Ramalina fraxinea

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 : 262-263

Ramalina fraxinea (L.) Ach.; Mycobank #119006

Lichenographia Universalis: 602 (1810). ― Lichen fraxineus L.

Type:― no data ( LINN 1273.121B, lectotype) ( Krog & James 1977).

Thallus fruticose, pendent, rather rigid with coarsely tufted, often almost monophyllous, greyish green or olive-green to greenish-black in color. Lobes with common holdfast from which few lobes sprout, undivided or sparsely branched, up to 24–30 cm in length, 3–5 cm in width, conspicuously flattened, usually with uneven and reticulately wrinkled surface, generally flat or channeled, tapering towards the base and apex, sometimes fenestrated or longitudinally lacerated. Soralia, and isidia absent. Pseudocyphellae usually inconspicuous, not channeled, common, pale, rounded or oval, laminal or marginal. Apothecia common, usually marginal.

Chemistry: Medulla spot tests K–, C–, KC–, PD–, UV–; TLC: No medullary substances ( Krog & James 1977), usnic acid alone ( Nimis & Martellos 2024).

Ecology and distribution: The species was documented in the Arasbaran region ( Sohrabi & Sipman 2020). It grows in mild-temperate climates and is plentiful in the eastern Hyrcanian forests of Golestan and Semnan. It is less common in the northwestern part of Azerbaijan in Arasbaran and it is no longer found in the Zagros Oak Forest (unpublished observation by Sohrabi in the west of Iran). It is additionally present in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey ( Harutyunyan et al. 2011, Gasparyan & Sipman 2016, Sesal et al. 2016). It is mostly found in windy and wellilluminated areas on trees with nutrient-rich bark, and less in shady parts of woodlands ( Cannon et al. 2021).

Note: This variable species resembles most closely R. calicaris , from which it differs by the large, flat lobes and the absence of medullary substances. Its susceptibility to air pollution by SO2 is significant (this should not exceed 35 µg / m 3) ( Cannon et al. 2021).

Specimens examined: EAST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE: Jolfa, Jolfa to Khoda-Afarin, Missan village and the closest forest., 38.861095N, 46.444488E, 1000–1250 m, 15 July 2001, M. Sohrabi 113 (ICH), 172 (TNS, ICH, herb. Sohrabi); Kalibar, 21 km south of the road of Khoda-Afarin to Jolfa, Aynaloo, 38.88702N, 46.80238E, 1750–1900 m, 20 August 2005, on the bark of a deciduous tree, M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad 3733, 4158 (herb. Sohrabi). GOLESTAN PROVINCE: National Park, Golzar camping, 600 m, corticolous, on Quercus sp. 21 March 2003, Sohrabi 2478, 2490, 172 (herb. Sohrabi). SEMNAN PROVINCE: Shahroud county, Dasht-e-Shad village, Northern side of the village, 37.27627N, 55.76581E, 1750 m, 18 November 2017, on the trees, accompany species: Ramalina farinacea, M. Sohrabi 30076B (herb. Sohrabi); 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 30964 (ICH).

FIGURE 2. A: R. fraxinea , B: R. hyrcana , C: R. pollinaria , D: R. polymorpha