Leucodermia Kalb, 2015

Mongkolsuk, Pachara, Meesim, Sanya, Poengsungnoen, Vasun, Buaruang, Kawinnat, Schumm, Felix & Kalb, Klaus, 2015, The lichen family Physciaceae in Thailand-II. Contributions to the genus Heterodermia sensu lato, Phytotaxa 235 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

Leucodermia Kalb , gen. nov.

Mycobank MB 813825

Synonym: Anaptychia Körb. sect. Polyblastidium Kurok. ser. leucomelaenae Kurok., Beih. Nova Hedwigia 6: 8 (1962). Type species:— Leucodermia leucomelos (L.) Kalb; Lichen leucomelos L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 2: 1613 (1763). America meridionali (LINN 1273.109, holotype n.v., fide Jørgensen et al. 1994: 329, 378).

Etymology:—The generic name has been combined from ser. leuco melaenae and Hetero dermia.

The new genus is characterized by a loosely adnate or, in part, unattached thallus with ribbon-like, linear elongate, dichotomously branched lobes with conspicuous long marginal rhizines, a paraplectenchymatous upper cortex and a lower ecorticated surface. Apothecia stipitate with triangular lobules, disc brown, ± densely whitish to gray pruinose. Ascospores brown, of Polyblastidia - type, with sporoblastidia.

Remarks: — Leucodermia is closely related to Heterodermia comosa -group, but differs mainly in having linear elongate, dichotomously branched lobes and a foliose to subfruticose thallus. In contrast, the lobes in H. comosagroup are usually ascending, spathulate or paddle-shaped.