Search

Generally, Dietrich Brandis is remembered as the first Inspector General of Forests in British India. However, before he left Europe, he had a university education as a biologist and botanist as well as geographer. After various affiliations with the University of Bonn he became Forest Inspector of Burma through his wife's connections with the British Indian imperial administration. Despite his groundbreaking work as a forester, Brandis however never stopped working as a botanist. The Herbarium Brandis, since his death kept at the University of Hamburg as part of the botanical collections, comprises more than 19,000 sheets. It is one of the most comprehensive collections on South Asian flora. This article tries to highlight Brandis' role as a botanist.

Die Flechtendiversität und -quantität wurde in den Jahren 2017/2018 in Rostock an 53 Bäumen erfasst. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit den Ergebnissen einer Kartierung von 1994/1995 verglichen. Ferner wurden die Feuchtigkeitsverhältnisse und der Grad der Eutrophierung bzw. die Luftqualität an den Bäumen der Gattungen Tilia und Acer anhand des bekannten Verhaltens der nachgewiesenen Flechten bezüglich Luftfeuchtigkeit/Niederschlägen, Eutrophierung und pH-Verhältnissen bewertet. 2017/2018 wurden 79 Flechtenarten und 14 lichenicole Pilzarten nachgewiesen. Die Gesamtzahl der im Untersuchungsgebiet nachgewiesenen epiphytischen Flechtenarten erhöhte sich damit auf 80. Die meisten Flechtenarten kommen an Tilia spec. (60), Acer pseudoplatanus (43) und A. platanoides (34) vor. Die häufigsten Arten sind Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physcia adscendens, Ph. tenella und Xanthoria parietina. Candelariella xanthostigmoides, Flavoparmelia soredians, Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Intralichen lichenum, Lecanora subcarpinea, Parmelia serrana, Parmelina quercina und Taeniolella delicata sind Neufunde für Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Hinsichtlich der Verbreitung und des Charakters der Fundorte können die nachgewiesenen Flechten und lichenicolen Pilze drei Gruppen zugeordnet werden: 1. Arten, die auch an stark befahrenen Straßen oder in eng bebauten Wohngebieten mit wenig Grünflächen und in den Stadtgebieten Kröpeliner Tor-Vorstadt oder Stadtmitte vorkamen, 2. Arten, die auch noch in locker bebauten, grünreichen Wohngebieten und in kleineren Grünlagen der Neubaugebiete vorkamen, aber nicht mehr in der Kröpeliner Tor-Vorstadt und Stadtmitte nachgewiesen wurden, 3. Arten, die nur an Bäumen vorkamen, die sich in der Nähe zum Offenland befinden. Der ersten Gruppe wurden 22, der zweiten Gruppe 32 und der dritten Gruppe 25 Flechtenarten zugeordnet. Dem Verhältnis zwischen der Frequenzsumme der stark nitrophytischen Arten und der Frequenzsumme der a-, schwach und mäßig nitrophytischen Arten auf den Bäumen entsprechend, wird die Luftqualität an 15 Bäumen der Gattungen Acer und Tilia für gut, an 14 Bäumen für mäßig und an 13 Bäumen für schlecht befunden. Auf der Grundlage des Verhältnisses zwischen der Anzahl basiphytischer Arten und der Summe an Arten an sauren oder/und subneutralen Borken wurden sechs Standorte als wenig, 21 Standorte als mäßig und 15 Standorte als stark schadstoffbelastet eingestuft. Meso- bis hygrophytische Flechten kamen an zehn Standorten mit nur ein oder zwei Arten, an 21 Standorten mit drei bis fünf Arten und an elf Standorten mit mehr als fünf Arten vor. Die epiphytische Flechtenflora hat sich in Rostock seit 1995 gravierend verändert. Es nahmen 69 Flechten im Bestand zu, von denen sich 52 Arten erst nach 1995 angesiedelt haben. Bei 32 Flechten ist eine schwache, bei 19 Flechten eine mäßige und bei 18 Flechten eine starke Zunahme zu verzeichnen. Lecanora conizaeoides kam 2017/2018 nicht mehr vor, vier Arten haben im Bestand abgenommen. Changes in the epiphytic lichen flora in the urban area of Rostock between 1994/1995 and 2017/2018 In 2017/2018, diversity and quantity of lichens were studied on 53 trees in Rostock city. The results were compared with the results of a mapping project in 1994/1995. Humidity conditions and degree of eutrophication at trees of the genera Tilia and Acer were interpreted with reference to the known indicator characteristcs of the lichen species concerning air humidity/precipitation, eutrophication and pH conditions. In 2017/2018, 79 lichen species and 14 lichenicolous fungus species were found. The total number of lichens increased to 80 species. Most species were found on Tilia spec. (60), Acer pseudoplatanus (43) and A. platanoides (34). The most common species are Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physcia adscendens, Ph. tenella and Xanthoria parietina. Candelariella xanthostigmoides, Flavoparmelia soredians, Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Intralichen lichenum, Lecanora subcarpinea, Parmelia serrana, Parmelina quercina and Taeniolella delicata are new to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The distribution and characteristics of the collection sites allow for deviding the species into three groups: 1. species also present along streets with heavy traffic or in densely populated residential areas with a lack of green areas and in the districts Kröpeliner Tor-Vorstadt or City Centre, 2. species still present in sparse residential areas and smaller green areas but not in the districts Kröpeliner Tor-Vorstadt or City Centre, 3. species only colonizing trees close to the open landscape. Twenty-two species were assigned to the first, 32 species to the second and 25 species to the latter group. According to the proportion between the sum of frequencies of the strongly nitrophytic lichens and the sum of frequencies of the anitrophytic and moderately nitrophytic lichens on trees, air quality was indicated to be good at 15 trees of the genera Acer and Tilia, moderate at 14 trees and bad at 13 trees. Based on the proportion between the number of basiphytic lichen species and the sum of species colonizing acidophytic and subneutrophytic bark, six locations were categorized as little, 21 locations as moderately and 15 locations as strongly polluted. Mesophytic or hygrophytic lichens were present with only one or two species at ten locations, three to five species at 21 locations and over five species at 11 locations. Within the period under consideration, the epiphytic lichen flora of the Rostock urban area changed considerably. The populations of 69 lichen species increased, with 52 lichens newly establishing after 1995. In 32 lichen species a slight, in 19 species a moderate, and in 18 species a strong population increase was recorded. Lecanora conizaeoides disappeared and the populations of four species decreased.

The present work lists 2051 lichens, 520 lichenicolous and 55 allied fungi, altogether 2626 taxa and their synonyms, whose occurrence has been reported from the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany by the end of 2021. The list is based on the last species list published in 2011 and comprises 326 new records as well as 428 nomenclatural changes published in 253 publications between 2012 and 2021. The list also includes 114 taxa, mostly from the Verrucariaceae, whose status is still considered problematic.

We revisit a case of mimicry in Amorphophallus involving visual mimicry of lichens and colonies of cyanobacteria on their tree-trunk sized petioles. We investigate the entire genus for similar defensive coloration types and report a defensive leaf coloration strategy in several Amorphophallus spp. that involves mimicry, camouflage and plant-mimicking that results in defensive visual masquerade. We propose that the visual expression of lichen and cyanobacteria mimicry enables the huge and fleshy petioles to look like solid non-edible tree trunks, a classic case of masquerade, probably as defence against herbivores. The results are discussed in a phylogenetic and evolutionary context.

Diederich, P. & Schultz, M. 2021. The identity of Verrucaster lichenicola Tobler. – Herzogia 34: 203–207.The genus and species Verrucaster lichenicola, described by Tobler in 1913 for waxy pycnidia with hyaline, aseptate conidia on Cladonia bacillaris, was poorly known, as the type was missing and no additional similar specimen available. The recent discovery of the type in HBG allowed us to understand that it represents pycnidia of Cladonia, not of a lichenicolous fungus. The names thus become younger synonyms of Cladonia and C. macilenta.

Stordeur, R., Breuss, O., Eckstein, J., Grunberg, H., Kison, H.-U., Schiefelbein, U., Schultz, M. & Thus, H. 2020. Beitrage zur Flechtenflora Sachsen-Anhalts und Thuringens. – Herzogia 33: 377–393.Es werden Neu- und Wiederfunde sowie zusatzliche Vorkommen von 32 seltenen oder bemerkenswerten Taxa aus Sachsen-Anhalt und Thuringen vorgestellt. Neu fur Sachsen-Anhalt sind 22 Taxa. Darunter sind die lichenisierten Pilze: Acarospora oligospora, Bacidina adastra, Botryolepraria lesdainii, Cladonia cryptochlorophaea, Cryptodiscus gloeocapsa, Epigloea grummannii, Lathagrium undulatum, Pertusaria albescens var. corallina, Scytinium pulvinatum, Thelidium pluvium, Verrucaria memnonia sowie Verrucaria fusca auct. (non Pers.). Ebenfalls neu fur Sachsen-Anhalt sind die lichenicolen Arten Intralichen lichenicola, Lichenochora obscuroides, Minutoexcipula tephromelae, Phaeospora parasitica, Stigmidium psorae und S. rivulorum sowie die saprophytischen Pilze Leptosillia macrospora und Thelocarpon saxicola. Verrucaria pilosoides ist neu fur Deutschland, basierend auf ITS-Daten gehort unser Beleg in die V. muralis Gruppe. Die fur Deutschland bereits als verschollen gefuhrte Art Fuscidea mollis konnte im Bodetal wieder nachgewiesen werden. Der Fund ist gleichzeitig der erste gesicherte Nachweis fur Sachsen-Anhalt. Die mindestens 60 bis uber 180 Jahre verschollenen Arten Arthonia dispersa, Bacidia subincompta, Lempholemma polyanthes, Opegrapha rupestris, Polyblastia albida, Pyrrhospora quernea und Verrucaria margacea konnten in Sachsen-Anhalt wieder aufgefunden werden. Fur Eiglera flavida werden aktuelle Funde (ab 2001) sowie fur das erst kurzlich nachgewiesene Scoliciosporum gallurae weitere Funde fur das Gebiet aufgefuhrt.

Alien tree species have been introduced to Europe and often used as roadside trees. Currently, preference is given to species that are adapted to urban climate and drier conditions. Native epiphytic lichens are adapted to local tree species; however, little is known whether a shift toward more alien roadside trees would affect the diversity of epiphytic lichens within cities. We considered three genera of roadside trees that are common in Hamburg (Germany) Acer, Tilia, and Quercus, each with a native and an alien species per genus. Species numbers, frequency and diversity of epiphytic lichens were assessed and compared. Tree locations were grouped according to three classes of increasing traffic volume as a proxy for air pollution. Mean bark pH values have been recorded for each tree individual. The species pairs Quercus robur/rubra and Acer platanoides/saccharinum showed significant differences in the diversity and abundance of lichens, with the alien species showing lower values. The species pair Tilia cordata/tomentosa did not show any significant differences. The number of nitrogen-tolerant lichen species differed little among all tree species. Lichen species richness decreased with increasing traffic volume for all tree species pairs, thus demonstrating the inhibiting effect of traffic on the occurrence of lichens. Bark pH differed little between the species pairs yet high traffic volume resulted in an increased bark pH. In conclusion, two out of three alien species had negative effects on lichen diversity. Further tree species should be assessed to better estimate the effect of alien roadside trees on lichen diversity.

We inventoried lichens in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, USA We assembled the known information on occurrence and ecology of lichens in this park by combining field, herbarium, and literature studies. Our results provide baseline data on lichen occurrence that may be used in resource condition assessments, vulnerability assessments, long-term ecological monitoring, and resource management. We report a total of 616 taxa of lichenized fungi from the Park, plus an additional five subspecies and three varieties, all of which are new additions to the National Park Service database for this park unit. An additional five species of nonlichenized lichenicolous fungi are reported here. Eight non-lichenized fungi that are traditionally treated with lichens are also included, most of these associated with bark of particular host species. Four taxa new to North America are reported here (Arctomia delicatula var. acutior, Aspicilia dudinensis, Myriospora myochroa, and Ochrolechia bahusiensis), along with 44 species new to Alaska. Numerous species have been confirmed using ITS barcoding sequences. Also several records assigned to the genus level are reported, many of those are likely new species.

Here, we show that Lichinodium (Lichinaceae, Lichinomycetes, Ascomycota) constitutes a formerly unrecognized lineage within the Leotiomycetes, thus being the first lichenized lineage recognized in the superclass Sordariomyceta (Leotiomycetes, Laboulbeniomycetes and Sordariomycetes). To infer the position of Lichinodium, we constructed two multilocus phylogenies based on six and five gene regions (nuLSU rDNA, nuSSU rDNA, mtSSU rDNA, RPB1, RPB2 and MCM7) including main Pezizomycotina groups in the first analysis and focusing secondly on a comprehensive selection of Sordariomyceta. The results show that Lichinodium is sister to Leotiaceae. We discuss the morphological and ecological similarities between Lichinodium and other Leotiomycetes, and describe the new order Lichinodiales and family Lichinodiaceae. The sister relationship between Sordariomycetes and Laboulbeniomycetes is here supported as it is the relationship between this clade and the Leotiomycetes. The results also support the polyphyly of Helotiales, the recognition of the Leotiales in a strict sense or the inclusion of the Triblidiales in Leotiomycetes. The photobionts of Lichinodium were sequenced for two genetic markers (rbcLX and 16S rDNA) and identified as Rhizonema, a recently described genus of filamentous cyanobacteria belonging to Nostocaceae. TEM studies revealed that the mycobiont-cyanobiont interface in Lichinodium does not produce haustoria, thus differing from a typical Lichinomycete (e.g. Ephebe).

Schultz, M. & Steindl, P. 2018. Erstnachweis von Sclerophora amabilis in Deutschland. – Herzogia 31: 317–321.Die coniocarpe Flechte Sclerophora amabilis wurde auf Alleebaumen in Hamburg entdeckt und die Art damit zum ersten Mal in Deutschland nachgewiesen. Die Merkmale zur Unterscheidung von anderen Sclerophora-Arten in Mitteleuropa werden diskutiert.

Schiefelbein, U., Brackel, W. v., Cezanne, R., Eichler, M., Krzewicka, B., Neumann, P., Schultz, M. & Dolnik, C. 2018. Additional interesting records of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi from Northern Germany. — Herzogia 31: 114–132. Sixty-one species (32 lichens and 29 lichenicolous fungi) are reported as new or noteworthy from northern Germany or one of its federal states. Epicladonia simplex and Minutoexcipula tephromelae are new to Germany; Didymocyrtis cladoniicola, D. foliaceiphila, Endococcus fusiger, Hymenelia ceracea, Lichenochora coarctatae, Lichenostigma chlaroterae, Pyrenochaeta xanthoriae, Schismatomma umbrinum and Vouauxiella verrucosa are recorded for the first time from northern Germany; nine species are added to the lichen flora of the federal state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, 34 species to Schleswig-Holstein, seven species to Lower Saxony and one species each to Hamburg and Saxony-Anhalt. Verrucaria polygonia is rediscovered in Germany after more than 150 years.

The familyPeltulaceaeis currently composed of the three generaPeltula,PhyllopeltulaandNeoheppia. The last two genera, both with two species, are distinguished fromPeltulaonly by a small number of morphological characters. The morphology of the genusPeltulavaries from peltate-umbilicate thalli to squamulose-semifruticose or squamulose-compound types, as well as subfoliose-compound and crustose types. All types have an upper epinecral layer and possess medullary cavities of various sizes; a lower cortex is normally present but is usually not developed in the subfoliose and crustose types. The generaNeoheppiaandPhyllopeltuladiffer from the commonPeltulamorphology by crustose-areolate and subfoliose-compound thalli, respectively. BothNeoheppiaandPhyllopeltulaare additionally characterized by the absence of medullary cavities and lower cortices. To investigate the phylogenetic validity ofPhyllopeltulaandNeoheppia, we sequenced six loci from representatives of these two genera together with 37 species fromPeltula. Despite the relatively high amount of conflict among loci, the results clearly indicate that bothPhyllopeltulaandNeoheppiaare not monophyletic, and are nested within the genusPeltula.Consequently, we subsumed species of these two genera within the genusPeltula.

Zusammenfassung: Cezanne, R., Eichler, M., Berger, F., Brackel, W. v., Dolnik, C., John, V. & Schultz, M.2017. Erganzungen und Korrekturen zu „Deutsche Namen fur Flechten” I. – Herzogia 30: 520–523. In einem ersten Nachtrag zur Liste „Deutsche Namen fur Flechten” werden zehn Korrekturen und 23 Erganzungen vorgenommen.

Morphological characteristics and analyses of molecular sequence data (ITS, mtSSU) indicate that the austral-marine lichenLichina pygmaeavar.intermediais distinct from the chiefly European marine speciesL. confinisandL. pygmaea. It is thus proposed to treat var.intermediaas a separate species.Lichina intermediadiffers fromL. confinischiefly in the distinctly corticated branches, and deviates fromL. pygmaeain the shorter and thinner branches. Diagnostic differences between the three species are summarized and distribution patterns discussed.

Plants, fungi and algae are important components of global biodiversity and are fundamental to all ecosystems. They are the basis for human well-being, providing food, materials and medicines. Specimens of all three groups of organisms are accommodated in herbaria, where they are commonly referred to as botanical specimens. The large number of specimens in herbaria provides an ample, permanent and continuously improving knowledge base on these organisms and an indispensable source for the analysis of the distribution of species in space and time critical for current and future research relating to global biodiversity. In order to make full use of this resource, a research infrastructure has to be built that grants comprehensive and free access to the information in herbaria and botanical collections in general. This can be achieved through digitization of the botanical objects and associated data. The botanical research community can count on a long-standing tradition of collaboration among institutions and individuals. It agreed on data standards and standard services even before the advent of computerization and information networking, an example being the Index Herbariorum as a global registry of herbaria helping towards the unique identification of specimens cited in the literature. In the spirit of this collaborative history, 51 representatives from 30 institutions advocate to start the digitization of botanical collections with the overall wall-to-wall digitization of the flat objects stored in German herbaria. Germany has 70 herbaria holding almost 23 million specimens according to a national survey carried out in 2019. 87% of these specimens are not yet digitized. Experiences from other countries like France, the Netherlands, Finland, the US and Australia show that herbaria can be comprehensively and cost-efficiently digitized in a relatively short time due to established workflows and protocols for the high-throughput digitization of flat objects. Most of the herbaria are part of a university (34), fewer belong to municipal museums (10) or state museums (8), six herbaria belong to institutions also supported by federal funds such as Leibniz institutes, and four belong to non-governmental organizations. A common data infrastructure must therefore integrate different kinds of institutions. Making full use of the data gained by digitization requires the set-up of a digital infrastructure for storage, archiving, content indexing and networking as well as standardized access for the scientific use of digital objects. A standards-based portfolio of technical components has already been developed and successfully tested by the Biodiversity Informatics Community over the last two decades, comprising among others access protocols, collection databases, portals, tools for semantic enrichment and annotation, international networking, storage and archiving in accordance with international standards. This was achieved through the funding by national and international programs and initiatives, which also paved the road for the German contribution to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Herbaria constitute a large part of the German botanical collections that also comprise living collections in botanical gardens and seed banks, DNA- and tissue samples, specimens preserved in fluids or on microscope slides and more. Once the herbaria are digitized, these resources can be integrated, adding to the value of the overall research infrastructure. The community has agreed on tasks that are shared between the herbaria, as the German GBIF model already successfully demonstrates. We have compiled nine scientific use cases of immediate societal relevance for an integrated infrastructure of botanical collections. They address accelerated biodiversity discovery and research, biomonitoring and conservation planning, biodiversity modelling, the generation of trait information, automated image recognition by artificial intelligence, automated pathogen detection, contextualization by interlinking objects, enabling provenance research, as well as education, outreach and citizen science. We propose to start this initiative now in order to valorize German botanical collections as a vital part of a worldwide biodiversity data pool.

Archaeological ceramics are of heritage significance, but their biodeterioration has been poorly explored. This study examines the damage resulting from the biodeterioration of such material at an arid site in La Rioja, a Province of northern Argentina. The microbial colonization of two styles of ceramics, Aguada and Rustic, was assessed by different microscopies and spectroscopy techniques and laboratory assays. Bacteria, fungi and cyanolichens have been typified. It is noteworthy the isolation of one strain of Pseudomonas sp. due to their adhesive potential and ability to form biofilms in all materials studied. The confirmation of biodeterioration processes involving mechanical damage and potential chemical changes was observed. Bacteria and fungi developed in cracks causing a breakdown of the material while cyanolichens grew on surfaces and edges of ceramics, producing a severe deterioration. Fil: Guiamet, Patricia Sandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina Fil: Soto, Daiana Marilé. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Arqueología; Argentina Fil: Schultz, Matthias. Universitat Hamburg; Alemania

Significant northern range extensions for Lichinella intermedia and L. americana in the western US are reported. These dwarf cyanolichens are inconspicuous and often overlooked. This paper presents new locations and annotations of previous collections for these rare lichens and for several other more common taxa within Lichinella.

Zusammenfassung: Cezanne, R., Eichler, M., Berger, F., Brackel, W. v., Dolnik, C., John, V. & Schultz, M. 2016. Deutsche Namen fur Flechten. — Herzogia 29: 745–797. Fur 2051 in Deutschland nachgewiesene Flechten werden deutsche Namen vorgestellt. Die Verwendung von deutschen Namen in der Literatur vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart sowie die Methode der Namensfindung werden kurz diskutiert. Die deutschen Namen sollen einen Beitrag leisten, das Interesse an der Vielfalt und Besonderheit dieser Gruppe zu fordern und die Kommunikation mit interessierten Laien zu vereinfachen. Zukunftig konnen damit in Roten Listen, Gutachten und Berichten im deutschsprachigen Raum einheitliche deutsche Namen verwendet werden.

Two new species of Lichenothelia, both from Iran, are described. Lichenothelia iranica is characterized by a black thallus with often finely lobate, slightly effigurate, not areolate margins, eight non-amyloid spores per ascus and 1–3-septate ascospores with 1–2 longitudinal or oblique septa. Lichenothelia ilamensis is distinguished by a black areolate, fissured, slightly effigurate or rarely lobulate thallus. The areoles are confluent and aggregated in the centre, becoming dispersed towards the margin, and the asci contain (4–)6(–8) non-amyloid, 1-septate spores.

Haji Moniri, M., Sipman, H. J. M. & Schultz, M. 2014. New records of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi from Northeastern Iran. — Herzogia 27: 367–376. A total of 111 species of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi is reported from two provinces in Northeastern Iran. These species include 22 taxa new to Iran, and another 15 and 34 new to the provinces of Northern Khorasan and Razavi Khorasan, respectively. This brings a 22% increase in the number of species known from the two provinces.

Schiefelbein, U., Dolnik, C., de Bruyn, U., Schultz, M., Thiemann, R., Stordeur, R., van den Boom, P. P. G., Litterski, B. & Sipman, H. J. M. 2014. Interesting records of lichenized, lichenicolous and saprophytic fungi from northern Germany. — Herzogia 27: 237–256. Details of 50 lichen species, 19 lichenicolous fungi and two saprophytic fungi from northern Germany are presented. Chrysothrix flavovirens, Opegrapha viridipruinosa and Sclerococcum tephromelarum are new to Germany. Arthonia digitatae, A. molendoi, Calicium parvum, Caloplaca limonia, Cornutispora intermedia, Endococcus rugulosus, Intralichen lichenicola, Lecidea nylanderi, Muellerella erratica, Pycnora sorophora and Verrucaria tristis are recorded for the first time from northern Germany. 38 species are added to the lichen flora of the federal state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, 12 species to Schleswig-Holstein, five species to Lower Saxony and one species to Brandenburg.

Lempholemma syreniarum is described from Ontario, Canada in North America. The new species grows on the bark of deciduous tree bases that are seasonally flooded. In seasonally dry periods, its black areolate thallus, typically with numerous light brown apothecia, is easily seen on tree bases and root flares but is underwater during most other parts of the year. A key is given aiding identification of small crustose-squamulose and corticolous cyanolichens with simple ascospores.

Recent fieldwork carried out for the study of the lichen flora in the Upper Douro region (north-east Portugal) has resulted in a remarkable collection ofPeltulaspecimens, including one new species (Peltula lobataJ. Marques, M. Schultz & Paz-Berm.), three new species records for mainland Europe [Peltula bolanderi(Tuck.) Wetmore,Peltula farinosaBüdel andPeltula zahbruckneri(Hasse) Wetmore] and seven species new for mainland Portugal, that are reported here with a notes on their morphology and currently known distribution. The new speciesPeltula lobatais differentiated from any other knownPeltulaspecies by its thallus shape and size, presence of large, sessile apothecia with widely opened discs and by a complete absence of soredia. Identical specimens were also obtained from the nearby locality of Siega Verde in the province of Salamanca, and from the southern locality of Abla in the province of Almeria, both in Spain. New insights into the morphological diversity ofPeltula euplocaandPeltula bolanderiare also provided. The region is revealed to be a hotspot forPeltuladiversity and a very promising area for further research on the morphological and molecular variation among the former species. A revised key to European species of the genus is also presented.

Jorgensen, P. M., Schultz, M. & Guttova, A. 2013: Validation of Anema tumidulum (Lichinaceae, lichenized Ascomycota), a widespread cyanophilic lichen. — Herzogia 26: 1–7. Anema tumidulum Henssen nom. nud. is validated by a formal description. The species is shown to be widespread in Europe. Most records come from Central Europe and Norway, but the species might still be under-collected in other regions. It is confined to calcareous habitats, sporadically moistened, sunny, open calcareous rock faces in thermophilous, mountainous situations. A list of selected examined specimens is presented. A first finding for Kazakhstan is published, whereas a published report from eastern Siberia (Russia) is shown to be based on a misidentification.

New records, range extensions and nomenclatural innovations for lichens and lichenicolous fungi from Alaska, U.S.A. - Herzogia 25: 177-210. Surveys of lichens and lichenicolous fungi have been taki ...

Dolnik, C., Schiefelbein, U., Schultz, M., de Bruyn, U. & Richter, T. 2012. New and noteworthy findings of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi from northern Germany. - Herzogia 25: 31–38. Taxonomical revisions and new findings led to some additions to the lichen floras of the Northern German federal states Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein, which are also relevant for the German checklist. We comment on records of 19 lichenized, two lichenicolous and one saprophytic fungus. Amandinea lecideina is reported from Germany for the first time after more than 50 years. Trimmatothelopsis versipellis (syn. Acarospora amphibola) is treated as a species distinct from T. smaragdula with a strong preference for coastal habitats. The following species were added to the lichen flora of the federal state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Caloplaca maritima, C. phlogina, Gregorella humida, Illosporiopsis christiansenii, Lecanora persimilis, L. zosterae, Micarea byssacea, M. micrococc...

The present study was undertaken to assess baseline distribution patterns for soil lichens occurring in the principal biomes of southern Africa, and to analyse their relationship to selected environmental parameters. Among the lichen species found across our survey sites, four distinct groups could be delineated, each as distinct consortium of lichen species sharing particular morphological characters (e.g. growth-form, pigmentation and type of photobiont kind). These groups are largely correlated with specific environmental parameters. These findings suggest that lichens may serve as valuable bioindicators for evaluating climate and soil change in this region of Africa.

Brackel, W. v., Cezanne, R., Eichler, M., Feuerer, T., Gnuchtel, A., Hohmann, M.-L., Otte, V., Schultz, M. & Turk, R. 2018. Lichenologische Ergebnisse der Jahresexkursion 2014 der BLAM in Ettal, erganzt um weitere Flechtendaten aus der Umgebung von Garmisch-Partenkirchen. – Herzogia 31: 893 –930.

The instability of some industrially important synthetic azo colorants, including sunset yellow, azorubine, and allura red, toward gum arabic in aqueous solution has been a long-standing problem for the beverage and confectionery industries. Precipitation of these colorants causes the deterioration of product appearance and properties. This work examines the origin and nature of the problem by analysis of the precipitate and thermodynamic studies of gum arabic-colorant interactions using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The presence of divalent alkaline earth metals in gum arabic samples, that is, calcium and magnesium, is shown to be responsible for the precipitation of the azo colorants. There is no direct interaction between gum arabic and the colorant molecules, and the precipitate is formed likely due to the mediation/bridging by the divalent cations. The thermodynamic knowledge gained from the ITC studies, for example, binding affinity, stoichiometry, and enthalpy, enables interpretation of many industrial observations.

We have studied the phase behavior and microstructure of edible microemulsions of d-limonene with concentrated aqueous sugar solutions (>65 wt%) using sucrose laurate and sucrose oleate as surfactants. The phase behavior of these mixtures was systematically studied as a function of temperature and surfactant composition, identifying the specific effects of sugar concentration, surfactant chain length, and oil loading on the formation of microemulsion and lamellar phases. Small-angle neutron scattering experiments confirm the presence of well-structured microemulsions with domain sizes ranging from ∼35 to 60 nm. With few exceptions, the patterns of microemulsion phase behavior with concentrated sugar solutions are very similar to that of aqueous systems.

Forty-six species and three varieties of terricolous and saxicolous, cyanobacterial lichens are mentioned from the Canary Islands. The new combination Lichinella undulata (Henssen) M.Schultz & v.d.Boom is proposed. Gonohymenia cribellifera ssp. macrocarpum is reduced to synonymy with Lichinella cribellifera. Nineteen species and three varieties are new to the Canary Islands and many taxa are recorded as new for at least one of the Islands. New records of rare or poorly known lichens include: Heppia arenacea, H. conchiloba, Peccania arabica, Peccania teretiuscula, Peltula farinosa and Psorotichia hassei. An annotated list with notes on taxonomy, morphology, ecology and distribution of the species is provided. Selected species are illustrated.

Thelopsis paucispora is described as new from Socotra (Yemen, Indian Ocean). The species is characterized by asci containing 30–40, two-celled spores, Trentepohlia as photobiont and a crustose subeffigurate thallus colonizing calcareous rock. A key for all known species of the genus Thelopsis is provided.