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Four species of the genus Sticta are described as new from Bolivia, based on morphological examination and phylogenetic analysis of the fungal ITS barcoding marker. Additionally, two species are reported as new to Bolivia (their identification confirmed by molecular data) and one previously reported species is confirmed by molecular data for the first time. Detailed morphological and anatomical descriptions are provided for all new species. Two of the new species, S. isidiolobulata Ossowska, B. Moncada, Lücking & Kukwa and S. madidiensis Ossowska, B. Moncada, Lücking & Kukwa belong to clade I, as defined in previous studies. In contrast, S. montepunkuensis Ossowska, B. Moncada, Lücking & Kukwa and S. macrolobata Ossowska, B. Moncada, Lücking & Kukwa, also described here as new to science, belong to clade III. Sticta isidiolobulata has an irregular to suborbicular thallus of medium size, with isidia developing into spathulate lobules, cyanobacterial photobiont and apothecia with entire to weakly-crenate margins. The large irregular thallus of the cyanobacteria-associated S. macrolobata has broad lobes, apothecia with verrucous to tomentose margins and cyphellae with raised margins, whereas S. madidiensis has a medium-sized, palmate to irregular thallus with a stipe, but without vegetative propagules and apothecia. Sticta montepunkuensis has large and irregular thalli with green algae as photobiont, apothecia with crenate to verrucous margins and urceolate cyphellae with a wide pore and a scabrid basal membrane. Two species, S. beauvoisii Delise and S. riparia Merc.-Díaz are reported as new to Bolivia (the latter also as new to South America) and belong to clade III. Sticta tomentosa (Sw.) Ach., species confirmed from Bolivia by molecular data, belongs to clade II. Sticta beauvoisii is characterised by a smooth yellowish-brown upper surface with darker apices and abundant, marginal isidia and a brown lower surface with golden-chocolate brown primary tomentum and sparse, golden-brown rhizines. Sticta riparia has a strongly branched thallus, with undulate lobes and abundant, marginal, palmate, grey to dark brown phyllidia and greyish-brown lower surface with the primary tomentum absent towards the margins. Sticta tomentosa has palmate, bluish thalli with white cilia and abundant, submarginal apothecia and creamy-white lower surface with a sparse, white primary tomentum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foliicolous lichen Gallaicolichen pacificus exhibits unique goniocystangia-like structures named peltidiangia and peltidia. Its taxonomic classification within the Ascomycota has been unclear due to the absence of ascomata and lack of molecular data. Here we clarify the phylogenetic affinities of Gallaicolichen pacificus by analyzing mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal RNA (mtSSU) sequences obtained from specimens collected in New Caledonia. Ascomata and ascospores of G. pacificus , previously unknown, are described and illustrated for the first time. The results from the molecular and morphological analyses clearly indicate that Gallaicolichen pacificus belongs to the Porinaceae and is closely related to Porina guianensis. This is a remarkable extension of the already known, wide morphological diversity of thalli and diaspores produced within this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Wetmoreana was studied using quantitative integrative taxonomy methods to resolve the genus delimitation and explore its taxonomy diversity at the species level. As a result, the genus Fulgogasparrea is synonymized with Wetmoreana, and the latter includes 15 formally described species, one subspecies, and three further, thus far undescribed species: W. appressa, W. awasthii comb. nov., W. bahiensis sp. nov., W. brachyloba comb. nov., W. brouardii, W. chapadensis comb. nov., W. circumlobata sp. nov., W. decipioides, W. intensa comb. nov., W. ochraceofulva comb. nov., W. rubra sp. nov., W. sliwae sp. nov., W. sliwae ssp. subparviloba subsp. nov., W. subnitida comb. nov., W. texana, and W. variegata sp. nov. Eleven of 19 examined taxa are newly placed within this genus or confirmed to belong to it. Two species, W. awasthii and W. intensa, are transferred to Wetmoreana without additional analysis but based on previous studies. The W. brouardii and W. ochraceofulva species complexes are discussed in detail. Additionally, Caloplaca muelleri and C. rubina var. evolutior are transferred to Squamulea, and the latter is elevated to the species rank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A first integrative survey of the genus Usnea in the southern Philippines, taking into account morphological, anatomical, chemical and molecular characters, resulted in the recognition of 20 taxa, including three species new to science: Usnea angulata Ach., U. baileyi (Stirt.) Zahlbr., U. bismolliuscula Zahlbr., U. brasiliensis (Zahlbr.) Motyka, U. confusa Asah., U. croceorubescens Stirt., U. dasaea Stirt., U. himalayana C. Bab., U. krogiana P. Clerc, U. longissima Ach., U. nidifica Taylor, U. norsticornuta A. Gerlach & P. Clerc sp. nov. (characterized by a moderately thick cortex and by the presence of norstictic acid), U. paleograndisora A. Gerlach & P. Clerc sp. nov. (characterized by an orange subcortical pigmentation in the medulla, with enlarging soralia and a moderately thick and shiny cortex), U. pectinata Taylor, U. pygmoidea (Asahina) Y. Ohmura, U. rubicunda Stirt., U. rubrotincta (Stirt.) Zahlbr., U. spinulifera (Vain.) Motyka, U. subscabrosa Motyka and U. yoshihitoi P. Clerc & A. Gerlach sp. nov. (characterized by a lax medulla with non-conglutinated hyphae). Usnea krogiana is a new record for Asia; Usnea brasiliensis , Usnea confusa and U. croceorubescens are new records for the Philippines. This is the first phylogenetic study to include DNA sequences of Usnea from the Philippines. Molecular data from the ITS rDNA (76 newly generated sequences) are presented for most taxa except for U. himalayana , U. longissima and U. subscabrosa. At least six further taxa remain unidentified, awaiting the collection of additional specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We sequenced over 200 recent specimens of Lecanora s.lat. from Brazil, delimiting 28 species in our material. Many seem to represent undescribed species, some of which being morphologically and chemically similar to each other or to already described species. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, including our specimens and GenBank data. We describe nine new species. The purpose of the paper is to illustrate the diversity of the genus in Brazil, not to focus on segregate genera. However, we found that all Vainionora species cluster together and these will be treated separately. Other Lecanora species with dark hypothecium clustered in several different clades. Species with the morphology of Lecanora caesiorubella, in which currently several subspecies with different chemistry and distribution are recognized, fall apart in different, distantly related clades, so they cannot be regarded as subspecies but should be recognized at species level. A key is given for the Lecanora species from Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the status of two New Zealand endemic morphodemes in the genus Sticta , currently treated as two separate taxa, Sticta filix and Sticta lacera. Both are green-algal lichens with a distinct stipe that grow in forested habitats and are suitable indicators of the indigenous vegetation health in forest ecosystems in New Zealand. They exhibit different morphologies and substrate ecologies: S. filix forms rather robust thalli, often on exposed trunks of phorophytes, with erect stems distinctly emerging from the substrate, whereas S. lacera is a more delicate lichen growing near the base of trees, usually among bryophyte mats or sheltered in the exposed portions of the phorophyte root-plate, with a prostrate, branched, stolon-like stem barely emerging from the substrate. Throughout their range, both taxa grow sympatrically and often in close proximity (syntopically). Despite the differences, ITS barcoding does not support the two morphodemes as separate species. In this study we assessed two possible explanations: (1) S. filix and S. lacera are discrete phenotypes of a single species, caused by developmental switching triggered by a discrete environmental variable, the propagules developing either on bare substrate or between bryophytes; and (2) the two morphodemes represent separate lineages, but ITS does not provide sufficient resolution to reflect this. We performed a quantitative analysis of morphological and ecological parameters, based on vouchered herbarium collections and field observations on iNaturalist NZ (https://inaturalist.nz), to assess the level of discreteness of the growth forms and to test for a correlation with the presence of a bryophyte mat. We further took advantage of an existing molecular data set from a target capture approach, comprised of 205 protein markers. This data set was used to establish a framework of percentage identities between pairs of the same and of different species among lobarioid Peltigeraceae and then to test whether the S. filix / lacera pairing fell closer to a within-species or a between-species pairing. The morphometric analysis of herbarium material resolved S. filix and S. lacera as two discrete morphs with little overlap, supported by numerous observations on iNaturalist NZ. However, whereas herbarium material suggested a significant association of the lacera morph with bryophyte mats, no such pattern was evident from field images on iNaturalist NZ, in which both morphs frequently associated with bryophyte mats. This highlights the limitations of herbarium material to correctly assess substrate ecology, whereas iNaturalist NZ postings had issues with correct identifications, given that especially S. lacera is easily confused with Pseudocyphellaria multifida. Based on the target capture data, the percentage identity of the S. filix / lacera pairing (99.43%) was significantly higher than that of all 12 between-species pairings (93.20–98.01%); it was at the same time lower than that of all within-species pairings (99.63–99.99%) but significantly so only in comparison with five out of the eight within-species pairings. The target capture approach is thus inconclusive, but the combination of all data suggests that S. filix and S. lacera are not discrete morphodemes of a single species but represent two separate lineages which emerged recently and hence cannot be resolved using the ITS barcoding marker or even a deeper phylogenomic approach based on protein-coding markers. We propose transplantation experiments and the application of RADseq to further assess this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six species of Sticta are described as new to science on the basis of material from Bolivia and supported by phylogenetic analysis of the fungal ITS barcoding marker. The species were resolved in all three of the clades (I, II, III) widespread and common in the Neotropics, as defined in an earlier study on the genus. Comparison with material from neighbouring countries (i.e. Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) suggests that these new species may be potentially endemic to the Bolivian Yungas ecoregion. For each species, a detailed morphological and anatomical description is given. Sticta amboroensis Ossowska, Kukwa, B. Moncada & Lücking is a medium-sized green-algal species with laminal to submarginal apothecia with hirsute margins and with light to dark brown lower tomentum. Sticta aymara Ossowska, Kukwa, B. Moncada, Flakus, Rodriguez-Flakus & Lücking is a comparatively small cyanobacterial taxon with Nostoc as photo-biont, laminal, richly branched, aggregate isidia and a golden to chocolate-brown lower tomentum. The medium-sized, cyanobacterial S. bicellulata Ossowska, Kukwa, B. Moncada & Lücking has cyanobacterial photobiont, bicellular ascospores, apothecia with white to golden-brown hairs on the margins, K+ violet apothecial margin (ring around disc) and epihymenium and a white to dark brown lower tomentum. In contrast, the green-algal species, S. carrascoensis Ossowska, Kukwa, B. Moncada & Lücking is characterised by its large size, apothecia with dark brown hairs on the margins and a yellow medulla. The cyanobacterial S. catharinae Ossowska, B. Moncada, Kukwa, Flakus, Rodriguez-Flakus & Lücking forms stipitate thalli with Nostoc as photobiont, abundant, laminal to submarginal apothecia and a golden-brown lower tomentum. Finally, the cyanobacterial S. pseudoimpressula Ossowska, Kukwa, B. Moncada & Lücking produces laminal apothecia with an orange-yellow line of pruina along the margins which reacts K+ carmine-red. In addition to the six new Bolivian taxa, the cyanobacterial S. narinioana B. Moncada, Ossowska & Lücking is described as new from Colombia and it represents the closely-related sister species of the Bolivian S. aymara; it differs from the latter largely in the marginal instead of laminal isidia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Dendriscosticta (Ascomycota: Peltigerales) encompasses several distinctive lichen‐forming fungal species restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. Most are flagship species of old‐growth forests with good air quality. A global phylogeny of the genus based on multilocus sequence data (ITS, RPB1, EF‐1α, MCM7), model‐based phylogenetic methods, and morphological and chemical assessments, reveals a high level of cryptic speciation often associated with restricted geographical distribution and/or chemical characters. Using sequence‐based species delimitation approaches, we circumscribe two main clades referred to as the D. wrightii clade, with five unequivocal species, including D. gelida sp. nov., and the D. praetextata clade, with eight putative species, including D. phyllidiata sp. nov. The absence of recently collected material of D. hookeri comb. nov. from the type locality unfortunately prevents assignment of this epithet to one of the five supported lineages sharing this morphotype. Three new combinations are proposed: D. hookeri, D. insinuans comb. nov. and D. yatabeana comb. nov. Epitypes are designated for D. wrightii and D. yatabeana. Species diversity within the genus increased from four to nine. Our morphological assessment confirmed that Sticta and Dendriscosticta can be readily distinguished by the presence of excipular algae whereas the structure of the lower surface pores is not a reliable diagnostic feature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the new lichenized fungus Lasioloma antillarum Lücking, Högnabba & Sipman from the Netherlands Antilles. The new species is characterized by a corticolous growth habit, apothecia with shortly tomentose margins, and rather small (35–50 × 12–16 µm), muriform ascospores in numbers of 2(–4) per ascus. The material had originally been identified as Calopadia phyllogena (Müll. Arg.) Vězda, with associated sequence data, but in phylogenetic analyses consistently fell outside the latter genus. Its revised identification as a species of Lasioloma is consistent with its phylogenetic position and underlines the necessity of posterior annotations in public sequence repositories, in order to correct previous identifications. Citation: Lücking R., Högnabba F. & Sipman H. J. M. 2021: Lasioloma antillarum (Ascomycota: Pilocarpaceae), a new lichenized fungus from the Antilles, and the importance of posterior annotations of sequence data in public repositories. – Willdenowia 51: 83–89. Version of record first published online on 23 March 2021 ahead of inclusion in April 2021 issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sticta is a subcosmopolitan genus most diverse in the tropics. Traditionally, many taxa were considered to be widespread and morphologically variable, following broadly circumscribed morphodemes. Among these is the S. weigelii morphodeme, characterized by a cyanobacterial photobiont and rather narrow, flabellate to truncate or tapering lobes producing predominantly marginal isidia. Molecular phylogenetic analyses focusing on the ITS fungal barcoding marker revealed that this morphodeme represents several species, some of which are only distantly related to each other. Here we describe two species and one subspecies of this morphodeme as new to science, based on analysis of 400 specimens, for 344 of which we generated ITS barcoding data. The two new species, S. andina and S. scabrosa, are broadly distributed in the Neotropics and also found in Hawaii, where the latter is represented by the new subspecies, S. scabrosa subsp. hawaiiensis; in the case of S. andina, the species is also found in the Azores. Sticta andina exhibits high phenotypic variation and reticulate genetic diversification, whereas the phenotypically rather uniform S. scabrosa contains two main haplotypes, one restricted to Hawaii. Sticta andina occurs in well-preserved montane to andine forests and paramos, whereas the two subspecies of S. scabrosa are found in tropical lowland to lower montane forests, tolerating disturbance and extending into anthropogenic habitats. Citation: Moncada B., Mercado-Díaz J. A., Smith C. W., Bungartz F., Sérusiaux E., Lumbsch H. T. & Lücking R. 2021: Two new common, previously unrecognized species in the Sticta weigelii morphodeme (Ascomycota: Peltigeraceae). – Willdenowia 51: 35–45. Version of record first published online on 24 February 2021 ahead of inclusion in April 2021 issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the poorly investigated family Teloschistaceae in South America, mostly from Bolivia and Peru, were examined using molecular and morphological data here for the first time. In recent phylogenetic reclassifications of Teloschistaceae, South American representatives were poorly represented but shown to belong to subfamilies Teloschistoideae and Xanthorioideae. In this study, we expanded the sampling of South American taxa and investigated mainly the lobate, sublobate, and squamulose members of Caloplaca s.l., using morphological characters and a molecular phylogeny based on a combined three-locus data set (one mitochondrial and two nuclear loci). Building upon new phylogenies at the family and subfamily levels (Teloschistoideae), we propose here three new genera: Andina, Aridoplaca, and Cinnabaria, with the type species Andina citrinoides, Aridoplaca peltata, and Cinnabaria boliviana. We also propose to reduce Tarasginia to synonymy with Sirenophila and Tayloriellina to synonymy with Villophora and introduce three new combinations: Dufourea ottolangei, D. volkmarwirthii, and Villophora erythrosticta. Scutaria andina is reported as new to Bolivia. A critical revision of the subfamily Brownlielloideae confirmed recent findings that it is an artifactual taxon based on a "chimeric" data set, with the type genus being part of Teloschistoideae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomy of the genus Sticta in Hawaii is reassessed, based on a separately published molecular phylogeny using the fungal barcoding marker ITS. Based on Magnusson and Zahlbruckner's treatment from 1943 and Magnusson's catalogue from 1955, seven species of Sticta and three infraspecific taxa had been reported from the archipelago, all widespread except the putative endemic S. plumbicolor. Here we provide a taxonomic treatment of 13 taxa, 12 species and one subspecies, distinguished in a previous phylogenetic analysis: S. acyphellata, S. andina, S. antoniana, S. emmanueliana, S. flynnii, S. fuliginosa, S. hawaiiensis, S. limbata, S. plumbicolor, S. scabrosa subsp. hawaiiensis, S. smithii, S. tomentosa and S. waikamoi. All taxa are described, discussed and illustrated and a dichotomous key is presented. The implications of revised species taxonomies for studies in other fields such as ecology, ecophysiology, biogeography, biochemistry, and applications such as environmental monitoring are discussed. We also propose a protocol to use Sticta lichens to monitor the environmental health of Hawaiian ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional taxonomic studies provide only a limited understanding of species richness within a group. Their usefulness for assessing species diversity could also be limited as many lack sufficient sampling and/or fail to integrate different data types for assessing species boundaries. To explore the challenges and limitations of estimating species richness in lichens, we employed an integrative taxonomic approach to elucidate diversification patterns of the genus Sticta (Peltigeraceae) in Puerto Rico. Specimens were collected throughout the island, and a six‐locus dataset was generated to infer phylogenetic relationships among Puerto Rican Sticta and their continental counterparts. Phylogenetic analysis was combined with species delimitation methods and analysis of morpho‐anatomical characters to assess diversity patterns and clarify species‐level taxonomy. We found that Sticta is represented by 16 species in Puerto Rico and that at least 11 (69%) of them are potentially endemic to the island. We describe eight of these in this work: S. borinquensis sp. nov., S. corymbosa sp. nov., S. densiphyllidiata sp. nov., S. guilartensis sp. nov., S. harrisii sp. nov., S. parvilobata sp. nov., S. riparia sp. nov., and S. tainorum sp. nov. These species do not cluster in a monophyletic assemblage but are scattered over the broader Sticta phylogeny, indicating at least eight separate dispersal events. Putative endemic species were found to have close allies occurring in South America. Careful re‐examination of material revealed phenotypical characters that separate most species, suggesting low levels of cryptic diversity. We highlight that integrating molecular methods and other sources of information in species discovery along with comprehensive sampling efforts can greatly enhance our knowledge about diversity patterns in poorly studied groups and regions. Furthermore, species and ecosystems in the Caribbean are being threatened by substantial human‐driven changes (e.g., deforestation, climate change). Consequences of these impacts include reduction in already restricted habitats and potential extinction. We argue that studies analyzing species diversity within a phylogenetic framework could better inform conservation efforts aimed at addressing these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocellularia (Graphidaceae) is a genus of crustose lichens comprising c.200 species, four known from Australia and New Zealand. Based on recent collections from northern North Island, we describe a fifth species Ocellularia jacinda-arderniae, which is a member of the O. bicuspidata complex. This complex is characterised by peculiar, appendiculate ascospores and a psoromic acid chemistry. Two further undescribed species of this complex, one from North Island and one from South Island, are discussed but left undescribed pending further study. Based on our findings, we provide a revised assessment of New Zealand Ocellularia. Of the four species included in the most recent Flora of New Zealand Lichens from 2007, three do not belong in that genus and the identification of the fourth is incorrect; instead, the following four taxa are recognised: O. jacinda-arderniae, O. aff. dolichotata, O. aff. bicuspidata (a) (South Island; OTA 58820) and O. aff. bicuspidata (b) (North Island; UNITEC 10818). This leads to the somewhat unusual situation that a presumably known genus biota in New Zealand is entirely replaced by names of a new species and three provisional identifications. The following new combination is introduced: Schizotrema concentricum (Stirt.) Lücking comb. nov. In addition, the name Thelotrema manosporum (C. Knight.) Hellb. is given as the correct name for the New Zealand taxon previously identified as T. monosporum Nyl., and the name T. monosporoides Nyl. [syn.: O. monosporoides (Nyl.) Hale] is established as a taxonomic synonym of T. manosporum, leaving two New Zealand species of Thelotrema with large, brown ascospores, namely T. manosporum and T. saxatile C. Knight. The situation of the genus Ocellularia highlights the need for detailed taxonomic revision of understudied lichen groups in New Zealand, especially as these and related genera in the Graphidaceae are excellent indicators of forest health and can be used for monitoring purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The former family Lobariaceae, now included in Peltigeraceae as subfamily Lobarioideae, has undergone substantial changes in its generic classification in recent years, based on phylogenetic inferences highlighting the polyphyly of the speciose genera Lobaria, Pseudocyphellaria and Sticta. Here we introduce the new genus Emmanuelia, named in honor of Prof. Emmanuël Sérusiaux for his extensive work on the Peltigerales. Emmanuelia currently comprises twelve species. It is superficially similar to the lobarioid genus Ricasolia, but differs by its apothecia, rimmed by overarching and often crenulate to lobulate margins, with the parathecium (proper excipulum) and the amphithecium (thalline excipulum formed by the thallus cortex) apically separated and of a different structure. Also, ascospore dimensions and shape differ between the two genera, with the ascospores of Emmanuelia being longer and narrower. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using DNA nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the small subunit of mitochondrial ribosomal DNA (mtSSU) confirm that Emmanuelia belongs to the Lobaria s.lat. clade and forms a monophyletic group sister to the lineage consisting of Dendriscosticta, Lobariella and Yoshimuriella. None of the available generic names of lobarioid lichens can be applied to this group, and consequently a new name is proposed for this new genus, which is typified with E. ravenelii comb. nov. Eleven other species are transferred to Emmanuelia: E. americana comb. nov., E. conformis comb. nov., E. cuprea comb. nov., E. elaeodes comb. nov., E. erosa comb. nov., E. excisa comb. nov., E. lobulifera comb. nov., E. ornata comb. nov., E. patinifera comb. nov., E. pseudolivacea comb. nov. and E. tenuis comb. nov. The genus is represented in North America by three species, including E. lobulifera, which is resurrected from synonymy with E. (Lobaria) tenuis, a South American species, and E. ornata, whose populations were previously treated under E. (Lobaria) ravenelii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Together with Graphidaceae and Trypetheliaceae, Pyrenulaceae forms part of the "big three", the three most speciose, chiefly tropical microlichen families. Microlichens are the most diverse component of tropical lichen communities, with numerous species still to be discovered. Following previous analyses of Graphidaceae and Trypetheliaceae, here we present a global species richness estimate for Pyrenulaceae, using a recently devised method based on a global grid system. We refined this approach by using an iterative adjustment to estimate mean predicted grid range per species from a grid frequency histogram. We also adjusted a previously implemented randomization approach to estimate error margins. Our results showed a global estimate for Pyrenulaceae of (395–)441(–453) species world-wide, 307 of which are currently known, thus an overall predicted increase of over 40%. This includes 416 known and predicted tropical and 25 known, exclusively temperate species, the latter assumed to remain unchanged. While the robustness of the global prediction depends on accurately setting grid sampling scores, individual predicted grid richness varies according to additional factors such as evolutionary history. In addition to undescribed species contribution to predicted richness, we hypothesize that species delimitation studies in presumably widespread taxa will reveal refined species concepts with narrower ranges, thus further increasing estimated global richness. The comparison of predicted richness values for the three families Graphidaceae, Trypetheliaceae and Pyrenulaceae with regard to their evolutionary ages highlights this rather robust method as a promising tool to circumvent sampling and knowledge bias when assessing speciation and diversification patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic analysis of some foliicolous lichens collected in Hainan Province, China, revealed a new lineage morphologically similar to Porina but phylogenetically related to Strigulaceae (Dothideomycetes), differing from the latter in ascus type. The monospecific genus Tenuitholiascus gen. nov. is introduced for the single species, T. porinoides sp. nov., which is placed in the new, monogeneric family Tenuitholiascaceae, sister to Strigulaceae in Strigulales. The new taxon closely resembles the genus Porina in external morphology and ascospore type, as well as the thin-walled asci and unbranched paraphyses. Yet, it is entirely unrelated to the latter, which belongs in class Lecanoromycetes in the order Gyalectales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New collections are reported of the monospecific genus Polypyrenula , an apparently extinct and doubtfully lichenized fungus, typically classified in the Pyrenulaceae. Anatomical studies reveal that it is facultatively lichenized. The structure of its hamathecium suggests affinities with Dothideomycetes rather than Eurotiomycetes. Molecular analysis using nuLSU and mtSSU markers demonstrates for the first time its inclusion in Trypetheliaceae , outside the core genera as part of the early diverging lineages in this family. The known distribution of Polypyrenula is extended to Mexico and South America, new information on its phorophyte associations is provided, and the name Polypyrenula sexlocularis is reinstated as the correct name for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed a high diversity of unrecognized species of Lecanora s.l. in Brazil, with many near-cryptic species that require a combined analysis of morphology, secondary metabolites and molecular sequences for accurate delimitation. In this study, a new species of Lecanora is described which is morphologically close to L. achroa and L. helva. The new species was collected in the Guadalupe environmental protection area, located in the municipality of Barra de Sirinhaém, a mangrove region in the state of Pernambuco in the Brazilian Northeast. Lecanora parachroa sp. nov. agrees with L. achroa in morphological and anatomical features but differs in secondary chemistry, lacking usnic acid and 2′-O-methylperlatolic acid. Molecular data using the ITS barcoding marker suggest that commonly identified species in this group, including L. helva and L. leprosa, are collective taxa, each including several lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic studies revealed a high level of diversity within the lichen-forming fungus so far identified with the name Maronina multifera (Protoparmelioideae, Parmeliaceae), currently accommodated in the genus Neoprotoparmelia. Here, six new species of Neoprotoparmelia are described as new to science based on morphological and molecular data, mostly from northeastern Brazil. The new species are: Neoprotoparmelia nigra (Brazil), with 32-spored asci, lacking alectoronic acid, and with pale, K-negative apothecial base, and blackish apothecial disc; N. paramultifera (Brazil), with 64-spored asci, alectoronic acid, pale, K-negative apothecial base, and purplish brown apothecial disc and thick apothecial margins; N. pseudomultifera (Brazil), with 32-spored asci, lacking alectoronic acid, and with pale, K-negative apothecial base and brown apothecial disc (no reddish or purplish tinge); N. purpurea (Brazil), with 32-spored asci, lacking alectoronic acid, and with pigmented, K+ purplish-violet apothecial base and purplish brown apothecial disc; N. rubrofusca (Colombia), with 32-spored asci, lacking alectoronic acid, and with pigmented, K+ purplish-violet apothecial base, and red-brown apothecial disc and thin, evanescent margins; and N. sexdecimspora (Brazil), with 16-spored asci, alectoronic acid, pale, K-negative apothecial base, and purplish brown apothecial disc. The name N. multifera is restricted to a species from the northern Andes with 64-spored asci, alectoronic acid, pale, K-negative apothecial base, and purplish brown apothecial disc with thin margins, while the new combination N. camptotheca is adopted for a species in eastern Brazil with 32-spored asci, alectoronic acid, pale, K-negative apothecial base, purplish brown apothecial disc, and smooth margin (all other species in the complex having crenulate margins). The following two new combinations are also proposed: Neoprotoparmelia saxicola and N. rogersii (syn.: N. capensis V.J.Rico, A.Crespo & Garima Singh). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide an updated survey for Sri Lanka of species of Graphis sensu Staiger, recently divided into Graphis s. str. and Allographa , including brief descriptions and a key to all 124 species currently known. Six new species are described: Allographa bambusicola Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a bambusicolous Allographa with entire labia, a laterally carbonized excipulum, 80–100 × 15–17 µm large, muriform ascospores and a rather thick, irregularly verrucose lateral thalline margin of the lirellae; A. weerasooriyana Weerakoon, Arachchige & Lücking, a corticolous Allographa resembling A. rustica Kremp. in overall anatomy and chemistry, but with a verrucose thalline margin of the lirellae and labia not distinctly raised above the thalline margin; Graphis flosculifera Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a corticolous Graphis resembling G. insulana but differing in the unique disposition of the lirellae and the slightly more elongate ascospores; G. rajapakshana Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a corticolous Graphis resembling G. desquamescens , including in ascospore size, but with lirellae with a distinct lateral thalline margin; G. rimosothallina Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a corticolous Graphis with a thick, uneven, rimose thallus and Fissurina -like lirellae, a completely carbonized excipulum and transversely 7-septate ascospores, 32–37 × 8–10 µm; and G. thunsinhalayensis Weerakoon, Arachchige & Lücking, a corticolous Graphis resembling G. subalbostriata but with smaller ascospores and lacking white lines between the striae of the labia. We also validate the name G. verrucoserpens Lücking. A total of 106 species are reported here for the first time from Sri Lanka. A biogeographical comparison with two other well-sampled countries (Costa Rica and Thailand) revealed a significantly higher similarity in species composition with Costa Rica than between Thailand and Costa Rica, suggesting a potential signature of the 'biotic ferry' hypothesis, that is the migration of lineages from Gondwana (partly corresponding to the modern Neotropics) via the north-eastwards drifting Indian subcontinent and subsequent interchange with Laurasia (partly corresponding to the modern eastern Paleotropics). However, the evolutionary timeline of the clades involved does not support this hypothesis and suggests an alternative explanation of geologically more recent mid- to long-distance dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An account of thelotremoid species of Graphidaceae in India is provided, which includes 124 species in 24 genera. Ocellularia and Thelotrema are the most diverse genera represented by 34 and 18 species, respectively. Type specimens were re-examined and additional samples studied morphologically and chemically. One new species, Ocellularia upretii S. Joshi, Divakar, Lumbsch & Lücking, is described; it is characterized by a greyish green thallus, porinoid ascomata, brown proper exciple, simple, carbonized columella, clear hymenium, transversely septate, amyloid ascospores of 110–125×15–20 µm and an absence of secondary metabolites. Asteristion australianum , Astrochapsa mirabilis , Cruentotrema cruentatum , C. kurandense , Ocellularia violacea and Thelotrema adjectum are reported as new to the country, and Astrochapsa mirabilis , Melanotrema submicrosporoides , Ocellularia annuloelevata , O. subkeralensis and Rhabdodiscus verrucoisidiatus are proposed as new combinations. Diploschistes awasthii , Ocellularia gupeti , O. leucina, O. mahabalei , Thelotrema confertum and T. verrucorugosum are synonymized under D. scruposus , O. neomasonhalei , O. urceolaris , O. thelotremoides , Chapsa leprocarpoides and T. rugatulum , respectively, with Ocellularia canariana and O. verrucomarginata reduced to synonymy with O. allosporoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The eco-evolutionary history of insular Caribbean Sticta was explored. • Species assemblages date back to the early Miocene and show strong biogeographic links to South America. • Colonization of the islands did not increase diversification rates. • Environmental variation most strongly explains taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover between island-level communities. Phylogenetic approaches to macroevolution have provided unique insight into evolutionary relationships, ancestral ranges, and diversification patterns for many taxa. Similar frameworks have also been developed to assess how environmental and/or spatial variables shape species diversity and distribution patterns at different spatial/temporal scales, but studies implementing these are still scarce for many groups, including lichens. Here, we combine phylogeny-based ancestral range reconstruction and diversification analysis with community phylogenetics to reconstruct evolutionary origins and assess patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic relatedness between island communities of the lichenized fungal genus Sticta in the Caribbean. Sampling was carried out in the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico) and Lesser Antilles (Dominica, Guadeloupe, and Martinique). Data for six molecular loci were obtained for 64 candidate Caribbean species and used to perform both macroevolutionary phylogenetics, which also included worldwide taxa, and phylobetadiversity analyses, which emphasized island-level communities. Our work uncovered high levels of island endemism (∼59%) in Caribbean Sticta. We estimate initial colonization of the region occurred about 19 Mya from a South American ancestor. Reverse migration events by Caribbean lineages to South America were also inferred. We found no evidence for increased diversification rates associated with range expansion into the Caribbean. Taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover between island-level communities was most strongly correlated with environmental variation rather than with geographic distance. We observed less dissimilarity among communities from the Dominican Republic and Jamaica than between these islands and the Lesser Antilles/Puerto Rico. High levels of hidden diversity and endemism in Caribbean Sticta reaffirm that islands are crucial for the maintenance of global biodiversity of lichenized fungi. Altogether, our findings suggest that strong evolutionary links exist between Caribbean and South American biotas but at regional scales, species assemblages exhibit complex taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships that are determined by local environments and shared evolutionary histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a phylogenetic revision of the Sticta filix morphodeme in New Zealand. This nonmonophyletic group of early diverging clades in the genus Sticta is characterized by a stalked thallus with a green primary photobiont and the frequent formation of a dendriscocauloid cyanomorph. Traditionally, three species have been distinguished in New Zealand: S. filix (Sw.) Nyl., S. lacera (Hook. f. & Taylor)Müll. Arg. and S. latifrons A. Rich., with two cyanomorphs separated under the names Dendriscocaulon dendriothamnodes Dughi ex D. J. Galloway (traditionally associated with S. latifrons) and D. dendroides (Nyl.) R. Sant. ex H. Magn. (traditionally associated with S. filix). Sticta lacera was not included in the present study due to the lack of authentic material (all specimens originally identified under that name and sequenced clustered with S. filix); S. filix was confirmed as a distinct species whereas S. latifrons s. lat. was shown to represent two unrelated species, S. latifrons s. str. and the reinstated S. menziesii Hook. f. & Taylor. The cyanomorphs of S. filix and S. latifrons are not conspecific with the types of the names D. dendriothamnodes and D. dendroides, respectively; the D. dendriothamnodes cyanomorph belongs to the Australian taxon Sticta stipitata C. Knight ex F. Wilson, which is not present in New Zealand, whereas the D. dendroides cyanomorph corresponds to a previously unrecognized species with unknown chloromorph, recombined here as Sticta dendroides (Nyl.) Moncada, Lücking & de Lange. Thus, instead of three species (S. filix, S. lacera, S. latifrons) with their corresponding cyanomorphs, five species are now distinguished in this guild in New Zealand: S. dendroides (cyanomorph only), S. filix (chloro- and cyanomorph), S. lacera (chloromorph only), S. latifrons (chloro- and cyanomorph) and S. menziesii (chloro- and cyanomorph). A key is presented for identification of the chloromorphs and the dendriscocauloid cyanomorphs of all species. Semi-quantitative analysis suggests that species in this guild are good indicators of intact forest ecosystems in New Zealand and that the two newly recognized species, S. dendroides and S. menziesii, appear to perform particularly well in this respect. The use of lichens as bioindicators of environmental health is not yet established inNew Zealand and so, based on our results, we make the case to develop this approach more thoroughly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Five new species of Graphidaceae are described from Thailand. Molecular evidence and phenotypical characters support their independent status from related and similar species. Glaucotrema thailandicum Naksuwankul, Lücking & Lumbsch is unique within the genus in having submuriform ascospores. Ocellularia klinhomii Naksuwankul, Lücking & Lumbsch is characterized by having a whitish gray, rimose thallus with ascomata in verrucae and surrounded by a black ring and lack of secondary metabolites. Ocellularia phatamensis Naksuwankul, Parnmen & Lumbsch has a grayish, thick and rimose thallus, differing from O. klinhomii in lacking a dark apothecial rim and having ascomata that are not immersed in verrucae. Ocellularia thailandica Naksuwankul, Kraichak & Lumbsch differs from O. albocincta in lacking a columella. Ocellularia rotundifumosa Naksuwankul, Lücking & Lumbsch differs from O. fumosa in having ascospores with rounded ends. An epitype for O. krathingensis is selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revisionary synopsis is presented for the family Trypetheliaceae, based on a separately published phylogenetic analysis of a large number of species, morpho-anatomical and chemical study of extensive material, and revision of numerous type specimens. A total of 418 species is formally accepted in this synopsis, distributed among 15 genera as follows: Aptrootia (3), Architrypethelium (7), Astrothelium (242), Bathelium (16), Bogoriella (29), Constrictolumina (9), Dictyomeridium (7), Distothelia (3), Marcelaria (3), Nigrovothelium (2), Novomicrothelia (1), Polymeridium (50), Pseudopyrenula (20), Trypethelium (16), and Viridothelium (10). All accepted genera, including new genera described separately in this issue, are keyed out and briefly described and discussed, and keys are provided for all accepted species within each genus. Entries with full synonymy and brief descriptions, and in part also discussions, are provided for all accepted species, except those newly described elsewhere in this issue, which are cross-referenced in the corresponding keys. The description of the newly defined genera takes into account phylogeny in combination with morpho-anatomical features with the result that they are mostly recognizable by a combination of thallus, ascoma and ascospore features. Most species previously assigned to the genera Astrothelium, Campylothelium, Cryptothelium, and Trypethelium, based on a schematic concept of ascoma morphology and ascospore septation, are now included in a single genus, Astrothelium, with highly variable ascoma morphology and ascospore septation but invariably with astrothelioid ascospores (at least when young), that is diamond-shaped lumina, and a well-developed, corticate, usually olive-green thallus that often covers the ascomata. While the genera Aptrootia (large, brown, muriform ascospores), Architrypethelium (large, mostly 3-septate ascospores), and Pseudopyrenula (ecorticate, white thalli and astrothelioid ascospores) are maintained, Trypethelium is redefined to include species with raised, pseudostromatic ascomata and multiseptate ascospores with thin septa. The sister group of Trypethelium is the genus Marcelaria, with brightly coloured pseudostromata and muriform ascospores. Bathelium is now limited to species with strongly raised, fully exposed pseudostromata and septate to muriform ascospores with thin septa. Several genera are recognized for more basal lineages with mostly ecorticate, white thalli and solitary, exposed ascomata previously assigned to Arthopyrenia, Mycomicrothelia and Polymeridium, viz. Bogoriella, Constrictolumina, Dictyomeridium, and Novomicrothelia. In addition, separate genera are accepted for the Trypethelium tropicum (Nigrovothelium) and T. virens (Viridothelium) groups. In addition, a refined species concept resulting from phylogenetic studies is employed which pays particular attention to morphological features of the thallus and ascomata. Of a total of 526 names checked, 107 remain synonyms of accepted names and a further eight are newly excluded from the family. Based on these redispositions, the following 146 new combinations are proposed, including reinstatement of numerous names previously subsumed into synonymy: Architrypethelium columbianum (Nyl.) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. grande (Kremp.) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., Astrothelium aeneum (Eschw.) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. alboverrucum (Makhija & Patw.) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. amazonum (R. C. Harris) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. ambiguum (Malme) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. andamanicum (Makhija & Patw.) Aptroot comb. nov., A. annulare (Spreng.) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. aurantiacum (Makhija & Patw) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. auratum (R. C. Harris) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. aureomaculatum (Vain.) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. basilicum (Kremp.) Aptroot & Lücking comb. nov., A. bicolor (Taylor) ... [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Four new species from Cuba are described in the genus Ocellularia, emphasizing the importance of the Caribbean for the diversification of lichen fungi and the level of unrecognized species richness in Ocellularia. Three of the new species belong in the O. bahiana group: O. coronata Lücking & Pérez-Ortega, differing from O. bahiana by the ridged to folded thallus, vertically ridged apothecia, and complex columella largely covering the disc; O. fuscospora Lücking & Pérez-Ortega, differing from O. urceolaris in the immersed to erumpent, columellate apothecia; and O. radiata Lücking, differing from O. bahiana in the complex, radiating columella filling the disc. In contrast, Ocellularia nigririmis Lücking & Pérez-Ortega is a species of the O. papillata morphodeme with immersed apothecia with a small, black-rimmed pore filled by a greyish black columella, and small ascospores. We also clarify the taxonomy and nomenclature of columellate taxa in the O. bahiana group and provide a key to all thelotremoid Graphidaceae with small, brown, (sub-)muriform ascospores. The new combination Ocellularia lunensis (Nagarkar & Hale) Lücking is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on collections focusing on Graphidaceae made in 2012 at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) in Singapore, seven new species are described: Astrochapsa sipmanii, differing from A. astroidea in the olive-brown thallus and thick and coarse apothecial pruina; Fissurina duplomarginata, differing from F. insidiosa by the double margin of the lirellae and the more greenish, rough thallus; Graphis bukittimaensis, differing from G. phaeospora in the erumpent lirellae with lateral thalline margin and the consistently 1-spored asci; G. singaporensis, differing from G. novopalmicola in the much smaller ascospores and in the immersed, densely branched lirellae with thin lateral thalline margin; Ocellularia subudupiensis, differing from O. udupiensis in the presence of three unknown secondary substances and in the comparatively rough thallus surface; O. gueidaniana, characterized by small, transversely septate, hyaline ascospores, prominent, carbonized but ecolumellate apothecia, and two unknown chemical substances resembling metabolites in the stictic acid chemosyndrome; and O. rivasplatana, differing from O. exigua in the larger, broad-pored apothecia with black-rimmed margin and filled with a black-topped columella. Nineteen species are recognized as new records for Singapore. The substantial diversity of Graphidaceae in this reserve suggests that many more taxa are awaiting discovery, even in such a highly urbanized location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the phylogenetic position of Trypetheliaceae has been the subject of recent molecular studies, the relationships within this family have been little studied. Here we construct a detailed genus-level phylogeny of the family. We confirm previous morphology-based findings suggesting that a substantial proportion of genera are not monophyletic, and that an overemphasis has been placed on certain character state combinations which do not strictly reflect phylogenetic relationships. Specifically, patterns of ascospore septation, ostiole orientation and type of ascomatal aggregation are evolutionarily labile, and of limited utility for the delimitation of genera as currently circumscribed. We show that species from a number of genera including Astrothelium, Bathelium, Cryptothelium, Laurera and Trypethelium together form a strongly supported group, referred to here as the 'Astrothelium" clade. Species from Aptrootia, Architrypethelium, Campylothelium, Marcelaria (L . purpurina and L. cumingii groups), Pseudopyrenula and species from the Trypethelium eluteriae group fall outside of the ' Astrothelium" clade and each form monophyletic groups. In contrast, species from Arthopyrenia, Mycomicrothelia and Polymeridium fall outside of the "Astrothelium'' clade, and do not form monophyletic groups. The data presented here validate earlier morphology-based findings suggesting generic delimitations are in need of revision, and provides a first step towards identifying the utility of individual characters and identifying which characters and character state combinations may be useful for future classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Belonia and Pachyphiale were recently shown to be nested within Gyalecta. Here, new combinations and names are introduced for species earlier classified in Belonia: Gyalecta calcicola (Walt. Watson) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. herculina (Rehm) Baloch, Lumbsch & Wedin comb. nov., G. incarnata (Th. Fr. & Graewe) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. lumbrispora (Etayo) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. lyngei Baloch & Lücking nom. nov. (for Belonia arctica Lynge), G. mediterranea (Nav.-Ros. & Llimona) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. nidarosiensis (Kindt) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. pellucida (Coppins & Malcolm) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. russula (Körb. ex Nyl.) Baloch, Lumbsch & Wedin comb. nov., G. uncinata (P. M. McCarthy & Kantvilas) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., and G. vezdana (Malcolm & Coppins) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov.; and for species earlier placed in Pachyphiale: Gyalecta arbuti (Bagl.) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. gyalizella (Nyl.) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., G. himalayensis (Vězda & Poelt) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov., and G. ophiospora (Bagl.) Baloch & Lücking comb. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We employed a molecular phylogenetic approach using five markers (ITS, nuSSU, nuLSU, TEF1-α, and RPB2) to assess potential cryptic speciation in foliicolous members of Strigula s.lat. (Strigulaceae), including the recently segregated genera Phylloporis, Puiggariella, Raciborskiella, Racoplaca, and Serusiauxiella, from tropical areas in Asia, with selected materials from the Neotropics as reference. On the basis of combined molecular and phenotypic datasets, two new species of Racoplaca and 10 new species of Strigula s.str. are described: Racoplaca macrospora sp. nov., R. maculatoides sp. nov., Strigula guangdongensis sp. nov., S. intermedia sp. nov., S. laevis sp. nov., S. microcarpa sp. nov., S. pseudoantillarum sp. nov., S. pseudosubtilissima sp. nov., S. pycnoradians sp. nov., S. sinoconcreta sp. nov., S. stenoloba sp. nov., and S. subtilissimoides sp. nov. In addition, we propose the new combination Phylloporis palmae comb. nov. (≡ =Manaustrum palmae) and we validate the earlier combination Racoplaca melanobapha comb. nov. (≡ Verrucaria melanobapha; Strigula melanobapha). Our data clearly indicate a considerable degree of cryptic diversification in foliicolous representatives of Strigula s.lat., particularly in the presumably widespread taxa Strigula antillarum, S. concreta, S. nitidula, and S. smaragdula. Given that these phylogenetic revisions are thus far limited to few regions, we predict that our findings only represent the proverbial tip of the iceberg in this group of lichenized fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generic classification of Lobariaceae based on a three-gene phylogeny of mtSSU, nuLSU and ITS data, with special reference to the genus Lobariella, is reassessed. Twelve well-supported clades are recognized within Lobariaceae, which correlate with morpho-chemical and ecological features and are suggested to represent distinct generic lineages within the family. Lobaria s. lat. forms at least six lineages: Lobaria s. str. (type L. pulmonaria), the Pseudocyphellaria anomala group, for which the genus Anomalobaria is introduced (type A. anomala), Lobarina (type L. scrobiculata), Ricasolia (type R. amplissima; syn.: Dendriscocaulon), the Sticta wrightii group, for which the genus Dendriscosticta is introduced (type D. wrightii), the Lobaria peltigera group, for which the genus Yoshimuriella is introduced (type Y. fendleri), and Lobariella (type L. crenulata; syn: Durietzia nom. illeg.). Pseudocyphellaria s. lat. comprises four lineages, each of which having genus-level names available: Crocodia (type C. aurata), Parmostictina (type P. hirsuta), Podostictina (type P. endochrysoides), and Pseudocyphellaria (type P. crocata). The Pseudocyphellaria anomala group (Anomalobaria) comes out sister to Lobaria s. str., whereas Sticta s. lat. forms two unrelated lineages, Sticta s. str. (type S. sylvatica) and the S. wrightii group (Dendriscosticta), which is closely related to Lobariella and the Lobaria peltigera group (Yoshimuriella). Although these twelve clades can be organized into three larger clades that largely correspond to the traditional genera Lobaria, Pseudocyphellaria, and Sticta, the clade support for Pseudocyphellaria s. lat., as well as the distribution of morpho-chemical characters over the topology, does not favour such a conclusion. In particular, the most relevant characters traditionally used to separate these genera, pseudocyphellae and/or cyphellae, are found in at least two of the three larger clades (some species of Sticta having pseudocyphellae rather than cyphellae). The strongly supported Lobaria s. lat. clade includes species with and without cyphellae and pseudocyphellae (both on the lower side), which defies the traditional classification using these characters. Based on an expanded ITS phylogeny, Lobariella itself is emended to include 26 species, and a key is presented to all species. The following three genera and 19 species are described as new: Anomalobaria B. Moncada & Lücking gen. nov., Dendriscosticta B. Moncada & Lücking gen. nov., Yoshimuriella B. Moncada & Lücking gen. nov., Lobariella angustata B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. auriculata B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. ecorticata B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. flavomedullosa B. Moncada, Betancourt-Macuase & Lücking sp. nov., L. isidiata B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. nashii B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. olivascens B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. pallidocrenulata B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. papillifera B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. parmelioides B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. peltata B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. pseudocrenulata B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. reticulata B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. rugulosa B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. soredians B. Moncada, Betancourt-Macuase & Lücking sp. nov., L. spathulifera B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. stenroosiae B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., L. subcorallophora B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov., and L. subcrenulata B. Moncada & Lücking sp. nov. Further, the following 15 new combinations are proposed: Anomalobaria anomala (Brodo & Ahti) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Pseudocyphellaria anomala Brodo & Ahti], A. anthraspis (Ach.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Sticta anthraspis Ach.; Pseudocyphellaria anthraspis (Ach.) H. Magn.], Dendriscosticta platyphylla (Trevis.) B. Moncada & ... [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The new species Sticta viviana A. Suárez & Lücking is described from Colombian paramos. It superficially resembles S. fuliginosa s. str. but differs by the small lobes with a shiny surface, the strongly branched, corymbose isidia, the dark lower tomentum, the smaller, usually sessile and urceolate cyphellae with one papilla-like outgrowth per cell of the basal membrane, and the K+ orange-yellow medulla. In contrast, Sticta fuliginosa s. str., as represented by the type material, a sequenced topotype, and specimens from North America and Colombia falling into the same clade, is defined by an uneven lobe surface, simple to branched but not corymbose isidia, a pale lower tomentum, larger, immersed to erumpent cyphellae, with each cell of the basal membrane having 2–4 papillae, and a K− medulla. The new species is not closely related to S. fuliginosa s. str. but falls within a clade of several, as yet undescribed, species with S. fuliginosa gross morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, an extended molecular phylogeny was generated for the Ocellularia clade, which includes about half of the species that were previously separated in the family Thelotremataceae. Three genes (mtSSU, nuLSU, RPB2), from a total of 270 OTUs with 136 ingroup species, were sequenced to evaluate whether the core genera, Ocellularia and Myriotrema, form monophyletic clades or split into several lineages. Further, we tested the usefulness of phenotypic characters for circumscrib-ing monophyletic groups. Besides a maximum likelihood analysis, we incorporated the novel method of morphology-based 'phylogenetic binning', which allowed us to weight the morphological characters in those taxa with molecular data available and then predict the phylogenetic classification for over 200 additional species for which no molecular data are currently available. Our results showed that the large genera Myriotrema, Ocellularia, and Stegobolus are polyphyletic. For some of the previously unrecognized lineages, older generic names are available (Rhabdodiscus, Ocellis, Stigmagora, Antrocarpum, Macropyrenium). Some previously separated genera, such as Ampliotrema and Gyrotrema, were found to be nested within a large clade currently recognized as Ocellularia s.l. For this clade, no meaningful generic subdivision could be established based on the available data, and we proposed to recognize distinct subclades at the subgenus level. One new genus, Composi-trema, was also discovered, and a second new genus, Glaucotrema, is established for the Myriotrema glaucophaenum group. Further, the genus Rhabdodiscus is reinstated formally. We found a high level of homoplasy (parallel evolution) of phenotype characters previously used for classification purposes, such as excipular carbonization, columella morphology, and ascospore size, septation, and pigmentation. Secondary chemistry, on the other hand, was remarkably uniform in most clades. Some clades also exhibit a high level of disparity of ascoma morphology. Thus, the very distinctive Gyrotrema-type apothecia occur in a clade nested within and genetically very similar to Ocellularia s.str. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lichen-forming genus Pertusaria under its current circumscription is polyphyletic and its phylogenetic ailiations are uncertain. Here we study the species of the genera Pertusaria and Varicellaria which contain lecanoric acid as major constituent, have disciform apothecia, strongly amyloid asci, non-amyloid hymenial gel, 1-2-spored asci, and 1- or 2-celled ascospores with thick, 1-layered walls. We infer phylogenetic relationships using maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses based on four molecular loci (mtSSU, nuLSU rDNA, and the protein-coding, nuclear RPB1 and MCM7 genes). Our results show that the lecanoric acid-containing species form a well-supported, monophyletic group, which is only distantly related to Pertusaria s.str. he phylogenetic position of this clade is unclear, but placement in Pertusaria s.str. is rejected using alternative hypothesis testing. he circumscription of the genus Varicellaria is enlarged to also include species with non-septate ascospores. Seven species are accepted in the genus: Varicellaria culbersonii (Vezda) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., V. hemisphaerica (Flörke) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., V. kasandjeii (Szatala) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., V. lactea (L.) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., V. philippina (Vain.) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov., V. rhodocarpa (Körb.) h. Fr., and V. velata (Turner) Schmitt & Lumbsch, comb. nov. A key to the species of Varicellaria is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of Chapsa in the family Graphidaceae are described from tropical Asia. Chapsa mastersonii Rivas Plata, Lumbsch & Lücking from the Philippines is characterized by large apothecia with thickly white-pruinose discs, large, muriform, non-amyloid ascospores, and the stictic acid chemosyndrome. Chapsa wijeyaratniana Weerakon, Lumbsch & Lücking from Sri Lanka has apothecia similar to the preceding species but forms an ecorticate thallus with maculiform to capitate soralia, has small, submuriform ascospores, and lacks secondary substances. Chapsa wolseleyana Weerakon, Lumbsch & Lücking forms apothecia with red to pinkish or purplish red discs and large, muriform ascospores becoming pale brown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied ascospore dispersal and ontogeny in several species of Trypetheliaceae and one species of Graphidaceae with megalosporous (very large) ascospores, including Aptrootia terricola (Aptroot) Lücking, Umaña & Chaves, Architrypethelium nitens (Fée) Aptroot, A. seminudum (Mont.) Aptroot, Astrothelium diplocarpoides Müll. Arg., Laurera gigantospora (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr., and Ocellularia subpraestans Hale. Although mature ascospores are very different among species of Trypetheliaceae, all species studied share plesiomorphic ontogenetic features such as the formation of a single central euseptum and subsequent development of a variable number of transverse distosepta with diamond-shaped lumina (astrothelioid ascospore type). Even the dark brown, richly muriform ascospores of Aptrootia terricola go through an astrothelioid stage. This suggests that ascospore types may be more closely related than suggested by their mature morphology, and could explain why related taxa can develop markedly different ascospore types. We discuss the implications for systematic classification of Trypetheliaceae in the light of recent molecular studies, and also speculate about the ecological importance of large ascospores, especially with muriform septation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new genus Malmographina Cáceres, Rivas Plata & Lücking is introduced for Opegrapha plicosa Meissn. (syn. Graphis malmei Redinger), with the new combination Malmographina plicosa (Meiss.) Cáceres, Rivas Plata & Lücking. The taxon is characterized by prominent, striate, orange-pigmented, non-carbonized lirellae, a more or less clear hymenium, and large, muriform, hyaline ascospores. Malmographina is most similar to Hemithecium in lirellae morphology and anatomy, but in a molecular phylogenetic analysis falls within a clade containing Phaeographis and other genera with usually inspersed hymenium and brown ascospores. Within that clade, it is thus far the only taxon that has persistently hyaline ascospores. It is otherwise similar to Pallidogramme but does not cluster within that genus. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the Phaeographis clade confirms monophyly of the genera Halegrapha, Pallidogramme, and Platygramme, and suggests that Phaeographis should be divided into several generic lineages and that Leiorreuma and Sarcographa perhaps be merged. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Chapsa rubropruinosa Messuti & Codesal collected in Argentina is described as new to science. The species is characterized by a thin thallus, apothecia with a pigmented disc, and transversely septate, hyaline, non-amyloid to faintly amyloid ascospores with thin cell walls. Chapsa minor is recorded for the first time from South America. The new combination Topeliopsis lomatiae (Messuti, Lumbsch & Ve?zda) Messuti & Mangold is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lecanoromycetes includes most of the lichen-forming fungal species (>13 500) and is therefore one of the most diverse class of all Fungi in terms of phenotypic complexity. We report phylogenetic relationships within the Lecanoromycetes resulting from Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses with complementary posterior probabilities and bootstrap support values based on three combined multilocus datasets using a supermatrix approach. Nine of 10 orders and 43 of 64 families currently recognized in Eriksson's classification of the Lecanoromycetes (Outline of Ascomycota--2006 Myconet 12:1-82) were represented in this sampling. Our analyses strongly support the Acarosporomycetidae and Ostropomycetidae as monophyletic, whereas the delimitation of the largest subclass, the Lecanoromycetidae, remains uncertain. Independent of future delimitation of the Lecanoromycetidae, the Rhizocarpaceae and Umbilicariaceae should be elevated to the ordinal level. This study shows that recent classifications include several nonmonophyletic taxa at different ranks that need to be recircumscribed. Our phylogenies confirm that ascus morphology cannot be applied consistently to shape the classification of lichen-forming fungi. The increasing amount of missing data associated with the progressive addition of taxa resulted in some cases in the expected loss of support, but we also observed an improvement in statistical support for many internodes. We conclude that a phylogenetic synthesis for a chosen taxonomic group should include a comprehensive assessment of phylogenetic confidence based on multiple estimates using different methods and on a progressive taxon sampling with an increasing number of taxa, even if it involves an increasing amount of missing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pezizomycotina is the largest subphylum of Ascomycota and includes the vast majority of filamentous, ascoma-producing species. Here we report the results from weighted parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of five nuclear loci (SSU rDNA, LSU rDNA, RPB1, RPB2 and EF-1α) from 191 taxa. Nine of the 10 Pezizomycotina classes currently recognized were represented in the sampling. These data strongly supported the monophyly of Pezizomycotina, Arthoniomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Orbiliomycetes and Sordariomycetes. Pezizomycetes and Dothideomycetes also were resolved as monophyletic but not strongly supported by the data. Lecanoromycetes was resolved as paraphyletic in parsimony analyses but monophyletic in maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Leotiomycetes was polyphyletic due to exclusion of Geoglossaceae. The two most basal classes of Pezizomycotina were Orbiliomycetes and Pezizomycetes, both of which comprise species that produce apothecial ascomata. The seven remaining classes formed a monophyletic group that corresponds to Leotiomyceta. Within Leotiomyceta, the supraclass clades of Leotiomycetes s.s. plus Sordariomycetes and Arthoniomycetes plus Dothideomycetes were resolved with moderate support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We explored cophylogenetic patterns of fungal and algal partners in the genus Sticta. • Sticta associates with green algae from five genera in Trebouxiophyceae. • Sticta are selective towards their algal symbionts. • Photosymbiodemes with green algae evolved multiple times in Sticta. Species in the fungal genus Sticta form symbiotic associations primarily with either green algae or cyanobacteria, but tripartite associations or photosymbiodemes involving both types of photobionts occur in some species. Sticta is known to associate with green algae in the genus Symbiochloris. However, previous studies have shown that algae from other genera, such as Heveochlorella , may also be suitable partners for Sticta. We examined the diversity of green algal partners in the genus Sticta and assessed the patterns of association between the host fungus and its algal symbiont. We used multi-locus sequence data from multiple individuals collected in Australia, Cuba, Madagascar, Mauritius, New Zealand, Reunion and South America to infer phylogenies for fungal and algal partners and performed tests of congruence to assess coevolution between the partners. In addition, event-based methods were implemented to examine which cophylogenetic processes have led to the observed association patterns in Sticta and its green algal symbionts. Our results show that in addition to Symbiochloris , Sticta associates with green algae from the genera Chloroidium , Coccomyxa , Elliptochloris and Heveochlorella , the latter being the most common algal symbiont associated with Sticta in this study. Geography plays a strong role in shaping fungal-algal association patterns in Sticta as mycobionts associate with different algal lineages in different geographic locations. While fungal and algal phylogenies were mostly congruent, event-based methods did not find any evidence for cospeciation between the partners. Instead, the association patterns observed in Sticta and associated algae, were largely explained by other cophylogenetic events such as host-switches, losses of symbiont and failure of the symbiont to diverge with its host. Our results also show that tripartite associations with green algae evolved multiple times in Sticta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major challenge to evolutionary biologists is to understand how biodiversity is distributed through space and time and across the tree of life. Diversification of organisms is influenced by many factors that act at different times and geographic locations but it is still not clear which have a significant impact and how drivers interact. To study diversification, we chose the lichen genus Sticta , by sampling through most of the global range and producing a time tree. We estimate that Sticta originated about 30 million years ago, but biogoegraphic analysis was unclear in estimating the origin of the genus. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of dispersal ability finding that Sticta has a high dispersal rate, as collections from Hawaii showed that divergent lineages colonized the islands at least four times. Symbiont interactions were investigated using BiSSE to understand if green-algal or cyanobacterial symbiont interactions influenced diversification, only to find that the positive results were driven almost completely by Type I error. On the other hand, another BiSSE analysis found that an association with Andean tectonic activity increases the speciation rate of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascomycota account for about two-thirds of named fungal species. 1 Over 98% of known Ascomycota belong to the Pezizomycotina , including many economically important species as well as diverse pathogens, decomposers, and mutualistic symbionts. 2 Our understanding of Pezizomycotina evolution has until now been based on sampling traditionally well-defined taxonomic classes. 3,4,5 However, considerable diversity exists in undersampled and uncultured, putatively early-diverging lineages, and the effect of these on evolutionary models has seldom been tested. We obtained genomes from 30 putative early-diverging lineages not included in recent phylogenomic analyses and analyzed these together with 451 genomes covering all available ascomycete genera. We show that 22 of these lineages, collectively representing over 600 species, trace back to a single origin that diverged from the common ancestor of Eurotiomycetes and Lecanoromycetes over 300 million years BP. The new clade, which we recognize as a more broadly defined Lichinomycetes , includes lichen and insect symbionts, endophytes, and putative mycorrhizae and encompasses a range of morphologies so disparate that they have recently been placed in six different taxonomic classes. To test for shared hidden features within this group, we analyzed genome content and compared gene repertoires to related groups in Ascomycota. Regardless of their lifestyle, Lichinomycetes have smaller genomes than most filamentous Ascomycota , with reduced arsenals of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes and secondary metabolite gene clusters. Our expanded genome sample resolves the relationships of numerous "orphan" ascomycetes and establishes the independent evolutionary origins of multiple mutualistic lifestyles within a single, morphologically hyperdiverse clade of fungi. • Sampling gaps in uncultured non-model fungi are filled using metagenomics • Numerous putative early-diverging Ascomycota lineages resolve in a novel clade • The clade includes lichen and insect symbionts, endophytes, and mycorrhizae • Fungi in this clade possess small genomes with reduced metabolic arsenals Genome-scale evolutionary reconstructions of ascomycete fungi have so far relied on sampling well-known groups, but many lesser-known lineages remain unsampled. Using 30 new genomes of putative early-diverging ascomycetes, Díaz-Escandón et al. demonstrate the existence of an ancient symbiont clade with reduced genome sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]