Neoprotoparmelia crassa Garima Singh & Aptroot

Singh, Garima, ptroot, Andre, ico, Victor J., tte, Juergen, Pradeep K. Divakar,, Crespo, Ana, Caceres, Marcela Eugenia da Silva, H. Thorsten Lumbsch, & Schmitt, Imke, 2018, Neoprotoparmelia gen. nov. and Maronina (Lecanorales, Protoparmelioideae): species description and generic delimitation using DNA barcodes and phenotypical characters, MycoKeys 44, pp. 19-50 : 19

Neoprotoparmelia crassa Garima Singh & Aptroot sp. nov. Figure 9

Type.

AUSTRALIA. Australian Capital Territory, Solar Village, J.A. Elix 39805 (holotype: CANB 783260).

Diagnosis.

Similar to Neoprotoparmelia isidiata , but differs from it in having shorter isidia and a thicker thallus.

Etymology.

Derived from crassus (Lat. = fat) indicating that the thallus is thicker than that of the other isidiate species.

Description.

Thallus consisting of contiguous to centrally fusing, flat to rather convex areoles with irregular shape, of up to ca. 0.1 mm thick and 0.3 mm wide, somewhat shiny, pale brown to dark brown, marginal prothallus absent. Isidia covering most of the thallus except the outer margins, globose to ellipsoid, up to 0.15 mm long, persistently 0.07-0.1 mm wide, unbranched, of thallus colour, tips not darkened or somewhat brown. Apothecia and pycnidia not observed.

Chemistry.

Spot tests: medulla of thallus and isidia UV+ greenish white, C–, P–, K–, KC+ pink. TLC: alectoronic acid.

Distribution and ecology.

On wood or bark of trees in open or closed forests. Known only from Australia (Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory).

Reference sequences.

(specimen: Elix 39805, holotype: CANB 783260). KP822464 (mtSSU), KP822274 (ITS), KP796345 (nuLSU), KP822145 (RPB1), KP822359 (MCM7), KP823521 (TSR1).

Remarks.

This comprises the specimens recovered within ' P. isidiata D’ in ' Protoparmelia tropical clade’ in Singh et al. (2015). Similar to Neoprotoparmelia isidiata but differing in having a thicker thallus and shorter isidia.

Additional sequenced specimens examined.

AUSTRALIA. Same as type, J. A. Elix 39795 (CANB); Northern Territory, Melville Island, H. Streimann 42469 (B, CANB).