Lecanoropsis albellula (Nyl.) 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 : 27-29

Lecanoropsis albellula (Nyl.) Ivanovich & Printzen , comb. nov. Fig. 10A & B , 15A , 16C and 17A .

MycoBank nº: 847127

Basionym: Lecidea albellula Nyl., Not. Sällsk. Fauna et Flora Fenn. för. n. ser. 8 (5): 147 (1866).

Type:— RUSSIA. Murmansk Oblast: Kandalakshsky District, (possibly; as Lapponiae Inandrae, prope Kantalahti) 1863, Fellman , Lich. Arct. Coll. 129 (H-NYL 26472= H9506892 !— lectotype, designated by Printzen 2001)

Synonyms: Lecanora albellula (Nyl.) Th. Fries (1871: 266)

New variety combination : Lecanoropsis albellula (Nyl.) Ivanovich & Printzen var. macroconidiata (M. Brand & van den Boom) Palice & Ivanovich comb. nov.

Basionym: Lecanora albellula var. macroconidiata M. Brand & van den Boom , in van den Boom & Brand, Lichenologist 40 (6): 468 (2008).

Thallus endosubstratal to episubstratal. When the thallus is episubstratal, effuse and amorphous, aggregated into amorphous areoles, sometimes only below apothecia, usually whitish to beige. Photobiont a chlorococcoid/trebouxoid alga. Apothecia rounded to deformed, single and scarce or aggregated in small groups, occasionally forming large patches, appressed to sessile, (0.21–)0.28–0.29(–0.35) mm in diam. On specimens with abundant apothecia, discs tend to overlap and to fuse. In one specimen, some apothecia appear to grow exceptionally aberrant and large, reaching ca. 4–5 times the size of normal apothecia, the aberrant discs becoming convex, uneven and verrucose. Apothecial disc flat to convex, usually pale beige or yellowish, becoming beige to ochre, sometimes darkening brown to dark grey or brown, matte to occasionally weakly glossy, commonly with a white fine pruina, more rarely epruinose. Apothecial margin on young apothecia thin, smooth to weakly crenulate, raised, on old apothecia, thinner to disappearing and completely excluded, (0.01–)0.03–0.06(–0.07) mm wide. Whitish beige. Amphithecium usually with golden-brown granules in the algal layer and in the outer edges of the cortex. Amphithecial cortex variable, thick and of even width to thin or ecorticated laterally, uneven, sometimes widening at the base, sometimes moderately gelatinized at the base, (12–)18–26(–29) µm wide laterally, (18–)23–43(–48) µm wide basally, hyaline. Parathecium inapparent. Epihymenium hyaline or faint yellow to faint brown, or faint olive, sometimes streaks of both pigments present on the same apothecia, containing a mixture of Cinereorufa -green and an unknown brown or yellow pigment (see Notes below), covered by an epipsamma variable in thickness, of golden-brown granules, rarely streaking into the hymenium. Hymenium hyaline, sometimes inspersed with golden-brown granules, (37–)43–62(–68) µm. Subhymenial layers hyaline, rarely faint brown, (60–)72–103(–130) µm. Paraphyses simple to commonly branching, more rarely anastomosing, ca. 1.5–2 µm wide, apices not to weakly capitate, ca. 2–2.5 µm wide, apical gel sheath ca. 3–3.5 µm wide. Spores ellipsoid, simple, (6.8–)8.6–11(–15.3) × (3.4–)3.7–4.5(–7.0) µm. Conidia : Macroconidia reniform, 0–3 septate, 7–12 × 1.5–2 µm (12–15 × 1.5–2.5 in L. albellula var. macroconidiata ); microconidia slender and bent, 8–10 × 1–2 µm; mesoconidia ellipsoid-bacilliform, 3–4 × 1–2 µm; leptoconidia filamentous and curved, 10–15 × 1 µm.

Chemistry: Isousnic acid (major). Pseudoplacodiolic acid was detected in a single specimen. Usnic acid was reported by Printzen (20001) and van den Boom and Brand (2008) as minor or trace in some specimens and rarely as a major substance. This compound was not detected by us by TLC. 7-O-methylnorascomatic acid was reported as rare in Lecanoropsis albellula , but as major in L. albellula var. macroconidiata by van den Boom and Brand (2008). This compound was not detected by us by TLC, except for two specimens by ZP in PRA.

Substrate: Corticolous and lignicolous, found on both bark of standing and dead wood of Picea and on worked wooden posts.

Ecology: Mixed montane forests of Picea and Fagus , in subalpine habitats, above 700 m alt, up to ca. 2200 m alt. Some historical collections from central-northern Europe come from areas at lower elevations (e.g. H9232390).

Distribution: Widely distributed in montane areas of Europe, including Fennoscandia as north as Lapland, and in middle west Russia (Tatarstan Republic). Also, reported for the Yosemite NP ( Hutten et al., 2013) in U.S. A, but the respective specimen proved to be Lecanora prolificans (see Discussion in p. 51).

Notes:Generally confused with L.subsaligna , L.albellula produces different macroconidia. Lecanoropsis subsaligna macroconidia are U-shaped and measure25×2µm,with pointed tips,whereas those of L.albellula are7–12×1.8μm(up to 15x2.5µm in var. macroconidiata )in diameter and have obtuse tips.Other character differences are the smaller apothecia in L.albellula [(0.21–)0.28–0.29(–0.35)µm vs.(0.35–)0.37–0.51(–0.55)µm of L.subsaligna ]and higher subhymenial layers [(60–)72–103(–130) µm vs. (35–)40–50(–55) µm].

Lecanoropsis albellula differs from L. saligna by conidial differences between these species: macroconidia of L. saligna are smaller, aseptate and weakly crescent-shaped; leptoconidia of L. saligna are shorter than those of L. albellula , only reaching 11 µm in length. Epihymenial pigment’s reactions are also different: although both can appear brown in water, the reaction in K after application of N is strongly yellow-orange in L. albellula due to the presence of an unknown brown or yellow pigment. In comparison, the K reaction after N of the epihymenial pigment in L. saligna is brown due to the presence of Superba -brown. L. albellula also produces Cinereorufa -green (which is absent in L. saligna ), but is always present as streaks in the epihymenium and never completely colouring the epihymenium as is in the case of Lecanora mughicola . For more reaction details see Table 4. Similarities and differences between Lecanoropsis albellula and Lecanora prolificans are discussed under L. prolificans .

Selected specimens studied: AUSTRIA. Salzburg: Tamsweg , 1700 m alt., 47°10.1669’ N 13°54.8290’ E, 02 September 2019, C. Ivanovich & L. Weber LUN25 (FR-0362754), Lecanomics Code: 506 ; Lungau, Überling, Lärchen- Fichten-Wald etwas oberhalb Forststrasse und Wanderweg zur Überlinghütte , 1725 m., 47°10.1538’ N 13°54.8624’ E, 02 September 2019, M. Schultz 08761 (HBG-24727), Lecanomics Code: 652 ; Steiermark: Salzkammergut, Grundlsee , 25 August 1952, A. Henssen ( H9232381 ) ; CZECH REPUBLIC. Moravia: Vysočina, Vápenice Forest , October 1906, F. Kovář 21284 ( H9232511 ) ; East Bohemia: Orlické hory Mts , Bartošovice v Orlických horách, valley of Bartošovický potok, loc “Údolíčko”, 705 m alt., 50°11’ 06.5” N 16°31’ 12.5” E, 20 April 2012, J. Halda, J. Malíček & Z. Palice 15128 (FR-0212939) ; South Bohemia, Šumava Mts, Volary, Černý Kříž , game-keeper´s house, 740 m alt., 48º51.653’ N 13º51.505’ E, 13 March 2010, Z. Palice 13339 (FR-0212940, PRA) ; ESTONIA. Maartu , 09 November 1932, J. Ruubel ( H9232510 ) ; FRANCE. Vosges : Docelles, J. Harmand ; Claudel , Claudel & Harmand, Lich. Gall. exs. 282 ( H9232509 ) ; GERMANY. Bayern: Freyung-Grafenau, Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald , 1106 m alt., 48°56.7569’ N 13°28.1257’ E, 26 August 2017, S. Kern TS3-31 - 12 (FR-0362755), Lecanomics Code: 204 ; 1110 m alt., 48°56.4577’ N 13°28.7240’ E, 30 November 2017, S. Kern TS3-14 - 5 (FR-0362756), Lecanomics Code: 214 ; Bayern: Regen , 1138 m alt., 49°5.4328’ N 13°7.7011’ E, 11 July 2019, R. Cezanne & M. Eichler 11522 (FR-0362757), Lecanomics Code: 521 ; 900 m alt., 49°4.5920’ N 13°18.1747’ E, 08 June 2019, L. Weber T3-27 - 10 (FR-0183021), Lecanomics Code: 555 ; Bayern, Augsburg, Britzelmayr , Lich. Exs. Fl. Augsb. exs. 132 ( H9232382 ) ; Britzelmayr , Lich. Exs. Fl. Augsb. exs. ( H9232512 ) ; Nordrhein-Westfalen: Warendorf, Felgte , 51°58’ N 7°47’ E, 1862, F. Wilms ( H9232390 ) ; ITALY. Bozen, Haslach ( South Tirol , Bolzano, Via Aslago), Hausmann ( H9232389 ) ; RUSSIA. Petschora River, Werchue Pjoscha [?], 30 June 1891, A. O. Kihlman 105 B ( H9232392 ) ; Tatarstan Republic: Kasan , 55.796 N 49.108 E, 1910, C. Mereschkowsk y ( H9232386 ) ; 1909, C. Mereschkowsky ( H9232387 ) ; SWEDEN. Skåne: Asmundtorp , Örstorp, 06 May 1899, N. Alsthin ( H9232508 ) ; SWITZERLAND. Zürich, Zürichberg , November 1876, G. Winter 89 ( H9232385 ) ; Hegetschweiler 301 ( H9232383 ) .

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 15. Macroconidia, Lecanoropsis albellula (A), L.iapyx (B), L.subsaligna (C), L.micans (D), L.coracina (E), and L. anoptizodes (F). A, Germany, Bayern, R. Cezanne & M. Eichler 11522 (FR-0362757; L521); leptoconidia also present. B, USA, Oregon, B. McCune 37360 (FR-0362732; L269). C, Czech Republic, Karlovarský kraj, Z. Palice 27662 (FR-0362808; L581). D, USA. Oregon, B. McCune 29514 (FR-0362734; L266). E, U.S.A., Oregon, S. Sheehy (FR-0183036; L1136). F, Slovakia. Žilinský kraj, P. Czarnota, A. Guttová, J. Halda & Z. Palice 12247 (FR-0264511).All conidia were stained with Phloxine B. Scales: A–F = 10 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.