Cladonia corniculata Ahti & Kashiw. (1984: 136)

Yánez-Ayabaca, A., Ahti, T. & Bungartz, F., 2013, The Family Cladoniaceae (Lecanorales) in the Galapagos Islands, Phytotaxa 129 (1), pp. 1-33 : 15

Cladonia corniculata Ahti & Kashiw. (1984: 136)

( Fig. 3e )

Primary thallus subpersistent, of small, suborbicular squamules, esorediate, epruinose; podetia common, whitish gray, brown with age, but not becoming necrotic, elongate; 1–3 cm tall; generally dichotomously branched near its apices; axils close; tips blunt or obtuse, ascyphose; surface completely ecorticate; granulose, with scarce microsquamules that towards the tip merge into fine granules and towards the base of the podetium become larger and more laciniate squamules; surface of old podetia commonly denuded, esorediate; pycnidia with hyaline jelly; apothecia not seen.

Spot tests and chemistry: P+ orange red, K-, C-, KC-, UV-; fumarprotocetraric acid.

Distribution and ecology: Currently known only from Isabela and Santa Cruz Island; known only from the humid zone where the species appears to be moderately common, often growing with other, morphologically similar Cladonia species and amongst bryophytes, in fern-sedge grasslands, over plant debris or even as epiphyte on trunks or branches of both native or introduced trees and shrub.

Notes: Cladonia corniculata can be confused with C. cartilaginea or C. subradiata . For comparison see the notes under C. cartilaginea .

Selected specimens examined: ECUADOR. GALAPAGOS: Isabela Island, Volcán Alcedo, on the crater rim near the hut, 0°26’33” S, 91°5’31” W, 1100 m, humid zone, on soil, 7 Mar 2006, Aptroot, A. 65241 ( CDS 31827) . Volcán Sierra Negra, near parking place at start of foot path to the crater, 0°49’47.5”S, 91°5’19.80”W, 939 m, humid zone, on bark, 9 Aug 2007, Bungartz, F. 6805 ( CDS 36236) ; Volcán Cerro Azul, S slope above Iguana Cove, W, 700 m, humid zone, on soil, 22 June 1976, Sipman, H.J.M. L-45 ( COLO 297916 ) , S-slope above Iguana Cove , crater on SE-slope, 800 m, humid zone, 22 June 1976, Sipman, H.J.M. L-55a ( COLO 297905 ) ; Volcán Alcedo, on the crater rim near the hut, 0°26’33”S, 91°5’31”W, 1100 m, humid zone, on bark, 7 Mar 2006, Aptroot, A. 65215 ( CDS 31801) . Santa Cruz Island, along trail from Media Luna to El Puntudo, 0°39’9.80”S, 90°19’59.29”W, 724 m, humid zone, on bark, 10 Aug 2008, Clerc, P. 08-105 A ( CDS 39959) , cerca la vía sector Los Gemelos , 0°38’2.10”S, 90°23’37.89”W, 661 m, zona húmeda, sobre corteza, 4 Jan 2007, Nugra, F. 266 ( CDS 33182) , above Mina Granillo Rojo , on the N-side of the island, 0°37’7.5”S, 90°21’55.5”W, 607 m, transition zone, on rock, 7 Aug 2008, Clerc, P. 08-44 ( CDS 39898) , vicinity of Academy Bay, on trail to La Copa (= Media Luna ), humid zone, on bark, 15 Feb 1964, Weber, W.A. 68 ( COLO 190028 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. a–c Cladonia confusa. a thalli of both forms growing side by side, upper pale greenish yellow thallus of C. confusa f. confusa, lower, white thallus with brownish tinge of C. confusa f. bicolor (Bungartz 3985, 3986, scale 10 mm); b close-up of C. confusa f. bicolor, the epithet bicolor justified by the more brownish, sun-exposed parts and the whitish pale underside of the podetia (Bungartz 3986, scale 3 mm); c close-up of the UV+ chemotype of C. confusa f. confusa, the inset shows a predominantly trichotomous branching pattern and an arachnoid granular surface of the podetia (Nugra 261, scale 3 mm); d close-up of the UV– chemotype of C. confusa f. confusa, the inset shows a predominantly dichotomous branching pattern with a uneven podetial surface (Cavagnaro 26, scale 3 mm); e Cladonia corniculata (Sipman L-45, scale 5 mm); f Cladonia corymbites (Bungartz 8334, scale 3 mm).