Cladonia scholanderi Abbayes (1949: 92)

Yánez-Ayabaca, A., Ahti, T. & Bungartz, F., 2013, The Family Cladoniaceae (Lecanorales) in the Galapagos Islands, Phytotaxa 129 (1), pp. 1-33 : 25

Cladonia scholanderi Abbayes (1949: 92)

( Fig. 6b )

Primary thallus subpersistent, of small, narrow squamules, esorediate, epruinose; podetia common, conspicuously yellowish green to pale yellow green, elongate, slender, 3–10 (–14.5) cm tall; unbranched to sparsely branched from the rim of narrow, open funnels; axils perforate; tips of funnel proliferations subulate; surface verrucose-arachnoid, densely granulose, but occasionally with schizidia and microsquamules; farinose soredia rare; pycnidia hyaline; apothecia not seen.

Spot tests and chemistry: P+ yellow; K+ yellow, C−, KC−, UV−; thamnolic and usnic acids.

Distribution and ecology: Known only from Isabela and Santa Cruz Island; known only from the humid zone, typically in fern-sedge grassland, often also part of reindeer heaths.

Notes: Cladonia scholanderi is easily recognized by its long, slender, elongate, conspicuously yellowish green podetia. It is also the only Galapagos species with “bottomless” cups, i.e., cups that are not scyphose but are open funnels.

Selected specimens examined: ECUADOR. GALAPAGOS: Isabela Island, Volcán Alcedo, outer Eexposed slope just below the crater rim, 0°25’17”S, 91°5’8”W, 1077 m, humid zone, basalt outcrops, on rock, 8 Mar 2006, Aptroot, A. 65172 ( CDS 31756) . Volcán Sierra Negra, South side of Sierra Negra crater, trail to Alemania , 0°51’17.60”S, 91°8’55.2”W, 924 m, humid zone, on soil/rocks, 16 Aug 2008, Clerc, P. 08-237, 08- 193, 08-196 ( CDS 40091, 40047 , 40050 ) , Herrera - Campos, M.A. 10707, 10704 ( CDS 40445, 40442 ) , Truong , C. 1251 ( CDS 39562) , Bungartz , F. 8346, 8347 ( CDS 40992, 40993 ) . Santa Cruz Island, 700 m, 1976, Weber & Lanier L-63343 ( COLO, H), 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. 64673 ( CDS 31247) , saddle between Mount Crocker and El Puntudo , 700 m, humid zone, on rock, 18 Apr 1976, Weber, W.A. ( COLO 297078 ) .

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