Glypholecia qinghaiensis An C. Yin, Q. Y. Zhong & Li S. Wang, sp. nov.

Yin, An-cheng, Zhong, Qiu-yi, Scheidegger, Christoph, Jin, Ji-zhen, Worthy, Fiona R., Wang, Li-song & Wang, Xin-yu, 2023, The phylogeny and taxonomy of Glypholecia (Acarosporaceae, lichenized Ascomycota), including a new species from northwestern China, MycoKeys 98, pp. 153-165 : 153

Glypholecia qinghaiensis An C. Yin, Q. Y. Zhong & Li S. Wang, sp. nov.

Fig. 1 青海聚盘衣

Remark.

Resembles G. scabra , has abundant and compound apothecia, but differs in having ellipsoid ascospores, rhizines, and a different molecular fingerprint (based on nrITS and mtSSU data).

Type.

China, Qinghai Prov., Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture , Dulan Co., 3066 m, on sandy soil, 2020-09-15, Wang Lisong et al. 20-68255 (holotype - KUN) .

Thallus squamulose to squamulose-subfoliose, peltate-subumbilicate, up to 6 mm in diam., 6.5-7 mm thick, with margins sometimes rolling under; surface: upper surface white, pale brown to brown, cracked and wrinkled, usually warty, partly pruinose or occasionally densely pruinose at margins; lower surface white, gray to pale brown, rough, wrinkled, rhizines, umbilicate, 3-6 mm long, attached with a broad; upper cortex: paraplectenchymatous, pale brown, containing calcium oxalate crystals, 30-70 μm thick; medulla: pale, containing calcium oxalate crystals, 125-250 μm thick; hyphae loose, arachnoid, 2.5-3 μm. Apothecia very common, lecanorine, punctiform when young, but later becoming compound reddish brown to dark brown, becoming lower than the thallus surface when mature; disc with cracks and sometimes tuberculous; paraphyses septate, 2-2.5 μm in diam.; margins concolorous with the thallus; asci: clavate, c. (30-)50-spored; ascospores: ellipsoid, 4-6.5 × 2.5-3 μm, hyaline, thick wall. Pycnidia: rare, flask-shaped. Conidia bacilliform, c. 2-3 × 1 µm.

Chemistry.

Hymenium: I+ blue; cortex and medulla: K-, C+ red, KC+ red, P-; secondary metabolites: gyrophoric acid.

Ecology and distribution.

Usually on sandy rocks or rarely on soil over rocks; so far only known from Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai and Xizang provinces in China; growing in arid to semi-arid areas; distributed from 1600 to 4700 m altitude.

Etymology.

The epithet " qinghaiensis " refers to the holotype locality of the species.

Notes.

Glypholecia qinghaiensis can be distinguished from G. scabra by having ellipsoid ascospores and rhizines. Phylogenetic analysis in this study supports the separate classification of these two species. This species has only been reported from northwestern China, including Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai and Xizang provinces.

Specimens examined.

China (stored in KUN). Gansu Prov.: Jiuquan City, Yumen City , Yuerhong Vil. , 3044 m, on rock, 2018-05-27, Wang Lisong et al. 18-59534; Subei Mongolian Autonomous Co., Suyan Line , 2376m, on soil over rock, 2018-05-23, Wang Lisong et al. 18-58434 ; Ningxia Prov.: Zhongwei Co., Suwumuyang Site , 1611 m, on rock, 2010-09-19, Niu Dong-Ling et al. 10-0241 . Qinghai Prov.: Dulan Co., 3066 m, on sandy rock, 2020-09-15, Wang Lisong et al. 20-68255 ; Xinjiang Prov.: Wuqia Co., Fossil hill, 2559 m, on sandy rock, 2022-06-26, Wang Lisong et al. 22-71630 .

Figures

Figure 1. Morphology and anatomy of Glypholecia qinghaiensis A upper surface of the thallus B section of the thallus and apothecia (Lugol's) C paraphyses and asci D ascospores. Scale bars: 1 mm (A); 50 μm (B); 10 μm (C); 5 μm (D).