Lecanora upretii Papong, Nayaka & Lumbsch, 2012

Papong, Khwanruan, Nayaka, Sanjeeva & Lumbsch, H. Thorsten, 2012, Two new species and a new record of Lecanora sensu stricto (Lecanoraceae, Ascomycota) from India, Phytotaxa 68 (1), pp. 24-28 : 26-27

Lecanora upretii Papong, Nayaka & Lumbsch , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 C & D ) Mycobank no. MB800988

Similar to Lecanora queenslandica , but differing in having larger ascospores and lacking the psoromic acid chemosyndrome.

Type:— INDIA. Himachal Pradesh: Sirmaur district, Renuka, Arat Reserve forest , elev. 2,010 m., on bark, 2 Jul. 2000, S . Chatterjee , A . Dubey & S . Nayaka 20-66782 A (holotype LWG!, isotype F!) .

Thallus crustose, verrucose to verruculose, thin to thick, glossy, whitish grey to greenish; margin indistinct; prothallus not visible. Soralia not seen. Apothecia sessile, strongly constricted at base, 0.4–1.8 mm diam., lecanorine; disc yellow-brown to pale brown, shiny, plane, epruinose; margin concolourous with thallus, prominent, thick, smooth, entire to verruculose, flexuose. Amphithecial cortex uniform, gelatinous, inspersed with crystals, hyaline, 25–40 µm thick. Amphithecium with large and numerous small crystals (= melacarpella– type). Hypothecium hyaline, 55–70 µm high, parathecium hyaline, with yellowish crystals, 5–7 µm thick. Hymenium hyaline, 70–85 µm high, clear. Epihymenium light brown, 10–12 µm thick, with numerous, small crystals; pigmentation and crystals dissolving in K (= pulicaris - type). Paraphyses sparingly branched, apically slightly swollen, hyaline. Asci clavate, 50.0–62.5 × 12.5–17.5 µm, 8-spored. Ascospores ellipsoid, 15.0–17.5 × 8.0– 10.5 µm. Pycnidia not seen. Chemistry: Thallus and apothecial margin K + yellow, C –, KC–; containing atranorin and usnic acid.

Notes: — Lecanora upretii is another usnic acid-containing species of Lecanora sensu stricto and among those species characterized by having yellow-brown to pale brown apothecial discs, an amphithecium of the melacarpella- type, hyaline hypothecium, granulose epihymenium, relatively large ascospores, and the presence of atranorin and usnic acid. It is readily distinguished from L. girigangaensis by a thinner thallus, smaller apothecia, larger ascospores, and the granulose epihymenium. Similar species with usnic acid include L. flavidofusca Müller (1895: 633) , L. interjecta , and L. queenslandica Knight in Bailey (1888: 85; Lumbsch et al. 1995). The former two species are readily distinguished by the presence of the arthothelin chemosyndrome. In addition, L. flavidofusca has smaller apothecia with darker apothecial discs, a thinner, interspersed amphithecial cortex, and smaller ascospores. Lecanora interjecta has smaller apothecia, and shorter, more broadly ellipsoid ascospores. Lecanora queenslandica differs in having smaller ascospores and containing the psoromic acid chemosyndrome.

Distribution and habitat: —The new species is known from two localities in India where the species occurs on bark in the subtemperate region of the Western Himalayas. The Arat Reserve forest is dominated by broad leaved trees, such as Rhododendron and Quercus , while Chail Wildlife Sanctuary has a mixture of coniferous and broad leaved trees.

Etymology: —The new species is named after Dalip K. Upreti, distinguished Indian lichenologist, who has made important contribution to the taxonomy of Lecanora in the Indian subcontinent.

Additional specimens examined: — India. Himachal Pradesh, Solan district, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary , elev. 2,060 m, on fallen twig, 2 Dec. 2000, S . Nayaka 20-86640 ( F, LWG) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. New Indian Lecanora species. A–B. L. girigingaensis (holotype). A. Detail of thallus showing apothecia. B. Habit. C–D. L. upretii (holotype). C. Detail of thallus showing apothecia. D. Habit. Scales: A–D=2 mm.