Cladonia ceratophylla (Sw.) Spreng. (1827: 271)

Yánez-Ayabaca, A., Ahti, T. & Bungartz, F., 2013, The Family Cladoniaceae (Lecanorales) in the Galapagos Islands, Phytotaxa 129 (1), pp. 1-33 : 9

Cladonia ceratophylla (Sw.) Spreng. (1827: 271)

( Fig. 2d )

Primary thallus persistent with large and broad, branching squamules, forming large laciniate apically recurved lobes that have a lower surface with scarce, brown, marginal rhizines; esorediate, epruinose; podetia common, greenish gray, short to elongate, 0.8–2 cm tall, unbranched or slightly branched; tips blunt or, when fertile, typically forming narrow scyphi; surface corticate at the base but soon becoming decorticated, sometimes with few, corticate patches remaining; generally lacking corticate granules, but typically densely covered with convex, elongate, unbranched microsquamules, very rarely also with few ecorticate soredia; pycnidia with hyaline jelly; apothecia with brown jelly.

Spot tests and chemistry: P+ orange red, K− or K+ yellow, C−, KC−, UV−; fumarprotocetraric acid and traces of atranorin.

Distribution and ecology: Known from Isabela, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Santiago Island; a common species in the humid zone, either growing directly on the ground in open fern-segde grassland, often amongst bryophytes, or sometimes as epiphyte on trunks, branches and even twigs of both on native and introduced tree species.

Notes: The species can easily be recognized by its large and broad, rhizinate squamules and the very characteristic shape of its microsquamules, which are stout, elongate, convex lobules that remain unbranched and are thus somewhat pin-shaped. They do not emerge erect from the podetial surface but typically cover the podetial surface densely overlapping, almost like tiles.

Selected specimens examined: ECUADOR. GALAPAGOS: Isabela Island, Volcán Alcedo, outer SEexposed slope, ca. 100 m below the crater rim, 0°27’4”S, 91°5’50”W, 1066 m, humid zone, on soil, 6 Mar 2006, Aptroot, A. 64860 ( CDS 31436) , ca. 500 m below the crater rim; Volcán Cerro Azul, S-slope above Iguana Cove , 700 m, humid zone, on rock, 22 June 1976, Sipman, H.J.M. L-41 ( COLO 297920 ) , Sipman , H.J.M. L-57 ( COLO 297903 ) ; Volcán Sierra Negra, along dirt road from Puerto Villamil to crater of Sierra Negra , farmland, 0°50’38”S, 91°3’45.5”W, 550 m, humid zone, on bark, 9 Sept 2007, Bungartz, F. 6862 ( CDS 36311) , South side of Sierra Negra crater, trail to Alemania , 0°50’57.5”S, 91°7’41.3”W, 1020 m, humid zone, on soil, 16 Aug 2008, Herrera - Campos, M.A. 10709 ( CDS 40447) , 0°50’0”S, 91°10’0”W, 800 m, humid zone, on dead wood, 18 Apr 1990, Sánchez -Pinto, L. 5040, 5048 (B 60 0173249, 60 0173257). San Cristóbal Island, bordering lake at El Junco, humid zone, steep slope bordering the lake, on rock, 21 May 1976, Lanier, J. ( COLO 298436 ) . Santa Cruz Island, between summit of Mt. Crocker and El Puntudo , 700 m, 1976, Weber & Lanier, Lich. Exs. COLO 502 ( DUKE, H, M, TUR) ; vincinity Academy Bay , 1964, Weber L-40507 ( COLO, M, UPS) ; saddle between Puntudo and Mt. Crocker , 0°38’41”S, 90°19’57”W, 720 m, humid zone, on soil, 18 Apr 1976, Weber, W.A. ( CDS 10845) ; Bellavista, near parking place for trail to Media Luna , 0°40’10”S, 90°19’22”W, 400 m, humid zone, on soil, 27 May 2005, Aptroot, A. 63145 ( CDS 29875) , along trail from Media Luna to El Puntudo , 0°39’37.79”S, 90°20’0.9”W, 682 m, humid zone, on soil, 28 Dec 2005, Bungartz, F. 3274 ( CDS 26913) at the base of the 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, Ziemmeck, F. 760 ( CDS 27889) , sobre corteza, 25 Jan 2007, Nugra, F. 356 ( CDS 35111) , cerca la vía sector Los Gemelos , 0°37’33.39”S, 90°23’0.7”W, 611 m, zona húmeda, sobre corteza, 11 Oct 2006, Nugra, F. 146 ( CDS 32800) , trail between Bella Vista and Media Luna , 550 m, humid zone, on open place in the trail, 18 June 1976, Sipman, H.J.M. L-22 ( OSC 53685) , south slope of the mountain, 520 m, humid zone, on ground, 9 Apr 1930, Svenson, H.K. 202C ( FH 197248, 197249 ) , saddle between summit of Mount Crocker and El Puntudo , 700 m, humid zone, fern-sedge zone, on ground, 18 Apr 1976, Weber, W.A. ( FH 197199) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. a–b Cladonia bungartzii (holotype, Bungartz 5744); a general thallus aspect (scale 2 mm); b close-up of the podetia (scale 1 mm); c general thallus aspect of Cladonia cartilaginea (Nugra 240, scale 5 mm); d general thallus aspect of Cladonia ceratophylla (Bungartz 5604, scale 5 mm); e–f cone-shaped, granulose-sorediate podetia of Cladonia chlorophaea; e (Bungartz 8223, scale 5 mm); f (Bungartz 6614, scale 5 mm).