Ramalina calicaris

Sharifi, Maryam, Mehregan, Iraj, Sohrabi, Mohammad, Larijani, Kambiz & Sipman, Harrie, 2025, A synopsis of the lichen genus Ramalina (Ramalinaceae) in Iran, Phytotaxa 702 (3), pp. 255-273 : 257-258

Ramalina calicaris (L.) Röhl; Mycobank #403668

Deutschl. Fl. (Frankfurt) 3 (2): 139 (1813).— Lichen calicaris Ach. 1810 .

Type:― British Isles, Dillenius 62B, LINN 1273.115 ( OXF, neotype, designated by Krog & James (1977).

Thallus corticolous, fruticose, pendent at age, tufted and to 15 cm long, greyish-green, comprised of narrow, channeled lobes, spiky and stiff when dry. Lobes vary in number and width particularly near the base, with shiny and smooth surface, 2–4 mm wide. Soralia and isidia are absent. Pseudocyphellae frequent but indistinct, punctiform. Apothecia numerous, marginal, and subterminal, situated on angled branches at the bends.

Chemistry: Medulla spot tests K–, C–, KC–, PD–, UV–; TLC: Usnic acid and sekikaic acid complex ( Cannon et al. 2021).

Ecology and distribution: Ramalina calicaris was collected in Iran probably by Mc Vean in November 1972 and subsequently documented by Barkhalov (1975) and Seaward et al. (2008). This species is typically found on branches and twigs that are rich in nutrients, especially on shrubs with nourishing bark, and is seldom found on tree trunks. It is commonly found in coastal areas in well-lit environments. In Europe, it is common in the British Isles and southern Fennoscandia ( Cannon et al. 2021). In SW Asia, R. calicaris has been reported from Azerbaijan ( Barkhalov 1969, 1983), Armenia ( Nikogosyan 1966, Gasparyan & Sipman 2016), and Turkey ( Toksöz et al. 2022).

Notes: Specimens displaying few broad lobes measuring up to 10 mm in width might bear a resemblance to R. fraxinea , whereas sprawling variations resemble more R. fastigiata . The tough texture of the thallus and the channeled lobes, especially near the base, can function as distinguishing characteristics ( Cannon et al. 2021).

Rabenhorst (1870) was the first to report this species from Iran. However, he wrote “44. R. calycaris zur Form thrausta neigend. Auf Rubus bei Enseli am Caspischen Meere”. This indicates that the material is not typical R. thrausta , but a form of R. calicaris that resembles R. thrausta , and that it was found on Rubus sp. Rubus , a spiny shrub, is not a likely habitat for R. thrausta with its thread-like, pendant lobes growing on mature trees in cloud forests. Nevertheless, Szatala (1957) interpreted this as a report of R. thrausta . Unfortunately, the lichen herbarium of Rabenhorst was destroyed in B during WW2, and most probably no voucher exists. During a visit to Bandar Anzali, the location of the Rabenhorst (1870) report, and the surrounding regions, we thoroughly explored all forest locations, and were unable to locate any suitable habitat for R. thrausta . Therefore, we do not accept R. thrausta as reliably reported from Iran.

Specimens examined: MAZANDARAN PROVINCE: S of Noshahr, N-facing slopes of Alborz Mts, 1800 m, 5 November 1972, D. McVean 7208 (COLO-L).