Ramalina capitata (Ach.) Nyl.

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 : 258

Ramalina capitata (Ach.) Nyl. ; Mycobank #403674

Flora , Regensburg 55: 426 (1872). ― Ramalina polymorpha var. capitata Ach.

Type:― Sweden: (Herb. Acharius 18054, lectotype). ( Krog & James 1977).

Thallus fruticose, around 11–19 mm high. Lobes derived from a single holdfast, flattened, greenish to greenish grey, branched in a fan-like pattern, horny, striate longitudinally with slender slit-like lacunae, about 1–4 mm wide. Soralia discrete, capitate, on top of swollen and recurved lobes. Soredia granular, concolorous with the thallus. Pseudocyphellae absent. Apothecia rare, apical.

Chemistry: Medulla spot tests K–, C–, KC–, PD–, UV–; TLC: usnic acid ( Nimis & Martellos 2024, Cannon et al. 2021

Ecology and distribution: Sohrabi and Alizadeh discovered R. capitata in the province Azerbaijan in 2002 ( Seaward et al. 2004, 2008). Afterwards, Houshyar et al. (2014) cited this species for Iran. Sohrabi & Sipman (2020) found it on a wind-exposed siliceous rock. Elsewhere, R. capitata has been observed on rocky outcrops ( Voytsekhovich & Beck 2016) and in urban areas with considerable levels of air pollution, indicating its ability to tolerate pollution ( Aslan et al. 2004). R. capitata is known from Armenia and Turkey as well ( Harutyunyan et al. 2011, Yazici et al. 2013).

Note: R. capitata is closely related to R. polymorpha (Lilj.) Ach. , which differs by its laminal, spherical granules organized along pseudocyphellae-like lines. These two species are closely related but show genetic distinctions ( Marthinsen et al. 2019, Spjut et al. 2020).

Specimens examined: EAST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE: Jolfa, Jolfa to Khoda-Afarin , Missan village , around village and the closest forests, 38.860576N, 46.445788E, 1000–1500 m, 25 May 1999, on silicate rocks, M. Sohrabi 1484 ( ICH, herb. Sohrabi) ; Jolfa, Jolfa to Khoda-Afarin , Missan village and the closest forest, 38.861095N, 46.444488E, 1000–1250 m, 15 July 2001, M. Sohrabi 85 ( ICH, herb. Sohrabi) ; Jolfa, ca 17 km E of Hadishahr, Daran village, around the road to the Kiamakidagh , 38.802844N, 45.824039E, 1770 m, 16 September 2004, Saxicolous: on siliceous rocks, M. Sohrabi 831 ( ICH, herb. Sohrabi) ; Kalibar, ca. 10 km from Kalibar, Hejranduost village , 38.864789N, 46.968889E, 1750–1850 m, 20 August 2005, on silicate rocks, M. Sohrabi 4280, 4288, 4297 ( ICH, herb. Sohrabi). WEST AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE: between Bazargan and Boralan, along the road to Mt. Ararat, 1400 m, 10 August 2002, M. Sohrabi & B. Alizadeh 16599 (B), 831 ( ICH, herb. Sohrabi), 16724 ( ICH, herb. Sohrabi) .