Ramalina obtusata (Arnold) Bitter

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 : 265

Ramalina obtusata (Arnold) Bitter ; Mycobank #122968

Jb. wiss. Bot. 36: 435 (1901). ― Ramalina minuscula var. obtusata Arnold 1875 .

Type:― Steril, an Nadelholz-Zweigen im Walde zwischen Schluderbach und Opidale, Ampenzzaner Alpen in Südtirol, 10 August 1874, leg. Arnold, in Arnold, Lich. Exs. no. 577b (M, lectotype, BM, isolectotype) ( Krog & James 1977).

Thallus corticolous, erect, and up to 3 cm long, greenish yellow, without side branches. Lobes branched from base, sometimes hollow, even almost foliose, broad and short, fenestrate. Soralia hood-like, terminal or subterminal, appearing to explode, sometimes eroding and showing the lower surface. Isidia absent. Soredia farinose, formed on the inner surface of swollen lobe tips. Pseudocyphellae present, lax medulla. Apothecia rare.

Chemistry: Medully spot tests K–, C–, KC–, PD–,UV–; TLC: Usnic, obtusatic (minor), and evernic acids ( Nimis & Martellos 2024).

Ecology and distribution: Ramalina obtusata Lettau was previously collected in Iran in January 2003 in Golestan Province by Massoumi & Safavi and reported by Seaward et al. (2004, 2008). R. obtusata is seldom found on rocks, occasionally appearing on conifer twigs, primarily Picea , and on deciduous trees ( Thomson 1984). In northern Fennoscandia, it is exclusively found in spruce forests, typically near waterfalls. It is present in the forests of the humid mountain type in central Europe ( Nimis 1993). In North America, it typically grows near rivers and lakes and also inhabits boreal regions ( Santesson et al. 2004, Thomson 1984, Goward & Ahti 1992). There are also documented occurrences of this species in Russia ( Tomin 1918). In the surrounding countries of Iran it is reported from Turkey ( John & Türk 2017).

Notes: Ramalina pollinaria has a resemblance with R. obtusata , but lacks inflated tips ( Brodo et al. 2001), Ramalina obtusata and Ramalina baltica share morphological and chemical similarities and are easily mistaken for one another. The sole distinction lies in the hollow medulla of Ramalina obtusata ( Soon et al. 2014) . The presence of both evernic and obtusatic acids differentiates it from R. baltica , R. subpusilla , R. inflata which contain evernic acid alone ( Soon et al. 2014).

Specimens examined: EAST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE: Kalibar, ca. 4 km from Kalibar town Galadarasi, toward Babak Castle, Arasbaran forest, 38.864789N, 46.968889E, 1750–2000 m, 19 August 2005, M. Sohrabi 4703 (ICH).