Lichenological Notes 7: On taxa of Acarospora and Sarcogyne

Abstract

Acarospora cervina and A. tongleti are discussed as not occurring in North America and should be removed from North American checklist. Sarcogyne sphaerospora is transferred to Acarospora and given a new name Acarospora lendermeri. Sarcogyne reebiae is considered a synonym of S. similis. Sarcogyne similis is verified as occurring in Europe in Greece.

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Opuscula Philolichenum, 19: 158–162. 2020.
*pdf effectively published online 28August2020 via (http://sweetgum.nybg.org/philolichenum/)
Lichenological Notes 7: On taxa of Acarospora and Sarcogyne
KERRY KNUDSEN
1
& JANA KOCOURKOVÁ
2
ABSTRACT. – Acarospora cervina and A. tongleti are discussed as not occurring in North America and
should be removed from North American checklist. Sarcogyne sphaerospora is transferred to Acarospora and given
a new name Acarospora lendermeri. Sarcogyne reebiae is considered a synonym of S. similis. Sarcogyne similis is
verified as occurring in Europe in Greece.
KEYWORDS. – Acarospora janae, lichenicolous fungi, New Mexico, nomenclature, stromata.
INTRODUCTION
During our studies, we often discover new data that do not fit in main papers we are working on. In
Lichenological Notes we publish these random discoveries, lectotypifications, and nomenclatural novelties and make
them available to current and future researchers. This is the seventh installment of this series.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Specimens were studied from GZU, NY, UCR, W and private herbaria Jason Dart (hb. Dart) and Kocourková
and Knudsen (hb. K & K) using standard microscopy and spot tests (Brodo et al. 2001). Hand-prepared sections were
studied and measured in water. The amyloid reaction of the hymenial and subhymeniumial substances were tested
with fresh, undiluted IKI (Merck’s Lugol; for protocol see Knudsen & Kocourková 2018a). The macrophotographs
by Tim Wheeler were taken with a Pentax K3 DSLR, mounted on a Stackshot rail, and combined in Helicon Focus.
RESULTS
I – ACAROSPORA CERVINA SHOULD BE REMOVED RROM THE NORTH AMERICAN CHECKLIST
Acarospora cervina (Ach.) A. Massal., Ric. auton. lich. crost., p. 28. 1852. [For discussion of synonymy and
conservation proposal refer to Arcadia et al. (2020)].
NOTES. – Acarospora cervina is a common calciphyte in Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia (Magnusson 1929). For
a detailed description the reader should refer to Magnusson (1929) and for photographs of the species, refer to Wirth
et al. (2013). Magnusson did not consider that A. cervina occurred in North America (Magnusson 1930, 1956). Egan
(1987) excluded A. glaucocarpa (Ach.) Arnold from the North American checklist and added A. cervina var.
glaucocarpa (Wahlenb. in Ach.) Körb. based on the taxonomy of Clauzade and Roux (Clauzade et al. 1981). Despite
A. glaucocarpa eventually being recognized as a separate species from A. cervina and reinstated to the North American
checklist, A. cervina has persisted on the North America checklist (Esslinger 2019) even though there is a lack of
accurate records in the literature. We have not seen any specimens of A. cervina from North America in our studies
of Acarosporaceae, including in our recent studies of the A. glaucocarpa group (Knudsen et al. 2020). Because of
pictures of A. cervina from Europe, that have white edges like the one in Wirth et al. (2013), American lichenologists
sometimes identified white-edged specimens of Sarcogyne wheeleri K. Knudsen, J.N. Adams, Kocouk. & Y. Wang
as A. cervina, including the first author until he collected and studied A. cervina in the Czech Republic. A recent
1
KERRY KNUDSEN – Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Department of
Ecology, Kamýcká 129, Praha - Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic – e-mail: knudsen@fzp.czu.cz
2
JANA KOCOURKOVÁ – Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Department of
Ecology, Kamýcká 129, Praha - Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic – e-mail: kocourkovaj@fzp.czu.cz

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Figure 1. Acarospora lendemeri on Candelariella vitellina, A.R. Pigniolo 866 (UCR). Photograph by Tim Wheeler,
courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.
determination of a depauperate Alaskan specimen as possible A. cervina by the first author was revised as either S.
canadensis (H. Magn.) K. Knudsen, J.N. Adams, Kocouk. & Y. Wang, or S. wheeleri and communicated to the
collector, but he forgot to correct the identification in a manuscript of the checklist of Glacier Bay National Park
lichens (Spribille et al. 2020). Acarospora cervina should be removed from the North American checklist. Recently,
A. bullata Anzi was discovered in North America (Brinker & Knudsen 2018), so it is still possible A. cervina may be
discovered in North America. The basionym Lichen cervinus has been proposed for conservation with a conserved
type (Arcadia et al. 2020).
II – TRANSFER OF SARCOGYNE SPHAEROSPORA TO ACAROSPORA
Acarospora lendemeri K. Knudsen & Kocourk., nom. nov.
Mycobank# MB 834579
FIGURE 1.
≡ Sarcogyne sphaerospora J. Steiner, Österr. Bot. Z. 49: 251. 1899. TYPE: TURKEY: summit of Little Ararat, 3896
m, on Candelariella, K.R. von Marilaun s.n. (W[n.v.], holotype).
DESCRIPTION. – Apothecia dispersed on Candelariella species. Apothecia 0.4–0.5 μm in width, lecideoid,
margin thin and black, disc with carbonized epihymenial accretions (Polysporina-type). Parathecium narrowly
expanded around the disc up to 40 μm, melanized. Epihymenium 10 μm tall, brown. Hymenium 80–120 μm tall,
paraphyses 1 μm wide, IKI+ blue turning red (hemiamyloid). Asci 70–78 × 18–21μm, ascospores globose 4.0–5.0 μm
wide. Subhymenium 40–50 μm tall, blue to red (hemiamyloid). Hypothecium indistinct from hyphae attaching to host.

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NOTES. – Sarcogyne sphaerospora was originally described from a small number of apothecia found growing
on Candelariella in Turkey (Magnusson 1937, Steiner 1899). It has been reported from Mongolia and Kashmir
(Huneck, et al. 1992, Pino-Bodas et al. 2017). The species is easy to identify because it has carbonized epihymenial
accretions, is a parasite on Candelariella, and has globose ascospores (4.0–5.0 μm wide) (Lendemer et al. 2009). In a
recent phylogeny, it was recovered in the genus Acarospora closely related to another lichenicolous fungus, A.
subfuscescens (Nyl.) H. Magn. (Pino-Bodas et al. 2017, Westberg et al. 2015). Here we transfer S. sphaerospora to
the genus Acarospora. Because the epithet is already preoccupied by A. sphaerospora H. Magn., a European lichen
with gyrophoric acid (Magnusson 1929), we name the species in honor of James Lendemer of the New York Botanical
Garden, who collected the taxon in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California and reported it new for North
America (Lendemer et al. 2009). So far, the species has only been collected in North America in the San Bernardino
Mountains of southern California. It appears to be high elevation montane species.
Specimens examined. – AFGHANISTAN. KABUL PROVINCE: ISTALIF DISTRICT: 5505 m,
4.vii.1975, on sterile Candelariella cf. kansuensis, H. Huss 64 (GZU). PROVINCE KUNAR: Bashgal-Quelltäler,
Suengal-Tal, 35°55′N 71°12′E, 3700 m, 2.ix.1969, on C. cf. kansuensis, D. Podlech s.n. (GZU). U.S.A.
CALIFORNIA. SAN BERNARDINO CO.: San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino National Forest, FS 2N93
off CA 38, 34°10′18″N 116°47′11″W, 2274 m, 7.x.2008, on C. rosulans, J.C. Lendemer 14917A & K. Knudsen (NY);
San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino National Forest, San Gorgonio Mountain, 34°06′00″N 116°50′11″W,
3409 m, 12.ix.2015, on C. vitellina, A.R. Pigniolo 866 (UCR).
III – ACAROSPORA TONGLETI SHOULD BE REMOVED RROM THE NORTH AMERICAN CHECKLIST
Acarospora tongleti (Hue) Olivier, Lich. Eur., p. 83. 1909. ≡ Lecanora tongletii Hue, Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 44: 427.
1897. TYPE: BELGIUM: Dinaut, Drehance, 1894, sur des affleurements calcareo-schisteux, A. Tonglet s.n.
(P[n.v.], holotype; W!, isotype).
NOTES. – Acarospora tongleti is only known from the type collection made in Belgium on calcareous mica-
schist. It has a thinly pruinose, areolate thallus with several punctiform apothecia per areole (0.2–0.3 μm wide) and
produces gyrophoric acid (Magnusson 1929; for drawing see Roux et al. 2019). Clauzade and Roux treated A.
variegata H. Magn. as a form of A. tongleti (Clauzade et al. 1981) though Roux now accepts it as a distinct species
(Roux et al. 2019). Acarospora variegata differs from A. tongleti in being epruinose, in having a wider parathecium
expanding around the apothecial disc (25–40 μm in A. variegata vs. 5–10 μm in A. tongleti), having larger apothecia
(up to 1 mm wide in A. variegata vs. 0.2–0.4 mm in A. tongelti), and in having a hemiamyloid hymenial gel rather
than the euamyloid hymenial gel reported for A. tongleti (Magnusson 1929). Acarospora variegata is a rare species
apparently endemic to central Europe occurring in Germany and Slovakia and is in need of revision (Magnusson
1929). It is possibly a low elevation morph of A. squamulosa (Ach.) Trevis, with at least most apothecia lacking
epihymenial accretions and forming a more areolate crust than is usual. Magnusson (1929) reported A. variegata from
Las Vegas, New Mexico, based on a collection made by G.A. Brouard in 1927. That specimen became the holotype
of A. janae K. Knudsen, which differs from A. variegata in having a thin parathecium and euamyloid hymenial gel
(Lumbsch et al. 2010, Knudsen & Kocourková 2017, Knudsen et al. 2011). Thus, A. variegata does not occur in North
America and has already been removed from the North American checklist. Acarospora tongleti was added to the
North American checklist because Clauzade et al. (1981) considered A. variegata a form of A. tongleti, and A. tongleti
is still included on the checklist (Egan 1987, Esslinger 2019). The name should be removed from the North American
checklist.
IV – SARCOGYNE REEBIAE IS A SYNONYM OF SARCOGYNE SIMILIS
Sarcogyne similis H. Magn., Ann. Cryptog. Exot. 7: 135. 1935. TYPE: U.S.A. CALIFORNIA. SANTA CRUZ CO.:
Santa Cruz Mountains, Devilʼs Cañon, 701 m, 8.viii.1906, on sandstone, A.W.C.T. Herre 948 (FH!, lectotype,
designated Knudsen & Lendemer 2005).
= Sarcogyne californica H. Magn., Ann. Cryptog. Exot. 7: 138. 1934. TYPE: U.S.A. CALIFORNIA. LOS
ANGELES CO.: Topanga Canyon, 1908, on sandstone, H.E. Hasse 1102 (FH!, lectotype designated by
Knudsen & Lendemer 2005).

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Syn. nov. = Sarcogyne reebiae K. Knudsen, Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region 3: 294. 2007[2008].
TYPE: U.S.A. CALIFORNIA. ORANGE CO.: Santa Ana Mountains, Weir Canyon, 33°50'18''N
117°44'8''W, 278 m, 6.vi.2006, on sandstone outcrops, K. Knudsen 6435 (UCR!, holotype; ASU!, hb. K&K!,
isotypes).
Notes. – Sarcogyne similis is a common species on siliceous rock in North America (Magnusson 1935,
Knudsen & Standley 2007, Knudsen et al. 2011). It has an endolithic thallus and produces apothecia either directly
from endosubstratal hyphae, or by replication by division, or from epilithic stromata which are first functionally
pycnidia, then split open and decay as an apothecium emerges (Knudsen et al. 2011, Poelt & Vězda 1974). When
produced from endosubstratal hyphae or division, the apothecia are immediately thin-margined. But when the
apothecia emerge from stromata, at first they have a thick margin that is donut-shaped. In southern California, stromata
are rare and apothecia are usually produced directly from endosubstratal hyphae or by replication by division.
Sarcogyne reebiae was originally described from southern California based on the ontogeny from stromata (Knudsen
& Standley 2007). Later research revealed that the ontogeny from stromata was common in eastern North America
(Knudsen et al. 2012). We found S. reebiae was anatomically indistinguishable from S. similis and that stromata
production was absent to frequent but not obligatory. Therefore, we treat S. reebiae a synonym of S. similis.
Poelt and Vězda (1974) reported S. similis from Greece and described the ontogeny of apothecia from
stromata. We have verified their report of its occurrence in Europe (Greece). It was not included in recent keys to
Sarcogyne in Europe (Knudsen & Kocourková 2018b, Roux et al. 2019). In Poelt’s two collections of S. similis from
the same locality in Greece, stromata were common in one specimen. In the other, apothecia were produced from
endosubstratal hyphae and there was replication by division and only two pycnidia were present. A third collection
from Attica on serpentine we determined as S. similis but the ascospores differ slightly in being wider than average
(4–6 × 2.5–3.0 µm).
Recent specimens examined. – GREECE. ATTICA: low rocks and blocks among the macchia on the N side
of the Pentelicon just E of Dionysius, 11.iv.1971, on granite, J. Poelt 72755 (GZU, with stromata,), J. Poelt 72798
(GZU, with pycnidia); Höhe, NW Kap Sounion (Sunion), 7.iv.1971, on serpentine, J. Poelt 73300 (GZU, with
pycnidia). U.S.A. CALIFORNIA. MONTEREY CO.: Cholame Valley, 33°41′07″N 1105°55′15″W, 507 m,
17.v.2019, on granite, J. Dart 1332 (hb. Dart, with stromata, det. as S. reebiae). NEW MEXICO. DON ANÃ CO.:
Organ Mountains, Baylor Canyon Pass trail on E-facing side of mountain crest, juniper-pinyon pine woodland with
oaks, 32°22′15.8″N 106°33′44.8″W, 1920 m, 10.iii.2020, on granite, J. Kocourková 10303 & K. Knudsen (hb. K&K,
without stromata).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank the curators of GZU, NY and W for their assistance. The study was financially supported by the grant
“Environmental aspects of sustainable development of society” 42900/1312/3166 from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences,
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.
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