, together with Lecidea hypopta, in a clade comprising the Sphaerophoraceae, Psoraceae, Ramalinaceae and Pilocarpaceae.

New Lichen Records and Rediscoveries from the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Abstract: Malíček, J., Palice, Z. & Vondrák, J. 2014. New lichen records and rediscoveries from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. — Herzogia 27: 257–284. Despite over two centuries of fairly intensive study, the lichen flora of Central European countries is still incompletely known. Based on revision of herbarium material and new field work, we report thirty-four species from the Czech Republic for the first time, and twenty-two from Slovakia. Caloplaca brachyspora, Micarea confusa and Sclerophora amabilis are new to Central Europe. Caloplaca alaskensis is reported outside the Arctic for the first time. Other noteworthy records worth of mention are e.g. Arthonia incarnata, Bacidina etayana, Biatora pontica, Bryoria furcellata, Candelariella lutella, C. viae-lactae, Metamelanea caesiella, Peccania cernohorskyi, Rhizoplaca melanophthalma, Thelocarpon imperceptum, Verrucaria ulmi and Xanthoria papillifera. Eight species (mainly from lowland forests) have not been found over 70 or more years from the territory of the Czech Republic or Slovakia. Four species were reported in the past but were omitted from the current national checklists. Other species new to the explored countries are Bacidia pycnidiata, Bacidina brandii, B. saxenii, B. sulphurella, Buellia arborea, Caloplaca arcis, C. dichroa, C. tominii, C. xerica, Candelaria pacifica, Candelariella plumbea, Catillaria fungoides, Cladonia novochlorophaea, Collolechia caesia, Dendrographa decolorans, Fellhanera viridisorediata, Lecania sordida, Lecidea sphaerella, L. strasseri, Lecidella albida, Leptogium intermedium, Micarea globulosella, M. nowakii, Normandina acroglypta, Peltigera extenuata, Reichlingia leopoldii, Rhizocarpon timdalii, Rhizoplaca subdiscrepans, Rinodina capensis, Schismatomma umbrinum, Sclerococcum griseisporodochium, Thelocarpon citrum, Verrucaria beltraminiana, V. breussii, V. fuscovelutina, V. phloeophila, and Xylographa pallens. ITS rDNA was used to confirm the identity of Caloplaca alaskensis and C. arcis. The lichen diversity of Central European countries and their phytogeographical connections are briefly discussed.

Additions to the diversity of rare or overlooked lichens and lichenicolous fungi in Ukrainian Carpathians

Наводяться дані щодо 103 рідкісних, маловідомих та спорадично поширених видів лишайників та ліхенофільних грибів з Українських Карпат. Вперше для України виявлено 29 видів ліхенізованих, три види ліхенофільних та один альгофільний гриб: Absconditella sphagnorum, Adelolecia kolaensis, Arthonia muscigena, Arthrorhaphis aeruginosa, Biatora albohyalina, Brodoa atrofusca, Bryodina rhypariza, Calicium pinastri, Caloplaca fuscorufa, C. isidiigera, Carbonea invadens, Catillaria croatica, Cryptodiscus gloeocapsa, Cystocoleus ebeneus, Epigloea medioincrassata, Gyalidea fritzei, Lecidea pullata, Lecidella patavina, Melaspilea granitophila, Micarea turfosa, Monodictys epilepraria, Opegrapha corticola, Phaeographis inusta, Polyblastia schaereriana, Protothelenella sphinctrinoides, Psilolechia clavulifera, Pycnora leucococca, Rinodina orculata, Sclerococcum griseisporodochium, Thelocarpon robustum auct. brit., non Eitner, Trapeliopsis glaucolepidea and Vezdaea stipitata. Усі гербарні зразки під назвою Brodoa intestiniformis, які були зібрані з території Українських Карпат відносятьсяся до B. atrofusca. Повідомлення щодо зростання Chaenotheca cinerea на території Українських Карпат є недостовірними. Наводяться перші реальні місцезнаходження Caloplaca conversa, Chaenotheca cinerea та Lecidea sphaerella для України. Multiclavula mucida та Schaereria fuscocinerea у зведеннях щодо лишайників Східних Карпат та України відсутні, однак повідомлення про ці види знайдені в українських та чеських джерелах. Pertusaria ophthalmiza був невірно наведений для України під назвою P. multipuncta і тому повинен бути виключеним із чекліста лишайників України. Phaeographis dendritica та Biatora meiocarpoides також виключаються із списку українських лишайників, тому що перший був некоректно наведений з Українських Карпат, а другий є синонімом до Micarea lithinella.

Two Superficially Similar Lichen Crusts, Gregorella humida and Moelleropsis nebulosa, and a Description of the New Lichenicolous Fungus Llimoniella gregorellae

Abstract: Vondrák, J., Palice, Z., Mareš, J. & Kocourková, J. 2013. Two superficially similar lichen crusts, Gregorella humida and Moelleropsis nebulosa, and a description of the new lichenicolous fungus Llimoniella gregorellae. — Herzogia 26: 31–48. Although some characters distinguishing Gregorella humida and Moelleropsis nebulosa were previously known, sterile specimens and specimens with poorly-developed apothecia are often difficult to separate. We provide morphological and anatomical characters that will allow reliable determination of such difficult collections. The most important character for determination of sterile thalli is the shape of the mycobiont cells in the thallus granules. A key summarizes the diagnostic characters of G. humida and M. nebulosa (and some similar species). The Nostoc photobiont in G. humida is morphologically similar to Nostoc from M. nebulosa but the two are not closely related within the genus. The ecology of both lichen species is similar, but there are differences in the preference for differently acidic substrates and in co-occurring bryophytes and lichens. In Central Europe, M. nebulosa was frequently collected in the first half of the 20th century, but there are few recent records, whereas G. humida was only occasionally collected before the last two decades, but is now regularly collected. Moelleropsis nebulosa rarely hosts lichenicolous fungi, though we have seen Lichenochora mediterranae (previously known only on Fuscopannaria) and Sarcopyrenia sp. on it. Gregorella humida rarely hosts a single lichenicolous fungus, described here as Llimoniella gregorellae, spec. nova, which causes obvious harm to host thalli; ITS sequences indicate that it belongs in Leotiomycetes.

A new species of Trichothelium and new records of Porinaceae from Ecuador

Trichothelium longisetum sp. nov. (Porinaceae) is described from a rainforest in north-eastern Ecuador. It has a non-radiating photobiont, prominent, black perithecia, each with numerous, long-acute to acicular, black setae, and elongate-bacilliform, 9–15-septate ascospores. Remarkably, this lichen grows on wood rather than on the living leaves or bark of trees or shrubs. Four species of Porina are also reported for the first time from Ecuador.