Pyrenodesmia

Vondrák, Jan, Frolov, Ivan, Davydov, Evgeny A., Yakovchenko, Lidia, Malíček, Jiří, Svoboda, Stanislav & Kubásek, Jiří, 2019, The lichen family Teloschistaceae in the Altai-Sayan region (Central Asia), Phytotaxa 396 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

Pyrenodesmia

Genus with highest species richness recorded in the region, 22 species were recorded. Thallus is crustose, varying from endolithic to thick epilithic with short marginal lobes. Colour of thallus and apothecia is in shades of grey and brown, anthraquinone pigmentation is always absent. Vegetative diaspores are present in five species; apothecia are produced by all species, but are less frequent in sorediate/blastidiate species. The genus is confined to inorganic substrates with strong preference for calcareous rocks. Only 11 species are listed here (5 of them left in ‘ Caloplaca ’); other species are either undescribed or taxonomically problematic (Frolov, in preparation). Literature: Muggia et al. (2008), Arup et al. (2013), Frolov et al. (2016), Wetmore (1994), Wunder (1974).

Pyrenodesmia chalybaea : 4 localities at altitudes 550–920 m, in arid non-alpine class. Substrate: limestone.

Pyrenodesmia concreticola : In a single locality at altitude 250 m, in arid non-alpine class (specimen Frolov 1561). Substrate: loess.

Pyrenodesmia erodens : 7 localities at altitudes 470–2900 m, in arid alpine and non-alpine classes. Substrate: limestone, marble.

Pyrenodesmia micromontana : 2 localities at altitudes 2170–2900 m, in arid and humid alpine habitats. Substrate: limestone, schist.

Pyrenodesmia microstepposa : 5 localities at altitudes 410–2350 m, mostly in arid non-alpine habitats; single record in arid alpine class. Substrate: calcareous sandstone, concrete, lime-enriched silicate, limestone.

Pyrenodesmia variabilis : 8 localities at altitudes 400–1750 m, in all ecological classes except for humid alpine (due to scarcity of calcareous substrates). Substrate: limestone, marble.

‘ Caloplaca ’ helygeoides : 9 localities at altitudes 420–2660 m, in humid alpine and non-alpine habitats. Substrate: siliceous stones mainly in or near water. The name C. diphyodes (Nyl.) Jatta has been commonly used for this mostly arcto-alpine species. However, C. diphyodes sensu Nylander (1872) is a distinct unrelated species known only from non-alpine localities in the Massif Central, France (Frolov, in preparation).

‘ Caloplaca ’ molariformis : In a single locality at altitude 2050 m, in arid alpine class (specimen Vondrák 10224). Substrate: soft calcareous outcrop.

‘ Caloplaca ’ pratensis : 6 localities at altitudes 400–2050 m, in arid alpine and non-alpine classes. Substrate: lime-rich silicate, limestone. First published records from Eurasia; described from North America ( Wetmore 2009).

‘ Caloplaca ’ aff. tianshanensis : In a single locality at altitude 1700 m, in arid non-alpine class (specimen Vondrák 10457). Substrate: limestone. Phylogenetically the specimen is very close to C. tianshanensis , but it is morphologically distinct.

‘ Caloplaca ’ transcaspica : 4 localities at altitudes 600–2900 m, in arid alpine and non-alpine classes. Substrate: lime-rich silicate, limestone.