Lecanora mughicola Nyl., 1872

Ivanovich, Cristóbal, Weber, Lilith, Palice, Zdeněk, Hollinger, Jason, Otte, Volker, Sohrabi, Mohammad, Sheehy, Steve & Printzen, Christian, 2025, A taxonomic revision of the lichen genus Lecanoropsis (Lecanoraceae), Phytotaxa 695 (1), pp. 1-56 : 36-38

Lecanora mughicola Nyl. Fig. 12C & D , 17E .

MycoBank nº: 388762

Type:— ITALY. In alpibus Rhaeticis [Rhaetian Alps], Anzi, Lich. Rar. Langob. Exs. 376 (H-NYL 26738= H 9506856! — holotype, M!— isotype).

Synonym: Lecanora cembricola Nyl. (1884: 385) — ITALY. An dürren Pinus cembra Aesten im Val Grande oberhalb Ospidale bei Schluderbach in den Ampezzaner Alpen, 07 August 1874, Arnold, Lich. exs. 587 (H-NYL 26742 = H 9506868!— lectotype, designated by Printzen, 2001, FR-0078184!; H 9232523!— isolectotypes).

Thallus endosubstratal or episubstratal.When episubstratal,effuse,amorphous,rarely continuous and smooth(sometimes becoming subrugose), or more commonly aggregating into clumps, sometimes only below apothecia, rarely forming angulose, flat to convex areoles; usually whitish to beige, rarely brown to dark brown. Photobiont a chlorococcoid/ trebouxoid alga. Apothecia rounded to polygonal, sometimes deformed, forming small groups to completely covering substrate, erumpent/immersed in substrate to appressed, sometimes sessile, (0.20–)0.25–0.37(–0.41) mm in diameter. Apothecial disc weakly concave to flat, never convex, rarely pale ochre to light brown, commonly dark brown or dark grey to jet black, mainly matte to weakly glossy, commonly epruinose, more rarely with a white fine to coarse pruina. Apothecial margin whitish-beige, in young apothecia, thick, raised and irregular, smooth to subrugose, sometimes indented or knobbly in appearance, in old apothecia thinning and becoming discontinuous but persistent, (0.02–)0.03– 0.05(–0.06) mm wide. Whitish to pale beige. Amphithecium with golden-brown granules throughout the algal layer. Algal layer almost reaching the surface where the hymenium and the amphithecial cortex meet. Amphithecial cortex moderately gelatinized, (9–)13–43(–62) µm wide laterally, (9–)15–35(–43) µm wide basally, hyaline. Parathecium usually observable, hyaline or faintly dark-green, (16–)24–41(–59) µm wide. Epihymenium hyaline on paler discs, faint olive/dark green on darker discs, sometimes only strokes of pigmentation present, containing Cinereorufa -green, covered by a thick epipsamma of golden-brown granules, very rarely streaking into the hymenium, sometimes with a gel layer between epipsamma and paraphysis apices. Hymenium hyaline (50–)58–81(–85) µm high. Subhymenial layers hyaline, (68–)80–122(–160) µm wide but sometimes not higher than the hymenium and appearing shallow. Paraphyses simple or more commonly branching, rarely anastomosing, ca. 1.5 µm wide, apices capitate, ca. 2–4.5 µm wide, apical gel sheath ca. 3.5–6 µm wide, usually pigmented olive/dark green. Spores narrowly ellipsoid, simple or rarely 1-septate, (10.2–) 12.5–13.4(–16.2) × (3.4–)4.6–5.4(–7.7) µm. Conidia : Microconidia slim, bent, 7–10 × 1–1.5 µm; leptoconidia filamentous and curved, 15–20 × 1–1.5 µm. Macro- and mesoconidia were not found.

Chemistry: Isousnic acid.

Substrate: Lignicolous, commonly on decorticated wood.

Ecology: Open areas or well-lit mixed conifer forests, in subalpine to montane habitats commonly occurring above 1600 m, but specimens collected in Austria and Slovakia were found at elevations between 1200 and 1300 m. van den Boom and Brand (2008) reported specimens at 800 m.

Distribution: The samples studied were collected in subalpine Central Europe, in the mountainous areas in the Balkan peninsula, and in the Russian Caucasus. Reported to occur in North America, but selected specimens studied by us from the U.S.A. were determined as Lecanoropsis coracina .

Notes: Lecanora mughicola is one of the few species in this work that produces Cinereorufa -green as epihymenial pigment, a character shared only by Lecanoropsis anopta , L. anoptizodes , L. coracina and L. subintricata , but sometimes in lower, hardly detectable concentrations; and rarely observed also in darker apothecia of other species (e.g. L. albellula , L. subsaligna , L. omissa ). Lecanora mughicola can be differentiated from both Lecanoropsis anopta and L. anoptizodes , by disc convexity, as both produces round, convex to subglobose apothecia with receding apothecial margin (biatorine-like). In contrast, Lecanora mughicola apothecia are rather irregularly round or becoming polygonal when densely aggregated with other apothecia, with flat to weakly convex apothecial discs, and persistent apothecial margins. Finally, L. anoptizodes produce macroconidia, a conidial type so far not yet found in Lecanora mughicola .

Darkened apothecia of Lecanoropsis subravida can look similar to Lecanora mughicola specimens with rounded apothecia. However, L. subravida produce crescent-shape macroconidia, brown epihymenial pigment and larger (0.5– 0.9 mm) apothecia than Lecanora mughicola (0.25–0.4 mm) with overall wider basal amphithecial cortex (56–91 µm in L. subravida , 13–35 µm in Lecanora mughicola ).

Lecanora mughicola can resemble underdeveloped L. prolificans with darkened discs, but the apothecia are not as densely grouped and fused rather than overlapping as in L. prolificans . Lecanora prolificans also produces overall paler, larger apothecia (0.3–0.9 mm) than L. mughicola and shorter, thicker microconidia (5–8 × 2–2.7 µm vs. 7–10 × 1–1.5 µm in L. mughicola ).

Lecanora mughicola can resemble Lecanoropsis coracina , but disc size and thallus development can help distinguish between these two species (see notes under L. coracina ).

Selected specimens studied: ALBANIA. Shkodër: Malësi e Madhe, Bjeshkët e Nemuna (Prokletije) mountains ca. 1600 m alt., 42°23’10” N 19° 45’00” E, 14 August 2007, J. Hafellner 80551 ( H9232529 ) ; AUSTRIA. Niederösterreich: Lillienfeld, Türnitzer Höger , ca. 1370 m alt., J. Suza, Krypt. Exs. Vindob. 2757 ( H9232534 ) ; Salzburg: Kitzbüheler Alpen , 1800 m alt., 09 September 1973, H. Vänskä 6632 ( H9232502 ) ; Salzburg: Kitzbüheler Alpen , 2050 m alt., 09 September 1973, H. Vänskä 6640 ( H9232533 ) ; Salzburg: Kitzbüheler Alpen , 1900 m alt., 09 September 1973, H. Vänskä 6643 ( H9232504 ) ; Salzburg: Tamsweg. Pathway to Preberkessel, Lungau , ca. 1700 m alt., 47°11.6601’ N 13°51.4279’ E, 01 September 2019, C. Ivanovich & L. Weber LUN14, LUN15 (FR-0183024, FR-0362767) Lecanomics Code: 503, 504 ; Salzburg: Tamsweg. On forested pathway in direction of the „phycology“ research cabin, on the way to Dürrenecksee , ca. 1700 m alt., 47°10.2668’ N 13°53.9794’ E, 02 September 2019, C. Ivanovich & L. Weber LUN28 (FR-0362768), Lecanomics Code: 508 ; Steiermark: Koralpe , 1666 m alt., 13 June 1972, H. Vänskä 6247b ( H9232506 ) ; Steiermark: Koralpe , 1660 m alt., 13 June 1972, H. Vänskä 6248 ( H9232503 ) ; Steiermark: Koralpe , 1666 m alt., 13 June 1972, H. Vänskä 6250b ( H9232505 ) ; BULGARIA. Smolyan: Pasmakli, Rhodope Mts. 1700–2200 m alt., 7–8 June 1929, Ö. Szatala ( H9232526 ) ; GERMANY. Bayern: Nesselwang, Edelsberg, Allgäuer Alpen , ca. 1600 m alt., March 1957, J. Poelt ( H9232528 ) ; ITALY. Südtirol: Paneveggio, Alpe Vineghia , 02 August 1886, Arnold Lich. exs. No. 1163a. (FR-0078185; H9232524 ) ; Schluderbach, Plätzenwiesen , 16 July 1882, Arnold Lich. exs. No. 930. (FR-0078183; H9232532 ) ; RUSSIA. Krasnodar Krai: Maykopsky District. Felsgrat unterhalb vom Berg Agige , 2070 m alt., 43°58.35’ N 40°28.1833’ E, 13 September 2018, V. Otte 54755 ( GLM) Lecanomics Code: 294 ; Adygea: Majkopsky District. Berggrat SW unter dem Agige , 2065 m alt., 43°58.3333’ N 40°28.2’ E, 09 September 2015, V. Otte 47746 ( GLM) Lecanomics Code: 1221 ; SLOVAKIA. Banskobystrický kraj: Okres Revúca. W Carpathians, Muránska planina plateau: nature reserve Veľká , Stožka , Mt Veľká Stožka , 1232 m alt., 48°46.5031’ N 19°56.6769’ E, 08 October 2019, D. Blanár, A. Guttová, J. Halda & Z. Palice 27767 (FR-0362770) Lecanomics Code: 569 ; 583; Banskobystrický kraj: Okres Revúca. W Carpathians, Muránska planina plateau: nature reserve Veľká , Stožka , Mt Veľká Stožka , 1232 m alt., 48°46.5034’ N 19°56.6767’ E, 08 October 2019, D. Blanár, A. Guttová, J. Halda & Z. Palice 27784 (FR-0362771), Lecanomics Code: 564 ; Liptov: Liptovské Hole, Nižná Magura , 1800 m alt., 49.1723 N 19.7956 E, 16 August 1965, Vězda, Lich. Sel. Exs. 437 ( H9232527 ) ; SWITZERLAND. Graubünden: Engadin, Buffalora , 46.627729 N 10.249867 E, 27 July 1923, E. Häyrén ( H9232531 ) ; Nidwalden / Obwalden: Pilatus , 46.973889 N 8.241111 E, 24 July 1923, E. Häyrén ( H9232530 ) ; Wallis: Riederalp , 2010 m alt., 29 August 1982, S. Hyvönen 715 ( H9232507 ) .

Lecanoropsis pseudosarcopidoides (M. Brand & van den Boom) Ivanovich & Printzen , comb. nov. Fig. 11E & F , 17C . MycoBank nº: 848537 Basionym: Lecanora pseudosarcopidoides M. Brand & van den Boom , in van den Boom & Brand, Lichenologist 40 (6): 475 (2008). Type: — ITALY, Trentino, Alto-Adige: Prov. Bolzano 54 km WSW of Merano, Stilfser Joch/Stelvio NP, road Prad-Stilfserjoch, SW

of Trafoi, SE slope with Picea forest and outcrops, 1850 m alt., on Pinus stump, 14 August 1990, P. van den Boom 10793 (B-

600187274!— holotype)

Description: Only the holotype was available to us for analysis. For a comprehensive description of this species, see van den Boom & Brand (2008). In addition to this description, we here report the presence of golden-brown sclerotized spores (guttulae) in the otherwise hyaline to faint yellow hymenium.

Notes: Lecanoropsis pseudosarcopidoides shares the majority of characters with L. anopta , such as apothecia with a receding margin finally becoming biatorine, an algal layer confined to the base of the apothecial margin, the presence of guttulae in the hymenium, and the production of isousnic acid as their sole major secondary metabolite. The height of the hymenium (40–50 µm) and the subhymenial layers (70–155 µm in L. anopta , 60–135 µm in L. pseudosarcopidoides ) as well as spore sizes (ca. 9–11 × 3–5 µm) are also similar in both species.

Nevertheless, there are a few traits in which the two species differ. The epihymenial pigment in L. pseudosarcopidoides seems to be typically hyaline with low concentration of Cinereorufa -green in the parathecial area; whereas in L. anopta , the epihymenium is typically and completely pigmented olive green or dark green. Conidial characters are slightly different; microconidia in L. pseudosarcopidoides are 1-septate, 5.3–7.4 × 1–1.3 µm; whereas microconidia in L. anopta are approximately the same size (5–7 × 1.5–2 µm) but aseptate and weakly bent. Lecanoropsis pseudosarcopidoides produces smaller leptoconidia than L. anopta (10.5–16.8 × 0.7–0.9 vs. 15–20 × 1–1.5 in L. anopta ). It is likely that the two species are conspecific. However, we prefer to postpone a formal synonymization until it has been confirmed by molecular data.

Selected specimens studied: Only type material.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Lecanoropsis anopta (A & B), L. latens (C & D) and L. pseudosarcopidoides (E & F). A, Finland, Tavastia australis. J.P. Norrlin 1016 (H9511537, syntype), habitus.B, Same specimen as A, apothecial section in LCB. C, USA, California, C. Printzen 4568 (FR- 0211779, isotype), habitus. D, same specimen as C, apothecial section in LCB. E, Italy, Trentino, P. van den Boom 10793 (B600187274, holotype), habitus. F, same specimen as E, apothecial section in LCB. Scales: A, C & E = 500 µm; B, D & F = 20 µm.

FIGURE 12. Lecanoropsis anoptizodes (A & B) and Lecanora mughicola (C & D). A, Slovakia, Banskobystrický kraj, Z. Palice 13399 (FR-0212941; L252), habitus. B, Germany, Baden-Württemberg, W. von Zwackh-Holzhausen 451 (H-NYL-26511= H9511409, isolectotype), apothecial section in LCB. C, Italy, The Rhaetian Alps, Anzi exs. 376 (H-NYL 26738), habitus. D, Austria, Salzburg, C. Ivanovich & L. Weber LUN26 (FR-0362787; L507), apothecial section in LCB. Scales: A & C = 500 µm; B & D = 20 µm.

FIGURE 17. Leptoconidia (A & B), Microconidia (C & D) and Mesoconidia (E). Lecanoropsis albellula (A), L. saligna (B). L. pseudosarcopidoides (C) and L. subintricata (D & E). A, Austria, Salzburg, C. Ivanovich & L. Weber LUN25 (FR-0362754; L506). B, Germany, Bayern, S. Kern TS3-12-22 (FR-0183022; L203). C, Italy, Trentino, P. van den Boom 10793 (B600187274, holotype). D, Austria, Salzburg, C. Ivanovich & L. Weber LUN26 (FR-0362787; L507). E, same specimen as D. All conidia were stained with Phloxine B. Scales: A–F = 10 µm.