Search

Indigofera yuanjiangensis X.F. Gao & Xue Li Zhao (Fabaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. Information about its distribution, habitat, and phenology is also provided. The species is morphologically similar to I. megaphylla, I. esquirolii and I. sticta, but they differ in the leaf length, leaflet number, leaflet size, raceme length, flower color and standard size.

Hawaiian lichen species have been thought to be widespread, with low endemism. Nine species of the genus Sticta (Peltigeraceae subfamily Lobarioideae) have previously been reported for Hawaii, all supposedly cosmopolitan or Pantropical or widespread in the Paleotropics except for the putative endemic S. plumbicolor. This study is the first one employing a molecular phylogenetic approach to Hawaiian Sticta, elucidating the relationships of these conspicuous and ecologically important macrolichens. We sequenced the ITS fungal barcoding locus and used a maximum likelihood approach to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships of Hawaiian Sticta from a large dataset of more than 200 species. Thirteen species were identified among Hawaiian Sticta, four more than previously recorded. Of these, seven are new to science and putatively endemic to Hawaii. Only four previously reported species were confirmed: S. fuliginosa, S. limbata, S. plumbicolor and S. tomentosa. Together with S. plumbicolor and S. scabrosa subsp. hawaiiensis (described elsewhere), putative endemism in Hawaiian Sticta is estimated at 69%. The 13 species correspond to nine or ten colonization events, predominantly from the Australasian realm. Thus, the evolutionary history of Sticta lichens in the Hawaiian archipelago is very different from what has been assumed, and matches that of other organisms in many aspects. The seven new species, all with cyanobacterial photobionts, are Sticta acyphellata, a small, stipitate Sticta with isidia and lacking cyphellae; S. antoniana, a mid-sized Sticta with abundant marginal lobules, apothecia, and a thick, grey-brown lower tomentum ending abruptly to leave a bare marginal zone; S. emmanueliana, a small, shortly stipitate Sticta forming small lobes with marginal isidia and black cilia; S. flynnii, a small, shortly stipitate Sticta with largely unbranched thallus with marginal isidia and a veined underside producing large, irregular cyphellae; S. hawaiiensis, a small Sticta with a suborbicular thallus with laminal isidia, conspicuous white cilia, and papillae on the membrane of the cyphellae; S. smithii, a small, stipitate Sticta with marginal, flattened isidia and small cyphellae; and S. waikamoi, a small to mid-sized Sticta with a much-branched thallus with slightly canaliculate lobes and marginal, dark isidia, and a thick, dark brown lower tomentum with strongly contrasting whitish cyphellae.

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 photobiont, 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.

Sticta, the most diverse genus of the Lobarioideae (Ascomycota: Peltigeraceae), contains species easily recognized by the presence of genuine cyphellae on the lower cortex of the thallus. Two new species collected in typical cerrado vegetation in Central Brazil are described as S. cerradensis and S. porella, including morphological, anatomical, and molecular analyses based on the ITS region. The two new taxa belong to one of the major Sticta clades, which contains mostly New World species. This work shows that the cerrado, a global biodiversity hotspot located in the center of South America, could contain a great diversity of new species of lichenized fungi.

Resumen Presentamos una actualización nomenclatural y taxonómica del Catálogo de Liqúenes de Colombia. Como resultado, el número de nombres reportados se reduce de 1821 a 1793, el total de taxones aceptados de 1732 a 1675, y el número de especies de 1672 a 1634. El número de reportes dudosos o excluidos, que incluye nombres con estado nomenclatural o taxonómico no resuelto, se aumenta de 80 a 109. El número de géneros reportados para Colombia aumenta de 272 a 306; se excluyen 29 géneros anteriormente reportados y se incluyen 63 géneros hasta la fecha no reportados. La actualización reduce el total de familias de 73 a 69; resulta en la eliminación de 13 familias y la inclusión de 9 familias anteriormente no reportadas. Basado en la revisión de material antes reportado bajo nombres incorrectos, se reportan tres nuevos registros para Colombia: Caloplaca granularis (Müll.Arg.) Zahlbr., Haematomma persoonii (Fée) A. Massal. y Ochrolechia subpallescens Verseghy. Además, confirmamos la presencia de las especies: Physcia crispula Müll.Arg., Pseudocyphellaria citrina (Gyeln.) Lücking, Moncada & S. Stenroos, Pseudocyphellaria sandwicensis (Zahlbr.) Moncada & Lücking, Pseudocyphellaria xanthosticta (Pers.) Moncada & Lücking, Sticta sylvatica (Huds.) Ach., Usnea crenulata Truong & P. Clerc y Usnea mexicana Vain. También se introducen 16 novedades nomenclaturales: Ancistrosporella gracilior (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (basiónimo: Opegrapha gracilior Nyl.); Bacidia neofusconigrescens Lücking nom. nov. (sinónimo reemplazado: Lecidea millegrana var. fusconigrescensNyl.) [non Bacidiafusconigrescens (Kremp.) Zahlbr.]; Diploschistes bartlettii (Lumbsch) Lücking comb. et stat. nov. (basiónimo: Diploschistes muscorum subsp. bartlettii Lumbsch); Gymnographopsis koreaiensis (Sipman) Lücking & Sipman comb. nov. (basiónimo: Graphis koreaiensis Sipman); Imshaugia angustior (Nyl.) Sipman (basiónimo: Parmelia angustior Nyl.); Kalbographa cabbalistica (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (basiónimo: Graphis cabbalistica Nyl.; sinónimo nuevo: Graphina caracasana Müll.Arg.); Leptogium pseudolivaceum Lücking nom. nov. (sinónimo reemplazado: Collema olivaceum Hook.) [nom. illeg., non Leptogium olivaceum F. Wilson]; Malmidea demutans (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (basiónimo: Lecidea demutans Nyl.); Ocellularia leucocarpoides (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (basiónimo: Thelotrema leucocarpoides Nyl.; sinónimo nuevo: Ocellularia fuscospora Lücking & Pérez-Ort.); Phaeographis decolorascens (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (basiónimo: Graphis decolorascens Nyl.); Phlyctis endecamera (Nyl.) Lücking & Sipman comb. nov. (basiónimo: Platygrapha endecamera Nyl.); Sprucidea fuscula (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (basiónimo: Lecideafuscula Nyl.); Sticta rudiuscula (Vain.) Moncada & Lücking comb. et stat. nov. (basiónimo: Sticta damicornis f. rudiuscula Vain.); Sticta subdenudata Moncada & Lücking nom. nov. (sinónimo reemplazado: Sticta laciniata var. denudata Nyl.) [non Sticta denudata Taylor]; Thalloloma scribillans (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (basiónimo: Graphis scribillans Nyl.; sinónimo nuevo: Graphis anguiniformis Vain.); y Yoshimuriella denudata (Taylor) Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. (basiónimo: Sticta denudata Taylor). Abstract We present a nomenclatural and taxonomic update of the Catálogo de Liquenes de Colombia. As a result, the number of reported names is reduced from 1821 to 1793, the total of accepted taxa from 1732 to 1675, and the number of species from 1672 to 1634. The number of doubtful or excluded reports, which includes names with unresolved nomenclatural or taxonomic status, increases from 80 to 109. The number of genera reported for Colombia increases from 272 to 306; 29 previously reported genera are excluded, and 63 genera not reported previously are included. The update reduces the total of families from 73 to 69; it results in the elimination of 13 families and the addition of 9 previously unreported families. We include three new records for Colombia: Caloplaca granularis (Müll.Arg.) Zahlbr., Haematomma persoonii (Fée) A. Massal., and Ochrolechia subpallescens Verseghy. Furthermore, we confirm the presence of the following species: Physcia crispula Müll. Arg., Pseudocyphellaria citrina (Gyeln.) Lücking, Moncada & S. Stenroos, Pseudocyphellaria sandwicensis (Zahlbr.) Moncada & Lücking, Pseudocyphellaria xanthosticta (Pers.) Moncada & Lücking, Sticta sylvatica (Huds.) Ach., Usnea crenulata Truong & P. Clerc, and Usnea mexicana Vain. We also introduce 16 nomenclatural novelties: Ancistrosporella gracilior (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (bas.: Opegrapha gracilior Nyl.); Bacidia neofusconigrescens Lücking nom. nov. (replaced syn.: Lecidea millegrana var. fusconigrescens Nyl.) [non Bacidia fusconigrescens (Kremp.) Zahlbr.]; Diploschistes bartlettii (Lumbsch) Lücking comb. et stat. nov. (bas.: Diploschistes muscorum subsp. bartlettii Lumbsch); Gymnographopsis koreaiensis (Sipman) Lücking & Sipman comb. nov. (bas.: Graphis koreaiensis Sipman); Imshaugia angustior (Nyl.) Sipman (bas.: Parmelia angustior Nyl.); Kalbographa cabbalistica (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (bas.: Graphis cabbalistica Nyl.; new syn.: Graphina caracasana Müll.Arg.); Leptogium pseudolivaceum Lücking nom. nov. (replaced syn.: Collema olivaceum Hook.) [nom. illeg., non Leptogium olivaceum F. Wilson]; Malmidea demutans (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (bas.: Lecidea demutans Nyl.); Ocellularia leucocarpoides (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (bas.: Thelotrema leucocarpoides Nyl.; new syn.: Ocellularia fuscospora Lücking & Pérez-Ort.); Phaeographis decolorascens (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (bas.: Graphis decolorascens Nyl.); Phlyctis endecamera (Nyl.) Lücking & Sipman comb. nov. (bas.: Platygrapha endecamera Nyl.); Sprucidea fuscula (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (bas.: Lecidea fuscula Nyl.); Sticta rudiuscula (Vain.) Moncada & Lücking comb. et stat. nov. (bas.: Sticta damicornis f. rudiuscula Vain.); Sticta subdenudata Moncada & Lücking nom. nov. (replaced syn.: Sticta laciniata var. denudata Nyl.) [non Sticta denudata Taylor]; Thalloloma scribillans (Nyl.) Lücking comb. nov. (bas.: Graphis scribillans Nyl.; new syn.: Graphis anguiniformis Vain.); and Yoshimuriella denudata (Taylor) Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. (bas.: Sticta denudata Taylor).

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-Diaz J. A., Smith C. W., Bungartz F., Serusiaux E., Lumbsch H. T. & Lucking 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.

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.

As part of long term studies focused in the lichenized mycobiota diversity from southern Argentina, two species of the family Lobariaceae (Peltigerales), Pseudocyphellaria pluvialis and Sticta longipes, are registered for the first time in Argentina. These species were previously reported as endemic from southern Chile. Brief descriptions, illustrations and information about the distribution and ecology of the species are provided.

We present a phylogenetic revision of theSticta filixmorphodeme in New Zealand. This non-monophyletic group of early diverging clades in the genusStictais 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. andS. latifronsA. Rich., with two cyanomorphs separated under the namesDendriscocaulon dendriothamnodesDughi ex D. J. Galloway (traditionally associated withS. latifrons) andD. dendroides(Nyl.) R. Sant. ex H. Magn. (traditionally associated withS. filix).Sticta lacerawas not included in the present study due to the lack of authentic material (all specimens originally identified under that name and sequenced clustered withS. filix);S. filixwas confirmed as a distinct species whereasS. latifronss. lat. was shown to represent two unrelated species,S. latifronss. str. and the reinstatedS. menziesiiHook. f. & Taylor. The cyanomorphs ofS. filixandS. latifronsare not conspecific with the types of the namesD. dendriothamnodesandD. dendroides, respectively; theD. dendriothamnodescyanomorph belongs to the Australian taxonSticta stipitataC. Knight ex F. Wilson, which is not present in New Zealand, whereas theD. dendroidescyanomorph corresponds to a previously unrecognized species with unknown chloromorph, recombined here asSticta 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) andS. 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. dendroidesandS. menziesii, appear to perform particularly well in this respect. The use of lichens as bioindicators of environmental health is not yet established in New Zealand and so, based on our results, we make the case to develop this approach more thoroughly.

An inventory of epiphyte lichens was carried out on 15 phorophytes of Quercus laurina Humb. & Bonpl. located along a mountain ridge in a mountain cloud forest at La Cortadura Ecological Reserve, Coatepec, Veracruz. For each tree the five zones following Johansson's method were distinguished. Ascents were made in selected trees using the single-rope technique, collecting samples along the trunk and some branches of the crown. A total of 126 lichen species were found, belonging to 60 genera, 24 families and 10 orders. The most diverse genus was Graphis (12 species), followed by Parmotrema (9), Hypotrachyna (8), Pertusaria and Usnea (5). Crustose lichens dominated (79%) over foliose (38%) and fruticose (8%) types. Although some species preferred one of the trees while others were common to all (13), no significant differences were observed between phorophytes. The genus Sticta was found in basal and intermediate tree zones; Ramalina and Usnea were recorded in all areas. Twenty-one new records are re...

Biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles have been accomplished using dried biomass of two high altitude lichen species, collected from the alpine region of Eastern Himalaya in Arunachal Pradesh state of North East India, without addition of any external reducing or stabilizing chemicals. The nanoparticles were characterised by UV–visible, FT-IR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The as-obtained gold nanoparticles showed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at ~535 nm. The XRD study furnished evidence for the formation of face-centered cubic structure of gold nanomaterials. The nanoparticles produced with Acroscyphus sp. consisted of multiply twinned quasi-spherical and prismatic shapes while those accessed with Sticta sp. are exclusively multiply twinned. The biomatrix loaded gold nanomaterial exhibited pronounced antioxidant activity.

An intensive lichen biodiversity inventory of the imperiled Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain of eastern North America resulted in the discovery of a new species of the ecologically sensitive macrolichen genus Sticta. The species is formally described as S. deyana based on a combination of molecular and morphological data. It is most similar to the southern Appalachian endemic S. fragilinata, differing in its diminutive thallus, narrower lobes, and allopatric distribution. All but one population of S. deyana occurs within the Dare Regional Biodiversity Hotspot of coastal North Carolina and within the most conservative estimated sea-level rise by 2100.

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.

Dos nuevos registros de la familia Lobariaceae (Ascomycota liquenizados: Peltigerales) para la Argentina. Como parte de estudios a largo plazo enfocados en la diversidad de hongos liquenizados del sur de Argentina, se registran por primera vez para el país dos especies de la familia Lobariaceae (Peltigerales), Pseudocyphellaria pluvialis y Sticta longipes. Estas especies fueron citadas previamente como endémicas del sur de Chile. Se presentan descripciones breves, ilustraciones e información sobre la distribución y ecología de las especies. As part of long term studies focused in the lichenized mycobiota diversity from southern Argentina, two species of the family Lobariaceae (Peltigerales), Pseudocyphellaria pluvialis and Sticta longipes, are registered for the first time in Argentina. These species were previously reported as endemic from southern Chile. Brief descriptions, illustrations and information about the distribution and ecology of the species are provided. Fil: Passo, Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Vidal Russell, Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Scervino, Jose Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Messuti, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina

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.

Lichen biodiversity and its generative evolutionary processes are practically unknown in the MIOI (Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands) biodiversity hotspot. We sought to test the hypothesis that lichenized fungi in this region have undergone a rapid radiation, following a single colonization event, giving rise to narrow endemics, as is characteristic of other lineages of plants. We extensively sampled specimens of the lichen genus Sticta in the Mascarene archipelago (mainly Reunion) and in Madagascar, mainly in the northern range (Amber Mt and Marojejy Mt) and produced the fungal ITS barcode sequence for 148 thalli. We further produced a four-loci data matrix for 68 of them, representing the diversity and geographical distribution of ITS haplotypes. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships within this group, established species boundaries with morphological context, and estimated the date of the most recent common ancestor. Our inferences resolve a robust clade comprising 31 endemic species of Sticta that arose from the diversification following a single recent (c. 11 Mya) colonization event. All but three species have a very restricted range, endemic to either the Mascarene archipelago or a single massif in Madagascar. The first genus of lichens to be studied with molecular data in this region underwent a recent radiation, exhibits micro-endemism, and thus exemplifies the biodiversity characteristics found in other taxa in Madagascar and the Mascarenes.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Lichen-forming fungi produce diverse vegetative tissues, some closely resembling those of plants. Yet it has been repeatedly affirmed that none is a true parenchyma, in which cellular compartments are subdivided from all adjacent neighbors by cross walls adjoining older cross walls. METHODS: Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we tested this assumption by examining patterns of septum formation in the parenchyma-like cortex of three lichens of different phylogenetic affinities: Sticta canariensis, Leptogium cyanescens, and Endocarpon pusillum. KEY RESULTS: In the cortex of all three lichens, new septa adjoined perpendicularly or obliquely to previous septa. Septal walls possessed an electron-transparent core (median) layer covered on both sides by layers of intermediate electron density. At septal junctures, the core layer of the newer septum was not continuous with that of the older septum. Amorphous, electron-dense material often became deposited in the core region of older septal walls, and the septum gradually delaminated along its median into what could then be recognized as the distinct walls of neighboring cells. However, cells maintained continuity at pores, where adjacent remnants of the electron-transparent core layer suggested septal partition rather than secondary establishment of a lateral wall connection via anastomosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although fungal tissues first arise by the coalescence of filaments early in lichen ontogeny, the mature cortical tissues of some lichens are comparable to true parenchyma in the unrestricted orientation of their septal cross walls and the resulting ontogenetic relationship among neighboring cell compartments.

Sticta (Schreber.) Ach. is one of the common lichen genera in tropical and subtropical regions, but not in the Korean Peninsula. For almost two decades, no detailed taxonomic or revisionary study has been done on this genus. This study was based on the specimens deposited in the lichen herbarium at the Korean Lichen Research Institute, and the samples were identified on the basis of recent literature. In this revisionary study, a total of eight species of Sticta, including a newly recorded one are documented. These species include Sticta fuliginosa (Dicks.) Ach., Sticta gracilis (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr., Sticta limbata (Sm.) Ach., Sticta nylanderiana Zahlbr., Sticta sublimbata (J. Steiner) Swinscow & Krog, Sticta weigelii (Ach.) Vain., Sticta wrightii Tuck., and Sticta yatabeana Müll. Arg. Detailed descriptions of S. nylanderiana, S. sublimbata, S. weigelii, and S. yatabeana with their morphological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics are provided. A key description of all known Sticta species of the Korean Peninsula is also presented.

The work presents lichenological materials collected in the years 1964–1969 in the area of the Beskid Wyspowy, Beskid Żywiecki and Pasmo Jałowca Ranges and the Babia Góra Massif in the Western Carpathians. In the years 1996–1997 comparative studies of those mountain ranges were undertaken again. However, the author managed to reinvestigate the lichens of the Beskid Wyspowy Rangę only, he will probably not be able to continue the research in the other ranges. The check-list of the lichen species occurring there in the sixties, published nów for the first time, can be the reference for the lichenologists who would carry out this project in the same way as the author referenced to the former investigations (STEIN 1872; REHMAN 1879; BOBERSKI 1886; MOTYKA 1934; ZSHACKE 1934; SUZA 1951). In the Beskid Wyspowy Range 342 species of lichens were found, among them 112 epiphytic species, 30 epixylic species, 6 epibryophytic species, 55 epigeic species and 139 epilithic species were recorded. One species of lichenicolous fungus was also found Epilichen scabrosus. In the Beskid Żywiecki and Pasmo Jałowca Ranges, and Babia Góra Massif 543 species of lichens occurred, among them 183 epiphytic species, 43 epixylic species, 21 epibryophytic species, 69 epigeic species and 194 epilithic species. The check-list includes also lichenicolous species: Carbonea vitellinaria, Chaenothecopsis consociata, Microcalicium arenarium, Sphinctrina turbinata, Stenocybe pullatula. In the Babia Góra Massif 27 species previously published from there were not found again: Catolechia wahlenbergii, Cliostomum corrugatum, Phaeographis dendritica, Polyblastia cupularis, P. sendtneri, Solorina crocea, Sticta syhatica (comp. STEIN 1872), Ramalina calicaris (REHMAN 1879), Usneaflorida, U. longissima, U. scrobiculata (MOTYKA 1934), Polyblastia pallescens (ZSCHACKE 1934), Arthrorhaphis alpina, Cladonia amaurocrea, C. bellidiflora, C. cyanipes, C. macrophylla, Evernia divaricata, Hypotrachyna sinuosa, Mycobilimbia berengeriana, Nephroma laevigatum, Peltigera malacea, P. venosa, Solorina saccata, Sphaerophorus fragilis, Sporastatia polyspora, Thamnolia vermicularis (comp. SUZA 1951).

There are described and illustrated Myrcia caloneura, M. oreophila, M. sticta and M. tarauacana. Myrcia caloneura, from the states of Amazonas and Pará, is related to M. rugosior, but differs by its adult glabrescent blades and tetramerous flowers; M. oreophila, from the state of Roraima,is related to M. aegiphiloides, but has pilose, loosely reticulate blades and pilose flowers; M. sticta, from the state of Amazonas, is close to M. splendens, but has blades with rounded to cordate base and larger and easily visible glandular dots, and M. tarauacana is related to M. aequatoriensis and M. crassimarginata but has shorter blades and longer inflorescences. Conservation status of each species is also suggested.

We report Coccocarpia filiformis as new to North America, based on 10 herbarium specimens (FH, MSC, and US) and one recent field collection. Coccocarpia filiformis has been collected in North America but misidentified since 1885. It is found in oak hammocks, scrub and cypress swamps from north Central Florida to the Panhandle, growing amongst liverworts and occasionally on other lichens. In addition, we report Coccocarpia pellita and Lecanora barkmaniana as new to North America. We report Sticta carolinensis, Bagliettoa baldensis, Nephroma helveticum and Endocarpon petrolepideum as new to the state of Florida. We also report the second collection of Coccocarpia prostrata to North America. Notes and a key to North American Coccocarpia are included, as are ecological and distribution data for other uncommon Florida lichens.

As part of a larger systematic and taxonomic revision of the genus Sticta in the northern Andes, several species were discovered forming green algal and cyanobacterial photosymbiodemes, seven of which are new to science and are described here—S. lobarioides Moncada & Coca, S. macrothallina Moncada & Coca, S. neopulmonarioides Moncada & Coca, S. phyllidiokunthii Moncada & Lucking, S. pseudolobaria Moncada & Coca, S. pulmonarioides Moncada & Coca, and S. tatamana Moncada & Coca. All species are discussed and illustrated, and a key to species with Lobaria pulmonaria gross morphology is given.

We present a molecular phylogenetic study of the lichen genus Sticta focusing on Colombia, using the ITS fungal barcoding gene for a total of 370 ingroup OTUs, with 322 newly generated sequences. The topology resulting from a maximum likelihood approach does not support current species concepts in Sticta, which use a morphological concept, but in contrast shows that similar morphodemes evolved multiple times independently within the genus. As a consequence, currently applied names such as S. fuliginosa and S. weigelii comprise numerous (up to more than 20) unrelated species-level lineages, which can be distinguished also phenotypically using previously unrecognized characters such as lobe configuration, lobe surface structure, tomentum type, and anatomy of the basal membrane of the cyphellae. We conclude that the genus Sticta contains about four to five times the number of species currently recognized. In Colombia alone, approximately 150 species of Sticta are present.

In our earlier work, we demonstrated that the oxidases tyrosinase and laccase occur widely in lichens from the Peltigerales. Recently, we discovered the occurrence of another oxidoreductase, a heme peroxidase, in the Peltigeralean ‘jelly lichens’ Leptogium and Collema. Here we present the results of a survey of peroxidase activity in a range of lichens. In addition to the jelly lichens, strong peroxidase activity also occurs within the Peltigeralean genera Lobaria, Pseudocyphellaria and Sticta. Significant activity occurs in the cell wall, and, unlike laccase activity, peroxidase activity increases considerably following the rehydration of dry thalli. However, activity is absent from Peltigera and from the non-Peltigeralean species tested here. Electrophoretic investigation showed that lichen peroxidases are oligomeric. Possible roles for peroxidases in lichen biology are discussed.

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 & Lücking comb. nov. [Lobaria platyphylla Trevis.; Sticta nylanderiana Zahlbr.], D. platyphylloides (Nyl.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Sticta platyphylloides Nyl.], D. oroborealis (Goward & Tønsberg) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Sticta oroborealis Goward & Tønsberg], D. praetextata (Räsänen) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Sticta platyphylla var. praetextata Räsänen; S. praetextata (Räsänen) D. D. Awasthi], D. wrightii (Tuck.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Sticta wrightii Tuck.], Lobariella corallophora (Yoshim.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. et stat. nov. [Lobaria exornata var. corallophora Yoshim.], Yoshimuriella carassensis (Vain.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Lobaria carassensis Vain.], Y. corrosa (Ach.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Sticta dissecta var. corrosa Ach.; Lobaria corrosa (Ach.) Vain.], Y. deplanata (Nyl.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Ricasolia subdissecta f. deplanata Nyl.; Lobaria deplanata (Nyl.) Yoshim.], Y. dissecta (Sw.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Lichen dissectus Sw.; Lobaria dissecta (Sw.) Raeusch], Y. fendleri (Tuck. & Mont.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Sticta fendleri Tuck. & Mont.; Lobaria fendleri (Tuck. & Mont.) Lindau], Y. subcorrosa (Nyl.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Ricasolia subcorrosa Nyl.; Lobaria subcorrosa (Nyl.) Vain.], and Y. subdissecta (Nyl.) B. Moncada & Lücking comb. nov. [Ricasolia subdissecta Nyl.; Lobaria subdissecta (Nyl.) Vain.].

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.

Two new photomorphs in the Lobariaceae have been found on the remote island of Reunion in the Mascarene archipelago: the free-living Dendriscocaulon-like cyanomorph of the pantropical Lobaria discolor, and the cyanomorph of Sticta dichotoma, a species apparently endemic to the western parts of the Indian Ocean, known only from its chloromorph. Inferences from three loci demonstrate that the fungus involved in each morph of either pair belongs to the same species. Phylogenetic analyses resolve all genera of the Lobariaceae as polyphyletic, and all Dendriscocaulon-like cyanomorphs within Lobaria, except for D. dendroides, which belongs to Sticta.

Cyanolichens are usually stated to be bipartite (mycobiont plus cyanobacterial photobiont). Analyses revealed green algal carbohydrates in supposedly cyanobacterial lichens (in the genera Pseudocyphellaria, Sticta and Peltigera). Investigations were carried out to determine if both cyanobacteria and green algae were present in these lichens and, if so, what were their roles.The types of photobiont present were determined by light and fluorescence microscopy. Small carbohydrates were analysed to detect the presence of green algal metabolites. Thalli were treated with selected strengths of Zn(2+) solutions that stop cyanobacterial but not green algal photosynthesis. CO(2) exchange was measured before and after treatment to determine the contribution of each photobiont to total thallus photosynthesis. Heterocyst frequencies were determined to clarify whether the cyanobacteria were modified for increased nitrogen fixation (high heterocyst frequencies) or were normal, vegetative cells.Several cyanobacterial lichens had green algae present in the photosynthetic layer of the thallus. The presence of the green algal transfer carbohydrate (ribitol) and the incomplete inhibition of thallus photosynthesis upon treatment with Zn(2+) solutions showed that both photobionts contributed to the photosynthesis of the lichen thallus. Low heterocyst frequencies showed that, despite the presence of adjacent green algae, the cyanobacteria were not altered to increase nitrogen fixation.These cyanobacterial lichens are a tripartite lichen symbiont combination in which the mycobiont has two primarily photosynthetic photobionts, 'co-primary photobionts', a cyanobacterium (dominant) and a green alga. This demonstrates high flexibility in photobiont choice by the mycobiont in the Peltigerales. Overall thallus appearance does not change whether one or two photobionts are present in the cyanobacterial thallus. This suggests that, if there is a photobiont effect on thallus structure, it is not specific to one or the other photobiont.

La micobiota liquénica de la Región de Aisén incluye 319 especies en 87 géneros; el número total de especies de los géneros Menegazzia y Protousnea registrados en Chile se encuentran en esta región. La diversidad de biomas, desde bosques templado-lluviosos, particularmente en zonas oceánicas, a áreas estepáricas, ofrece una variedad de macro y microhabitats favorables para los líquenes. La mayor diversidad liquénica (56 %) se registró en un área silvestre no intervenida en el Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael. La diversidad específica es más elevada en bosques templado-lluviosos que en zonas estepáricas, en estas últimas se registró la mayoría de los líquenes antárticos (23.0 %). El endemismo es más bien elevado (26.0 %); numerosas especies de los géneros Protousnea, Pseudocyphellaria, Menegazzia, Cladonia, Sticta, Nephroma son endémicas del sur de América del Sur. Las especies cosmopolitas (16 %), australes (16 %) y bipolares (13 %) son los elementos biogeográficos más representativos. La diversidad liquénica de Aisen corresponde al 20 % de la flora liquénica de Chile. The lichen mycobiota of Aisen (southern Chile) comprises 319 taxa in 87 genera. All of the species of Menegazzia and Protousnea, previously recorded in Chile, are present in this region. The diversity of biomes, from temperate rainforests -particularly in oceanic zones- to steppe areas, offers an enormous number of macro and microhabitats favorable for lichens. The highest lichen diversity, 56 %, was recorded in an undisturbed locality in Laguna San Rafael National Park. Lichen species diversity is higher in oceanic temperate rainforests than in steppe areas, where the majority of Antarctic lichens (23 %) are registered. Levels of endemism are rather high (26 %) and are due mainly to species of the genera Protousnea, Pseudocyphellaria, Menegazzia, Cladonia, Sticta, Nephroma. Other biogeographical elements in the region's lichen mycobiota are: cosmopolitan (16 %), austral (16 %) and bipolar (13 %). Lichen diversity in Aisen represents about 20 % of the known lichen mycobiota of Chile.

This is an historical and descriptive account of 28 herbarium specimens, 27 lichens and an alga, found in the archives of Charles Chalcraft, a descendant of the Bedford family, who were dye manufacturers in Leeds, England, in the 19th century. The lichens comprise 13 different morphotypes collected in the Canary Islands and West Africa by the French botanist J. M. Despreaux between 1833 and 1839. The collections include samples of Roccella fuciformis, R. phycopsis and R. tinctoria (including the fertile morphotype R. canariensis), Ramalina crispatula and R. cupularis, two distinct morphotypes of Sticta, S. canariensis and S. dufouri, Physconia enteroxantha, Pseudevernia furfuracea var. ceratea and Pseudocyphellaria argyracea. The herbarium also includes authentic material of Parmotrema tinctorum and a probable syntype of Seirophora scorigena. Most of these species are known as a source of the purple dye orchil, which was used to dye silk and wool. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 166, 185–211.

The macrolichens are a conspicuous component of the montane rainforest of Gran Piedra, Santiago de Cuba. This study aims at comparing the species composition, frequency and cover area of epiphytic macrolichens between the north and south slopes, as well as to determine the variation in species composition and frequency of epiphytic macrolichens in communities along and around the tree trunk. Six plots were sampled; three on the north-facing slope and three on the south slope. We found 21 species of macrolichens. Sticta beauvoisii, Hypotrachyna lineariloba and Pannaria tavaresii are new records for Cuba. Differences were observed in species composition between slopes, whereas neither the species composition nor the frequency changed significantly with cardinal orientation or vertical distribution on the trunk. Heterodermia leucomelaena and Leptogium austroamericanum were considered as indicators of the north slopes, and Cladonia ceratophylla of the south slope.