Cladonia strepsilis (Ach.) Grognot (1863: 85)

Yánez-Ayabaca, A., Ahti, T. & Bungartz, F., 2013, The Family Cladoniaceae (Lecanorales) in the Galapagos Islands, Phytotaxa 129 (1), pp. 1-33 : 27

Cladonia strepsilis (Ach.) Grognot (1863: 85)

( Fig. 6d )

Primary thallus persistent, abundant, dominant, forming dense cushions of thick, crenate, and grayish green squamules, esorediate, epruinose; podetia not observed among the Galapagos material.

Spot tests and chemistry: P+ yellow; K−; C+ green, KC+ green; baeomycesic acid, strepsilin.

Distribution and ecology: New to Ecuador and the Galapagos; known from Isabela and Santa Cruz Island. The nearest earlier records are from Colombia and Guatemala ( Ahti 2000). In Galapagos a rare species, known only from the humid zone; found on the ground, on soil or rock, rarely also as epiphyte.

Notes: The distinct cushions of thick, crenate squamules are not easily mistaken for other species of Cladonia and specimens cannot possibly be misidentified because of the conspicuous C+ green spot test reaction caused by strepsilin, a substance not known from any other Cladonia species.

Specimens examined: ECUADOR. GALAPAGOS: Isabela Island, Volcán Alcedo, outer SE-exposed slope, ca. 100 m below the crater rim, 0°25’36”S, 91°5’12”W, 1146 m, humid zone, on rock, 6 Mar 2006, Bungartz, F. 4134 ( CDS 28165) . Santa Cruz Island, eastern slope below the summit of El Puntudo, 0°38’42”S, 90°20’14”W, 780 m, humid zone, on soil, 28 Feb 2006, Aptroot, A. 64681 ( CDS 31255) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. a general growth aspect of Cladonia aff. ramulosa (Aptroot 65546, scale 5mm); b pale yellow, elongate podetia of Cladonia scholanderi (Clerc 08-196, scale 10mm); c podetia of Cladonia aff. sphacelata (Bungartz 8349, scale 5 mm). d thick, crenate, and grayish green, esorediate squamules of Cladonia strepsilis (Bungartz 4134, scale 3 mm); e slender podetia of Cladonia subradiata (Bungartz 8162, scale 5 mm); f Cladonia subsquamosa, cone-shaped cups with marginal proliferations, podetia generally