Lecanora galactiniza Nyl. (1876: 173) MycoBank

Bungartz, Frank, Elix, John A. & Printzen, Christian, 2020, Lecanoroid lichens in the Galapagos Islands: the genera Lecanora, Protoparmeliopsis, and Vainionora (Lecanoraceae, Lecanoromycetes), Phytotaxa 431 (1), pp. 1-85 : 47

Lecanora galactiniza Nyl. (1876: 173) MycoBank no. 388309

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA, WESTERN CAPE: Cape of Good Hope, exact locality unknown, original label data: “ Cap B. Spei ”, 1874, Eaton, A.E. s.n. [(H-Nyl 27914– lectotype selected by Guderley (1999)].

( Fig. 11D–F )

Thallus saxicolous, moderately thickened, verruculose areolate to bullate areolate or of distinctly subsquamulose areoles with convex edges, especially along the thallus margin; surface white to pale gray, rarely ±brownish gray, smooth, ±shiny, epruinose, lacking soredia; prothallus absent. Apothecia numerous, often densely aggregated, circular in outline, 0.3–0.6(–0.9) mm in diam., adnate to sessile, often crowded, distinctly lecanorine with a smooth to coarsely verrucose-crenulate, epruinose margin, concolorous with the thallus; disc plane to slightly convex, yellowish to greenish orange or intensely reddish brown, epruinose; hymenium hyaline, not inspersed, epihymenium with a persistent, insoluble yellowish reddish brown pigment (arnoldiana -brown: K+ dull brown, HCl+ reddish brown, N−) and crystals that dissolve in K (pulicaris - type); proper exciple thin, indistinct, with few crystals; thalline exciple thick, ±corticate, with large crystals insoluble in K (pulicaris - type); hypothecium hyaline; ascospores 8/ascus, simple, narrowly to broadly ellipsoid, (6.9−)9.3−12.2(−13.9) × (4.0−)5.0−6.3(−6.9) µm (n = 45). Pycnidia not seen.

Chemistry: Thallus cortex including apothecial margin P+ yellow, C−, KC−, K+ yellow; with atranorin [major], SV-1 [minor; derived from the photobiont and of no taxonomic significance]; [specimens analyzed with TLC: Aptroot, A. 65267 ( CDS 31853), Bungartz, F. 6956 ( CDS 36460), 8434 ( CDS 41080); Jaramillo, P. 2890 ( CDS 38810)].

Ecology and distribution: Almost cosmopolitan, with a preference for Mediterranean to subtropical climates, relatively few reports from South America ( Guderley 1999), new to Ecuador and the Galapagos; a moderately common species from the dry to the high altitude dry zone, in semi-shaded to exposed, often ±sheltered habitats close to the ground.

Notes: Lecanora galactiniza could be mistaken for the more common L. sulfurescens , but the apothecia of L. galactiniza are generally larger and typically have a deeper reddish brown disc, rather than being orange or pale yellow as in L. sulfurescens . With their strongly convex, granular to even subsquamulose areoles ( Fig. 11D, E ), the thalli of L. galactiniza are morphologically quite different from L. sulfurescens , which typically has a smooth, continuous surface ( Fig. 11C ). Immature specimens of L. sulfurescens develop as discontinuous, much more isolated areoles on a spidery prothallus ( Fig. 11A ) and on particularly grainy rock surfaces the thalli may become unusually granular ( Fig. 11B ). These thalli can then easily be confused with L. galactiniza . Both species contain atranorin but L. sulfurescens also contains gangaleoidin. Morphologically thalli of L. galactiniza closely resemble those of L. kalbii , but that species is pale yellow colored, the pigmentation caused by the presence of xanthones (thiophanic acid [major] and 3- O - methylthiophanic acid).

Specimens examined. ECUADOR. GALÁPAGOS: Floreana, trail from La Primavera Farm to La Corona and Arco de la Reina, southeastern part of the island, 1˚19’21.60’’ S, 90˚24’45.89’’W, 219 m alt., transition zone, very dense scrub of Clerodendrum molle with some Croton scouleri , Waltheria ovata , few Prosopis juliflora and occasional trees of Geoffroea spinosa in flat area on generally SE-exposed, moderately inclined slope with few boulders, on rock, 24-Jan-2011, Bungartz, F. 10148 ( CDS 47567); Pinzón, along the trail going up from Playa Escondida, N- to Wfacing cliff above a crater, 0˚36’29’’ S, 90˚40’14’’W, 318 m alt., transition zone, dry transition zone with Cordia lutea , Croton scouleri , and at the bottom of the cliff also Scalesia baurii ssp. baurii , lava, on rock, 16-Feb-2006, Aptroot, A. 64002 ( CDS 30563); San Cristóbal, Cerro Colorado, enclosure for Calandrinia galapagosa near the viewpoint on the top, 0˚54’58’’ S, 89˚26’5’’W, 130 m alt., transition zone, open scrubland with Croton scouleri , Macraea laricifolia , Calandrinia galapagosa , Lecocarpus darwinii and few trees of Piscidia carthagenensis among lava boulders on SEexposed slope of cinder cone, top of ledge on SE-exposed front of soft and weathered tuff outcrop, on rock, 29-Apr- 2007, Bungartz, F. 6715 ( CDS 34959); Cerro Colorado, fenced off area., 0˚54’58.39’’ S, 89˚26’4.70’’W, 132 m alt., transition zone, on rock, 15-May-2006, Jaramillo, P. 2890 ( CDS 38810); Santa Cruz, off the dirt road to Mina Granillo Rojo , on the N-side of the island, 0˚37’2’’ S, 90˚22’6’’W, 294 m alt., transition zone, deciduous forest of Zanthoxylum fagara , Psidium galapageium , Pisonia floribunda and few Bursera graveolens and Cedrela odorata , small basalt rock on the ground; semi-shaded, on rock, 21-Jun-2006, Bungartz, F. 4961 ( CDS 29174); along the road from Bellavista to El Garrapatero, ca. 2 km from the coast, at the campsite of the National Park, 0˚41’25’’ S, 90˚13’35’’W, 24 m alt., dry zone, deciduous dry lowland forest, Bursera graveolens , Acacia rorudiana , Opuntia echios , Croton scouleri , lava, on rock, 14-Feb-2006, Aptroot, A. 63955 ( CDS 30513). Santiago, along the trail from the caseta in La Central to La Bomba (at the coast), cliff ca. 2.5 km NE of the caseta, 0˚13’41’’ S, 90˚44’10’’W, 533 m alt., transition zone, SW-exposed basalt cliff with some ferns ( Adiantum concinnum , Pityrogramma calomelanos var. calomelanos , and Blechnum polypodioides ) growing in crevices, on rock, 25-Mar-2006, Bungartz, F. 4870 ( CDS 29069); along the trail from Bucanero to Jaboncillos, ca. 1 km below the summit, Cerro Gavilan, 0˚11’45’’ S, 90˚47’20’’W, 680 m alt., transition zone, open Psidium galapageium forest with Zanthoxylum fagara , Blainvillea dichotoma , Mentzelia aspera and Senna obtusifolia , basalt boulders and outcrops in between, lava, on rock, 22-Mar-2006, Aptroot, A. 65472 ( CDS 32061); Cerro Gavilan, directly below the summit at the NE-exposed slope, 0˚12’19’’ S, 90˚47’6’’W, 828 m alt., humid zone, formerly with scrub or forest, disturbed by former grazing therefore shrubs and trees missing; artificial pampa with Solanum americanum, Portulaca oleraceum , Senna occidentalis , Borreria laevis , and grasses, basalt boulders and outcrops, on rock, 22-Mar-2006, Bungartz, F. 4706 ( CDS 28804); summit of Cerro Gavilan, inner N- and NE-exposed crater rim, 0˚12’20’’ S, 90˚47’3’’W, 840 m alt., humid zone, N- and NE-exposed, steep basalt cliffs of crater rim with ferns ( Pityrogramma calomelanos var. calomelanos , Polypodium tridens , Dryopteris palmata , Adiantum concinnum , Blechnum polypodioides ) growing in crevices, on rock, 23-Mar-2006, Bungartz, F. 4758 ( CDS 28890). ca. 5 km inland from the E-coast, ± at the same latitude as Bahía Sullivan, 0˚16’37’’ S, 90˚37’24’’W, 163 m alt., dry zone, SEexposed slope of lava boulders, on rock, 18-Jul-2006, Bungartz, F. 5207 ( CDS 29420). Isabela, Volcán Alcedo, along the trail going up the E-slope, basalt rubble field to the SE-side of the trail and the barranco, 0˚24’6’’ S, 91˚2’53’’W, 530 m alt., dry zone, basalt rubble field with scattered vegetation ( Bursera graveolens , Zanthoxylum fagara , Pisonia floribunda , Senna pistaciifolia ), lava, on rock, 10-Mar-2006, Aptroot, A. 64950 ( CDS 31529); on the crater rim near the hut, 0˚26’33’’ S, 91˚5’31’’W, 1100 m alt., humid zone, Pteridium arachnoideum and Stachytarpheta cayennensis , scattered low shrubs of Tournefortia rufo-sericea and outcrops of basalt tuff in between, lava, on rock, 07-Mar- 2006, Aptroot, A. 65267 ( CDS 31853). Volcán Darwin, ca. 1.5 km from the southwestern crater rim, 0˚12’20.5’’ S, 91˚18’52.77’’W, 1280 m alt., high altitude dry zone, basalt outcrop bare of vegetation, +/- overhang, on rock, 14-Nov- 2007, Ertz, D. 11874 ( CDS 37233); southwestern slope, above Tagus Cove, 0˚13’59’’ S, 91˚20’8’’W, 597 m alt., dry zone, open Bursera graveolens forest with Croton scouleri and Macraea laricifolia shrubs, few Chiococca alba and Scalesia microcephala , among lava boulders and outcrops, on rock, 16-Nov-2007, Bungartz, F. 7812 ( CDS 38321); 0˚14’15.4’’ S, 91˚20’40.27’’W, 351 m alt., dry zone, open Bursera graveolens forest with Croton scouleri , Macraea laricifolia and Waltheria ovata , few trees of Acacia rorudiana , on rock, 16-Nov-2007, Bungartz, F. 7884 ( CDS 38393). Volcán Sierra Negra, along dirt road from Puerto Villamil to crater of Sierra Negra, 0˚55’12.4’’ S, 90˚59’38.20’’W, 30 m alt., dry zone, old lava flow with scattered vegetation ( Bursera graveolens , Opuntia echios , and Waltheria ovata ), on rock, 10-Sep-2007, Bungartz, F. 6951 ( CDS 36455), 6956 ( CDS 36460); Muro de las Lagrimas W of Puerto Villamil, along the stairs going up behind the wall, 0˚57’52.70’’ S, 91˚0’46.77’’W, 78 m alt., dry zone, dry zone vegetation with Bursera graveolens and Opuntia echios , slope 45° N, basaltic rocks at the side of the stairs, on rock, 17-Aug-2008, Herrera-Campos, M.A. 10744 ( CDS 40482), Bungartz, F. 8434 ( CDS 41080).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Species in the L. subfusca-group; superficially similar species with brown apothecial disc and pulicaris-type exciple (large crystals only). A–C. Ecological thallus variation of Lecanora sulfurescens. A. Scantly developed, thin thallus with net-like areoles, apothecia with pale greenish yellow disc; developed below shaded overhang on coarse lava (Bungartz, F. 4386, CDS 28471). B. Thallus of minute, scattered, isolated, granular areoles, apothecial disc chestnut brown; growing on strongly weathered rock with ±disintegrating mineral surface (Bungartz, F.6416, CDS 34631). C. Smooth, contiguous areolate thallus delimited by blackened prothallus line, apothecial disc chestnut brown; growing on smooth basalt surface (Bungartz, F. 4822, CDS 28988). D.–F. Lecanora galactiniza. D. Exuberant, thick areolate thallus with marginal areoles becoming subsquamulose, apothecial disc chestnut brown; growing at a nutrient-rich site (Bungartz, F.4706, CDS 28804). E. Thallus of discrete, dispersed squamules, apothecial disc dark brown; growing on coarse, irregular lava (Bungartz, F. 5207, CDS 29420). F. Section of apothecium with pulicaris-type exciple (with large crystals only) and pulicaris-type epihymenium (deep brown pigment not dissolving, but minute crystals dissolving in KOH; in KOH, DIC). Scales: A–E = 5 mm; F = 100 µm.