Ramalina farinacea

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 : 261

Ramalina farinacea (L.) Ach.; Mycobank #403714

Lichenographia Universalis: 606 (1810). ― Lichen farinaceus Linnaeus , Species Plantarum 2: 1146. 1753.

Type:― Unknown country: Acharius 1810; Lectotype (Hawksworth 1969): LINN Sheet No. 1273.110 (Linnean Herbarium) ( Howe 1914, Krog & James 1977, Krog & Østhagen 1980).

Thallus fruticose, tufted or shrubby, pendent, length 6–16 cm, greenish, sprouting from a defined holdfast. Lobes solid, flattened but not dorsiventral, dichotomously or irregularly branched, often subdivided into multiple, flat, sometimes slightly concave branches, up to 4 mm in width, yellow to dark grey-green, matt surface, smooth and firm texture. Soralia mainly marginal, scattered, saucer-shaped, mostly circular or ellipsoidal, becoming flat. Soredia farinose and pale yellow-green. Apothecia rare, lateral.

Chemistry: Medulla spot tests K–, C–, K–, PD–, UV–; TLC: Sekikaic acid, usnic acid ( Soon et al. 2014).

Ecology and distribution: Ramalina farinacea was documented in Iran on two occasions before 1950 ( Steiner, 1916, Szatala, 1940, cited by Seaward et al. 2004, 2008). Subsequently, numerous other authors have made references to this species (Es-hagh Nimvar & Mataji 2014, Es-hagh Nimvari et al. 2016, Kazemi et al. 2016, Moniri 2009, Riahi & Valadbeigi 2005, Safavi et al. 2015, Sohrabi & Ramezani 2010, Sohrabi & Sipman 2020, Szatala 1957, Valadbeigi & Shaddel 2015). It is common and found on various substrates and habitats, ranging from tree trunks and twigs in shaded deciduous woodlands to sunny, windy, solitary trees, hedgerows, shrubs, rocks, and dunes. Its distribution spans the British Isles, Western Europe, Macaronesia, and Asia, with a decreasing presence in northern Fennoscandia ( Cannon et al. 2021). In the surrounding countries of Iran it is reported from Armenia (Gasparyan & Sipman 2016) and Turkey ( John & Türk 2017).

Note: This species resembles Evernia prunastri , but it possesses marginal soralia, a resilient, cartilaginous subcortex, and the lobes are subcylindrical with phycobionts cells underneath all exterior surfaces. Specimens of the R. pollinaria group are easily confused with it. For differences see the descriptions of R. arsenii and R. europaea in Sérusiaux et al. (2021). Four chemotypes are known for R. farinacea : (1) Pd+ orange-red, K– or orange-brown, UV– (protocetraric acid); (2) Pd+ yellow-orange, K+ yellow-red, UV– (norstictic acid, ± salazinic acids); (3) Pd–, K–, UV+ blue-white (hypoprotocetraric acid); (4) Pd–, K–, UV– (no lichen acids detected) ( Cannon et al. 2021). The taxonomic value of these chemotypes is unclear. From Iran so far chemotype 1 and 2 are known.

Specimens examined: EAST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE: Kalibar, ca. 4 km from Kalibar town Galadarasi , toward Babak Castle Arasbaranforest none Protect area , 38.836946N, 46.987100E, 1750–2000 m, 19 August 2005, Corticolous: on twigs of trees, M. Sohrabi 4558 (herb. Sohrabi). GOLESTAN PROVINCE: C. 12 km from Aliabad towards Zaringol, 420 m, 29 January 2003, Maassoumi & Safavi 2058 (B) ; Kordkooy, 5 km towards Radkan , 300–1800 m, mixed forest, 28 January 2003, Maassoumi & Safavi 2031(B) ; Gorgan county, Gorgan-Ali Abad highway, Ghorogh forest , 5 km inside the Ghorogh Jungle , 36.872563N, 54.706367E, 450 m, 17 November 2017, on the bark of Carpinus sp. , M. Sohrabi 30477 ( ICH) ; Gorgan county, Tuskestan, 5 km to Chaharbagh , 36.678660N, 54.565324E, 2270 m, 13 November 2018, on mosses and trees, M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad 30702 ( ICH) ; Gorgan county , 650 m, 14 December 2001, M. Sohrabi 27 (herb. Seaward) ; Kordkuy, Derazno village, 1 km towards The TV Broadcast Tower , 36.667896N, 54.164537E, 1900 m, 15 November 2017, on the bark of deciduous trees, M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad 31478 ( ICH) ; Kordkuy, Derazno village , 1 km towards The TV Broadcast Tower, 36.667896N, 54.164537E, 1900 m, 15 November 2017, on the bark of a deciduous trees, M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad 30881, 31496 ( ICH), 31355 ( ICH, herb Sohrabi), 31496B (herb. Sohrabi), (31497) ( ICH, herb Sohrabi), accompany species: Ramalina europea . MAZANDARAN PROVINCE: Farim, 5 km from Shahid Rajaie Dam, 36.220084N, 53.272434E, 902 m, 19 November 2017, on the bark of a deciduous tree, M. Sohrabi 30179 ( ICH), 30182 ( ICH, herb. Sohrabi) ; Farim, 5 km from Shahid Rajaie Dam , 36.220084N, 53.272434E, 921 m, 23 November 2017, on the bark of a deciduous tree, M. Sohrabi 30217, 30201 ( ICH) ; Galougah 6 km to Sefid Chah village, Northern slope of the road, 36.66266N, 53.81353E, 902 m, 19 November 2017, on the bark of the deciduous tree, M. Sohrabi 30155 ( ICH) ; Galougah County, Sefid Chah village, ca. 8 Km towards Radekan , 36.66281N, 53.81353E, 2402 m, 10 November 2017, on the bark of the deciduous tree, M. Sohrabi 30317 (herb. Sohrabi) ; Nour county, 12 km towards Elimalat Lake, Kashpel Park , 36.492177N, 52.040247E, 85 m, 12 November 2017, on the bark of deciduous tree, M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad & M. Mofid 30430 ( ICH) ; Nour county, Donkoo village, 2 km towards Khvortab Rud , 36.344940N, 51.910725E, 1900 m, 9 November 2018, on the bark of deciduous tree, accompany species: Ramalina pollinaria (MSH42), M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad, M. Mofid 30512 (herb. Sohrabi) ; Nour county, Donkoo village on the way towards Khvortab Rud , 3 km towards Donkoo , 36.356494N, 51.877134E, 1600 m, 13 November 2017, on the bark of a deciduous tree, M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad 30672 (herb. Sohrabi) ; Tonekabon, She-hezar towards Lireh-sar , 400 m, forest, 28 March 2003, Maassoumi 2105 (B, herb. Seaward 112710). SEMNAN PROVINCE: Shahroud county , Dasht-E Shad village , 2 km towards Loveh village , Dasht-e-Kalpoush , 37.259628N, 55.728060E, 1900 m, 19 November 2017, on the bark of deciduous trees, M. Sohrabi 30971, 30966 (herb. Sohrabi) ; Shahroud county, Dasht-E Shad village, Northern side of the village, 37.27627N, 55.76581E, 1750 m, 18 November 2017, on the bark of deciduous tree, M. Sohrabi 30068, 30069, 30074, 30073, 30090 ( ICH, herb Sohrabi), 30076 ( ICH), 30067 (herb. Sohrabi) accompanied by lichenicolous fungi, black, 30071 ( ICH, herb. Sohrabi), accompanied by Anaptychia setifera Mereschk. ex Räsänen ; Shahroud county, Dasht-E Shad village, 2 km towards Loveh village , Dasht-e-Kalpoush , 37.259628N, 55.728060E, 1900 m, 19 November 2017, on the bark of deciduous trees, M. Sohrabi 30899, 30942, 30953 ( ICH, herb. Sohrabi), 30943 ( ICH) .