Candelariella aggregata M.Westb. Bryologist 110: 393. 2007.

Westberg, Martin & Clerc, Philippe, 2012, Five species of Candelaria and Candelariella (Ascomycota, Candelariales) new to Switzerland, MycoKeys 3, pp. 1-12 : 2-3

Candelariella aggregata M.Westb. Bryologist 110: 393. 2007.

Holoype.

U.S.A. Colorado: Larimer Co., Trail Ridge, 0.5 mi SE of Ranger Station, NW of Tombstone Ridge, 11500-11700 ft alt., 30 June 1962, R. A. Anderson 2229 (COLO!, isotype BRY!).

Candelariella aggregata was recently reported from Europe for the first time from the Murmansk Region in Russia ( Urbanavichus and Urbanavichene 2008) and also from Switzerland ( Spinelli 2011). It is a terricolous species growing in arctic-alpine areas as well as in dry, steppe-like habitats in North America, Asia and Europe ( Westberg 2007b, Westberg and Sohrabi manuscript). It is recognized by its yellow granular to areolate thallus, numerous and often crowded apothecia with a thin margin (Fig. 1). The asci are 8-spored with narrowly ellipsoid spores (14 –)15–18(– 21) × 5.0-6.0 µm. Compared to e.g., Candelariella aurella (Hoffm.) Zahlbr it also has a proper exciple that does not form a distinct stipe below the hymenium and the structure of the exciple is paraplechtenchymatous with thin cell-walls ( Westberg 2007b). Candelariella aggregata appears to be common in the continental parts of Switzerland in steppe-like habitats at low altitudes or on well lit calcareous walls on south-facing slopes at higher altitudes.

There is a large variation in thallus morphology, apothecia and in spore size in 8-spored terricolous material in Switzerland. Possibly several species are involved and this group is clearly in need of revision. The name Candelariella unilocularis (Elenkin) Nimis has been used for a terricolous species with a well-developed thallus and long spores but this name is a synonym of Candelariella aurella ( Khodosovtsev 2005, Westberg and Sohrabi in press). Material of the long-spored species from the Swiss Alps will be described in a forthcoming paper (Otte and Westberg, in prep.).

Specimens examined.

Graubünden: Ardez, alt. 1491 m, 11 Oct 2007, Vust (G 00298392, G 00298400); sous l’église de Feldis, alt. 1470 m, 6 June 1999, Clerc (G 00298388); Fetan, Mot da l’Hom, alt 2380 m, 24 July 1956, Frey (G 00298391); National Park, Piz Pisoc, 29 July 1934, Frey (G 00298390); Tarasp, alt. 1440 m, 10 Aug 1995, Vust (G 00298398); Tarasp, alt. 1420 m, 12 June 1998, Vust (G 00298389); Valais: Bagnes, LaLy, alt. 2350 m, 24 July 2008, Vust (G 00298397, 00298399); Charrat, alt. 518 m, 2 Oct 2007, Vust (G 00298394); Guttet/Leuk, alt. 1000 m, 18 Oct 1997, Vust (G 00298403); Loèche, alt. 855 m, 7 Aug 1997, Vust (G 00298395); Mauvoisin, alt. 2740 m, 15 Aug 1998, Vust (G 00298413); Mazembroz, alt. 600 m, 28 April 1999, Vust (G 00298402); Rarogne, Heidnischbiel, alt. 759 m, 16 Oct 2007, Vust (G 00122115); Saillon, colline du château, alt. 504 m, 20 Sept 2007, Vust (G 00298396); Saillon, W part of the Saillon hill, alt. c. 500 m, 19 Nov 2010, Westberg 10-178, 10-182 (S F177773, F177825); Vex, les Crêtes, alt. 1083 m, 5 Aug 1996, Vust (G 00298404); Zeneggen, alt. 1315 m, 15 Oct 2007, Vust (G 00298393, G 00298401); Zeneggen, Eich, 1010-1030 m, 19 Nov 2010, Westberg 10-193 (S F178469).