Lecania sessilisoraliata Yazici & Aptroot, 2017

Aptroot, André & Abl, Kenan Yazici, 2017, Lecania sessilisoraliata, a new sorediate lichen species from limestone in Turkey, Phytotaxa 328 (3), pp. 298-300 : 298-300

Lecania sessilisoraliata Yazici & Aptroot , sp. nov. Figs. 1A,B,C,D,E,F

MycoBank No: MB 823452

Diagnosis:― Lecania with pale olivaceous areolate thallus with sessile discrete soralia with granular whitish soredia and small apothecia with ascospores 8.5–9.8 × 2.4–3.1 μm.

Description:―Thallus crustose, covering an area up to 2.5–3 cm diam, cracked-areolate, pale olivaceous brown to pale olivaceous green, closely appressed the substratum, 1–2 mm thick in center, thinner towards the margin; areoles mostly crowded, 0.2–0.6 mm in diam. Medulla white. Soralia sessile and raised above the thallus, initially punctiform, remaining clearly discrete, whitish and clearly contrasting in colour with the thallus, to 0.8–1 mm in diam., mostly crowded in the center of the the thallus, concave or convex-globose. Soredia granular, c. 30–50 μm diam. Algae chlorococcoid. 6–12 μm diam. Apothecia very rare, to 0.3–0.4 mm diam, sessile, thallin margin beige, pale brown; disc dark red-brown, young apothecium pale brown to beige colour, to 0.15–0.20 mm diam. Hymenium almost hyaline, 46–55 μm high; hypothecium pale brown, to 54–61 μm high; epithecium brown; proper margin (exciple) yellow-brown. Ascus 8-spored, Bacidia-type, 8.5–12 × 25.5–30 μm. Ascospores 8.5–9.8 × 2.4–3.1 μm, 1-septate, hyaline, ellipsoid to elongate-ellipsoid, straight or somewhat curved, sometimes constricted at the septum, ends rounded or sligtly pointed, wall thin, without perispore.

Secondary chemistry:―Thallus, medulla and soralia K–, C–, KC–, P–; no substances detected.

Etymology:―The epithet refers to sessile soralia.

Holotype:― TURKEY. Burdur, Bucak, Esirlik village , 37º16′50″N 30º43′30″E, 859 m, on calcareous rock, 27 June 2013, leg. et det. K. Yazici 2461 ( KTUB; isotype; ABL).

Distribution and ecology: ―On somewhat exposed limestone, together with e.g. several Verrucaria species. Only known from Turkey.

Remarks: ―This is a Lecania with very clear discrete soralia with granular soredia. It is somewhat close to Lecania baeomma (Nyl.) P. James & J.R. Laundon ( Smith et al. 2009), but that species has indigo-speckled soralia and is coastal.

Additional fertile specimen examined: ― TURKEY. Burdur, Kocaaliler, 37º18′33″N 30º44′36E, 625 m, on calcareous rock, 10 June 2013, leg. et det. K. Yazici 2462 (KTUB).

Figures

FIGURE 1A–D. Lecania sessilisoraliata (holotype): A, habitus. Scale =2mm, B. marginal zone of thallus. Scale= 2 mm, C. soralia. Scale= 1 mm, D. apothecium and soredia. Scale= 0.5 mm. E. Soredia. Scale= 50 μm. F. hymenium. Scale= 50 μm.