Candelariella granuliformis M.Westb. Bryologist 114: 328. 2011.

Westberg, Martin & Clerc, Philippe, 2012, Five species of Candelaria and Candelariella (Ascomycota, Candelariales) new to Switzerland, MycoKeys 3, pp. 1-12 : 5

Candelariella granuliformis M.Westb. Bryologist 114: 328. 2011.

Holotype.

CANADA. Nunavut: Kitikmeot. Victoria Island, Wollaston Peninsula, Falaise Bay. Lat/long: 69:28N 114:42W. Alt.: 100 m. 24 July 1999, Jan-Eric Mattsson 5209 (UPS L-105166!).

New to Switzerland. This is a recently described arctic-alpine species reported from North America and northern Scandinavia ( Westberg et al. 2011). This is possibly a circumpolar species and it is not surprising that it has now been found in Switzerland. The thallus is composed of small granules (Fig. 5) that soon disintegrate into blastidia (35-80 µm diam.) and the asci are polyspored. It is reminiscent of the corticolous species Candelariella xanthostigma but the substrate and the disintegrating areoles separate it from this species. Of the other terricolous species Candelariella aggregata has 8-spored asci and Candelariella vitellina has a much larger thallus of minute, effigurate areoles-subsquamules. The Swiss specimens were all collected in the continental parts of the country and were left unidentified until this study.

Specimens examined.

Graubünden: Scarl, Tamangur, alt. 2100, 24 July 1934, Frey (G 00298409); Valais, Cabane des Dix, alt. 2850 m. 14 Aug 1998, Vust (G 00298081); Vallon de Réchy, alt. 2370 m, 15 Aug 1996, Vust (G 00298080).