Lecanoropsis saligna (Schrad.) Ivanovich & Printzen, 2025

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 : 38-40

Lecanoropsis saligna (Schrad.) Ivanovich & Printzen , comb. nov. Fig. 10E & F , 16A , 17B .

MycoBank nº: 847154

Basionym: Lichen salignus Schrad., Spicil. fl. germ. 1: 84 (1794).

Type:— GERMANY, Lower Saxony, Göttingen, as Lichen salignus Schrad. (not studied, specimen requested from LE but not received; Printzen (2001) indicated that no such specimen is present at GOET; possibly lost).

Neotype:— GERMANY, Rheinland-Pfalz, Nierstein , 49° 51.5881’ N 8° 20.5866’ E, 02 November 2017, R. Cezanne & M. Eichler 10884 (FR-0183028!—here designated). Lecanomics Code: 518.

Synonyms: Lecanora effusella Hedl. (1892: 33) — NORWAY. Sør-Trøndelag, Oppdal, Dovre, Drivstua (Drivstuen), 13 June 1864, T. M. Fries ( UPS-L 004188!—lectotypified and synonymized under Lecanora albellula in Printzen, 2001).

Lecanora saligna (Schrader) Zahlbruckner (1928: 536) .

Lecanoropsis saligna (Schrad.) M. Choisy (1949: 143) , nom. illeg. (see Notes under Lecanoropsis in p. 14)

Parmelia sarcopis Wahlenberg ex Acharius (1803: 40) . — FINLAND [„ SWEDEN, Torne Lappmark“]: Lapmark, Muonioniska, Wahlenberg s.n. (UPS L-153267, lectotype).

Thallus typically episubstratal, effuse, smooth and continuous, sometimes aggregating into flat to convex and polygonal or irregularly shaped areoles, whitish to yellowish or with a tinge of green, more commonly grey or beige, to grey brown. Photobiont a chlorococcoid/trebouxoid alga. Apothecia rounded to deformed, forming small to large groups that densely cover the substrate, appressed to sessile, (0.30–)0.37–0.72(–0.85) mm in diameter. Apothecial disc flat to convex, rarely weakly concave, pale ochre to dark red/brown, mainly matte, sometimes glossy, commonly epruinose, rarely with a fine white pruina. Apothecial margin in young apothecia, thick, irregular, sometimes indented, smooth to subrugose, raised. In old apothecia, margin of uneven width and becoming level with disc, persistent, (0.03–)0.05– 0.08(–0.12) mm wide. White to whitish-grey or pale beige. Amphithecium algal layer usually filling the area, almost reaching the surface between the hymenium and the amphithecial cortex. Amphithecial cortex thin, more or less even, sometimes gradually widening into the base, containing patches of golden-dark brown granules that sometimes fill the entire cortex, (6–)10–23(–39) µm wide laterally, (18–)19–30(–45) µm wide basally, hyaline. Parathecium commonly present, rarely absent, hyaline to faint brown, (8–)15–60(–70) µm wide. Epihymenium hyaline, faint brown to orange/ golden brown, containing Superba brown. Commonly without a layer of granules on top, rarely with granules that dissolve in KOH. Hymenium hyaline, rarely inspersed with golden brown granules from epihymenium, (35–)45–65(– 75) µm. Subhymenial layers hyaline, rarely with golden-brown granules, sometimes gelatinized/with loose hyphae, (35–)65–160(–220) µm high. Paraphyses commonly branching, sometimes simple, rarely anastomosing at the base, ca. 1.5–2 µm wide, apices weakly capitate, ca. 2–5 µm wide, apical gel sheath ca. 3.5–6 µm wide, colourless or rarely brown at the apex. Spores broadly to narrowly ellipsoid, simple, hyaline, (6.5–)8.0–11.3(–13.5) × (3.0–) 4.0–6.0(–7.5) µm. Conidia : Macroconidia crescent-shape, 7–8 × 2.5 µm; microconidia bacilliform, weakly curved, 7.5–10 × 1 µm; leptoconidia filamentous, curved and short, 8–11 × 1–1.5 µm; mesoconidia were not found.

Chemistry: Isousnic acid, ± usnic acid. Neousnic acid, and rarely atranorin and zeorin was reported to be produced by L. saligna by van den Boom and Brand (2008). Presence of atranorin and zeorin has so far not been detected by us in L. saligna .

Substrate: Corticolous and lignicolous.

Ecology: Present in diverse habitats like forests of Picea and Abies , Pseudotsuga and Juniperus or open urban to semiurban areas, where it is often found growing on worked wood such as fences and posts, between sea level and ca. 1250 m alt. van den Boom & Brand (2008) reported specimens collected in Russia up to 1600 m elevation. Printzen (2001) reported L. saligna occurring up to 3170 m alt. in the eastern part of the Sonoran Desert Region in North America.

Distribution: Widely distributed across Europe, also present in North America

Notes: Lecanoropsis saligna is a fairly plastic species that can be confused with several other taxa from the genus. L. saligna differs from L. albellula by having shorter (7–8 µm), crescent shaped non-septate macroconidia, whereas L. albellula can produce longer (7–12 µm), reniform, 1–3 septate macroconidia. Both taxa produce isousnic acid as major metabolite but L. albellula may produce usnic acid as major metabolite, and more rarely pseudoplacodiolic acid (trace to minor), while L. saligna only rarely produces usnic acid as minor accessory. Lecanoropsis saligna has larger (0.3–0.85 mm) and darker discs with a typical red-brown hue. In contrast, the apothecia of L. albellula (0.21–0.35 mm) are smaller and paler, commonly beige to light brown.

Young or poorly developed apothecia of L. saligna can resemble apothecia of L. subsaligna , but these species can be differentiated by L. saligna producing smaller eseptate macroconidia, (macroconidia in L. subsaligna are U-shaped, 20–25 µm long, 1–3 septate), having overall darker discs, and a higher subhymenial layers [65–160(–220) µm vs. 40–50(–55) µm in L. subsaligna ].

Lecanoropsis saligna can resemble L. quercicola , but L. quercicola produces slightly larger macroconidia (8.5– 9·3 × 2.7–3 µm), has shallower subhymenial layers (60–100 µm) and different epihymenial pigment reactions (N– in L. quercicola and N+ orange-red in L. saligna ). Differences between L. saligna , L. iapyx and L. micans are discussed under Notes of the latter species.

The lectotype of Parmelia sarcopis (UPS L-153267), a synonym of Lecanora saligna , fits accurately within the circumscription of Lecanoropsis saligna presented here. However, it also has what appears to be guttulae in the hymenium and in the subhymenium, a character that has otherwise been observed usually only in L. anopta , L. anoptizodes and L. pseudosarcopidoides . Spore width and elevational preferences of L. saligna as reported by Printzen (2001) differ from those given above. Reanalysis of a number of specimens studied by Printzen (2001) confirmed that some belonged to L. saligna (several collected at elevations above 1600 m) while others belonged to L. iapyx . It can be concluded that European specimens of L. saligna prefer lower elevations, but in North America, L. saligna is not restricted to lowlands and can be found in montane regions between 1500–3000 m.

A neotype for Lecanoropsis saligna is chosen and designated here because the holotype is probably lost. The specimen was selected, because it was collected reasonably close to the type locality, is rich in apothecia, displays the typical characters of L. saligna and, above all, because sequence data for all seven loci used in our phylogenetic analysis is present.

Selected specimens studied: CANADA. Northwest Territories: Mackenzie District, Crossley Lakes , 68°28’ N 129°37’ W, 13 July 1966, G. W. Scotter 8337a ( H9232519 ) ; Ontario: Welland, Port Colborne , 52°54’ N 79°11’ W, 27 June 1978, P. Y. Wong, K. Wong & D. Wong 2616 ( H9232521 ) ; CZECH REPUBLIC. Jihočeský kraj: Stožec, Černý Kříž , yard of game-keeper’s house, 740 m alt., 48°51.6634’ N 13°51.5019’ E, 14 July 2016, Z. Palice 21284 (FR-0362773, FR-0362774, PRA), Lecanomics Code: 241, 572 ; Moravia, Nové Město, secus viam inter pagos Křídla et Branišov , 580 m, May 1950 Vězda, Lich. Rar. Exs. 366 ( M) ; GERMANY. Bayern: Freyung-Grafenau, Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald , 1089 m alt., 48°56.7501’ N 13°28.1021’ E, 08 December 2017, S. Kern TS3-17 - 4 (FR-0362775), Lecanomics Code: 202 ; 1117 m alt., 48°56.7720’ N 13°28.0850’ E, 08 December 2017, S. Kern TS3-12 - 22 (FR-0183022), Lecanomics Code: 203 ; 1041 m alt., 48°56.3320’ N 13°28.6599’ E, 08 December 2017, S. Kern TS4-48 - 7 (FR-0362776), Lecanomics Code: 205 ; 1049 m alt., 48°56.3509’ N 13°28.6539’ E, 06 November 2017, S. Kern TS4-55 - 12 (FR-0362777), Lecanomics Code: 207 ; Schleswig-Holstein: Kiel, Nordfriedhof , 37 m alt., 54°20.5877’ N 10°7.5638’ E, 29 September 2019, C. Dolnik 4234 (FR-0362778), Lecanomics Code: 491 ; RUSSIA. Krasnoyarsk Krai: Yenisey River, Polovinka , 15 September 1876, M. Brenner 496h ( H9232520 ) ; U.S.A. Arizona: Apache Co., Mt. Baldy Wilderness, along trail from Phelp’s Cabin to Mt. Baldy , ca. 2960 m, 33º56’ N 109º30’ W, 30 September 1997, T. H. Nash III 39371 ( ASU) ; Coconino Co., Grand Canyon Nat. For. , top of Grandview Trail, 14 December 1974, T. H. Nash III 10536 ( ASU) ; Grand Canyon Nat. For., top of Grandview Trail , 2160 m, 36°00’ N 111°59’ W, 10 July 1994, T. H. Nash III 35600 ( ASU) ; Yavapai Co., 7 miles NW of Prescott, Granite Basin Recreation Area , oak-juniper oakland, 1767 m (5800 ft), 34°38’ N 112°32’ W, 22 February 1976, T. H. Nash III 12726 ( ASU) ; California: Los Angeles Co., Los Angeles Nat. For., Survey 4, Mt. Mooney Road , at major switchback, 1660 m, 34º18’ N 118º00’ W, 11 October 1989, B. Ryan 26192 ( ASU) ; Survey 8, behind (below) Eagles Roost Sand Shed, Hwy 2, 1975 m, 34º22’ N 117º53’ W, 13 October 1989, B. Ryan s. n. ( ASU) ; San Gabriel Wilderness, Survey 24, trail from Windy Gap parking area E along ridgetop, 1475 m, 34º17’ N 117º56’ W, 13 October 1989, B. Ryan 26447 & 26475 ( ASU) ; Transverse Range, San Gabriel Mountains, Big Rock Creek , 1233 m alt., 34°25’16.8”N 117°50’23.6” W, 5 February 2002, K. Knudsen & E. Tripp 14606.2 ( H9232517 ) ; San Bernardino Co., Santa Ana River Valley, Wooly Star Preserve along Orange Street (Yucaipa 7.5’), 372 m alt., 34°5.6297’ N 117°11.0567’ W. 07 February 2011, K. Knudsen, N. Pietrasiak & E. Hessom 13502 (NY-1220741) Lecanomics Code: 283 ; New Mexico: San Juan Co., 2682 m (8800 ft), 36º30’ N 108º59’ W, 14 July 1974, J. Marsh & D. Rankert 370 ( ASU) ; Utah: San Juan Co., top of Navaho Mt. , 3170 m (10400 ft), 17 August 1972, T. H. Nash III 5190 ( ASU) ; Oregon: Curry Co. Parking lot near Arch Rock , on Highway 101, top of cliffs above the ocean, 53 m alt., 42° 12.2982’ N 124°22.4610’ W. 21 May 2014, B. McCune 34716 (FR-0362779; hb. McCune) Lecanomics Code: 268 ; South Dakota: Fall River , 1136 m alt., 06 July 1961 C. M. Wetmore 10687 ( H9232516 ) ; Wyoming: Crook Co, Black Hills , 1630 m alt., 15 August 1960, C. M. Wetmore 9685 ( H9232518 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Lecanoropsis albellula (A & B), L. subsaligna (C & D) and L. saligna (E & F).A, Russia, Murmansk Oblast, N. J. Fellman 129 (H-NYL 26472, lectotype). B, Same specimen as A, apothecial section in LCB. C, Czech Republic, Liberecký kraj, Z. Palice 25830 (FR-0279046; L251), habitus. D, Czech Republic, Karlovarský kraj, Z. Palice 27662 (FR-0362808; L581), apothecial section in LCB. E, Germany, Rheinland-Pfalz, R. Cezanne & M. Eichler 10884 (FR-0183028; L518), habitus. F, Germany, Bayern, S. Kern TS4-48-7 (FR- 0362776; L205), apothecial section in LCB. Scales: A, C & E = 500 µm; B, D & F = 20 µm.

FIGURE 16. Macroconidia, Lecanoropsis saligna (A), L. quercicola (B), L. albellula (C), L. subravida (D), and L. coniferarum (E). A, Czech Republic, Jihočeský kraj, Z. Palice 21284 (FR-0362774; L572). B, Germany, Schleswig-Holstein, C. Dolnik 2374 (FR-0362772; L490). C, Czech Republic, Jihočeský kraj, Z. Palice 19576 (FR-0264512; L246). D, Russia. Adygea, Z. Palice 22535 (FR-0362806; L578). E, U.S.A., California, J. Hollinger & K. Kellman 18734 (FR-0362766; L992). All conidia were stained with Phloxine B. Scales: A–F = 10 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.