Ramalina pollinaria (Westr.) Ach.

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 : 266

Ramalina pollinaria (Westr.) Ach. ; Mycobank #356436

Lichenographia Universalis: 608 (1810). – Lichen pollinarius Westr. 1795 .

Type:― Sweden ( Suecia) (H-Ach. 1831D, neotype designated by Krog & James, 1977; BM-Ach. 804’4. isoneotype) ( Krog & James 1977).

Thallus fruticose, rather polymorphic, up to 6 cm in length, light green to light yellow, with flattened lobes, discrete or forming swards, 3 mm wide at the base. Lobes an expanding or narrow holdfast branched sparingly or simply; hastily proliferating into several subpendulous branches, partly terete, 2 mm in width dissected apices with many small nodular proliferations, or flat branches with undulating or deeply incised or notched edges. Soralia mostly subterminal or terminal, more seldom on branch margins or lamina, of degenerated parts of the cortex, from excavated soralia, spreading irregularly, frequently appearing lip-shaped at the ends. Soredia farinose, coarsely grainy. Pseudocyphellae ellipsoid and laminal. Apothecia not seen.

Chemistry: Medulla spot tests K–, C–, PD–, KC–, UV–; TLC: Usnic, evernicacids.

Ecology and distribution: Ramalina pollinaria was first documented in Iran in 1957 ( Seaward et al. 2004, 2008, Szatala 1957), This particular species has been the subject of research by various scholars ( Barkhalov 1975, Buhse 1860, Es-hagh Nimvar & Mataji 2014, Es-hagh Nimvari et al. 2013, Safavi et al. 2015, Sohrabi 2005a,b, Sohrabi & Ramezani 2010, Sohrabi & Sipman 2007, Valadbeigi & Shaddel 2016). The distribution of the species R. pollinaria (Westr.) Ach spans the Northern Hemisphere, thriving on various substrates such as bark, wood, and rock ( Wirth et al. 2013). These saxicolous specimens are commonly sighted beneath rock ledges in sheltered environments ( Krog & James 1977). Additionally, R. pollinaria has also been identified in Turkey ( Gulluce et al. 2006, Kahraman et al. 2009), Armenia and Azerbaijan ( Harutyunyan et al. 2011, Gasparyan & Sipman 2016), and Pakistan ( Aptroot & Iqbal 2012).

Note: Initially, R. pollinaria was frequently mistaken for R. lacera , but it exhibits a more intricate branching pattern. On the other hand, R. canariensis is characterized by vesicular soredia. In contrast, R. farinacea and R. subfarinacea feature distinct ulcerose soralia on both the edges and surface, along with different chemical compositions. This particular species shows variability in branching locations and soralia characteristics. It can be differentiated from R. farinacea , R. obtusata , or R. intermedia by the presence of evernic acid ( Cannon et al. 2021, Gasparyan et al. 2017). See also note on R. pollinaria group under C. arsenii .

Specimens examined: EAST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE: Jolfa, Jolfa-Khoda-Afarin, Missan village, 1000– 1500 m, 15 July 2001, M. Sohrabi 166 (TNS, herb. Sohrabi); Jolfa, Khoda-Afarin, Missan village and the closest forest., 38.861095E, 46.444488N, 1000–1250 m, 15 July 2001, M. Sohrabi 110 (TNS, ICH, herb. Sohrabi); Kalibar, ca. 4 km from Kalibar town Galadarasi, toward Babak Castle Arasbaran forest, 38.836946N, 46.987100E, 1750–2000 m, 19 August 2005, M. Sohrabi 4746 (herb. Sohrabi). GOLESTAN PROVINCE: Gorgan to Aliabad, 250 m, on schist, 5 September 2002, M. Sohrabi 1998A (TNS, herb. Sohrabi); Ramian, Mt Galehmoran, c. 1000 m, 2 January 2002, M. Sohrabi 1847 (TNS, herb. Sohrabi); Kordkuy-Radkan, 450–600 m, on schist, 18 June 2002, M. Sohrabi 1957 (TNS, herb. Sohrabi); 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, accompany species: Evernia divaricata (L.) Ach., M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad 31485, 31506 (ICH, herb. Sohrabi). MAZANDARAN PROVINCE: 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 implectens , Usnea aff hirta, Ramalina fastigiata (MSH18), M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad, M. Mofid 30483 (herb. Sohrabi); Nour county, Royan, Kojdur to Kodir, 2000 m, 3 April 2002, Sohrabi 417, 477 (TNS, herb. Sohrabi), 30156 (herb. Sohrabi); Nour county, Royan Baledeh road, Donkoo village, 36.37251N, 51.89057E, 1550 m, 13. November 2017, on the bark of Caloplaca cerina, M. Sohrabi & M. Ghobad-Nejhad 30274 (ICH). 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 30955 (ICH).