Introduction
The multispored species of Lecanora have been characterized in detail by Brodo (Reference Brodo1984), Giralt & Gómez-Bolea (Reference Giralt and Gómez-Bolea1991), Lumbsch (Reference Lumbsch1994) and Guderley & Lumbsch (Reference Guderley and Lumbsch1999). This group includes nine species worldwide: L. bruneri Imshaug & Brodo, L. cateilea (Ach.) A. Massal., L. japonica Müll. Arg., L. weii L. F. Han & S. Y. Guo, L. loekoesii Y. Joshi, L. Lü & J. S. Hur, L. pleospora Müll. Arg., L. praesistens Nyl., L. sambuci (Pers.) Nyl., and L. strobilinoides Giralt & Gómez-Bolea (Giralt & Gómez-Bolea Reference Giralt and Gómez-Bolea1991; Guderley & Lumbsch Reference Guderley and Lumbsch1999; Han et al. Reference Han, Zhao and Guo2009; Lü et al. Reference Lü, Joshi, Elix, Lumbsch, Wang, Koh and Hur2011). The first four species are known in China (Han et al. Reference Han, Zhao and Guo2009).
During a recent study of Lecanora from China, we discovered another representative of this group of taxa. It is described here as a species new to science. We also provide a detailed key to the multispored species in the genus.
Materials and Methods
The specimens studied are housed in SDNU (Lichen Section of Botanical Herbarium, Shandong Normal University) or HMAS-L (Lichen Section, Herbarium of the Institute of Microbiology, Academia Sinica).
Thalli were examined and measured under a stereo-microscope (COIC XTL7045B2) and apothecial anatomy was observed under a polarizing microscope (OLYMPUS CX41-32). The photograph of the thallus was taken with an OLYMPUS SZX16 camera with DP72 and the photograph of ascospores was taken using an OLYMPUS BX61 with DP72. Chemical analysis using spot tests and thin-layer chromatography followed standard methods (Orange et al. Reference Orange, James and White2010). The TLC was performed using mainly solvent system C.
Terminology of structures follows Brodo (Reference Brodo1984).
Key to the multispored species of Lecanora in the world
1 Thallus K−; apothecial disc red-brown with thin margin; amphithecium lacking crystals ... L. sambuci
Thallus K+ yellow; apothecial disc orange, brown or dark brown with thick margin; amphithecium containing crystals ... 2
2(1) Epihymenium not granulose ... 3
Epihymenium granulose ... 4
3(2) Thallus containing only atranorin; (8–)16-spored ... L. japonica
Thallus containing atranorin and zeorin; (16–)32-spored ... L. subjaponica
4(2) Thallus lacking atranorin; epihymenium with coarse granules; asci (12–)16(–32)-spored, ascospores frequently 1-septate ... L. strobilinoides
Thallus containing atranorin; ascospores simple ... 5
5(4) Thallus containing usnic acid ... 6
Thallus lacking usnic acid ... 7
6(5) Apothecial disc heavily pruinose; epihymenium with coarse granules; containing atranorin in addition to usnic acid ... L. weii
Apothecial disc epruinose or slightly pruinose; epihymenium with fine granules; containing atranorin, norstictic acid and zeorin, as well as usnic acid ... L. loekoesii
7(5) Amphithecium with large crystals; thallus without psoromic acid ... 8
Amphithecium with small crystals; thallus with psoromic acid ... 9
8(7) Prothallus whitish grey; apothecial disc orange-brown to reddish orange; asci 8(–16)-spored ... L. pleospora
Prothallus not visible; apothecial disc red-brown to blackish orange; asci (8–)12(–16)-spored ... L. praesistens
9(7) Apothecia densely clustered; apothecial disc red-brown, pruinose; asci (12–)16-spored ... L. buneri
Apothecia scattered; apothecial disc yellow-brown to orange-brown, slightly pruinose; (8–)12-spored ... L. cateilea
The New Species
Lecanora subjaponica L. Lü & H. Y. Wang sp. nov.
MycoBank No.: MB 563785
Epihymenium egranulosum. Asci clavati, (16–)32 spori. Thallus atranorinum et zeorinum continens.
Typus: China, Yunnan Province, Kunming, Mt. Jiaozi, alt. 3800 m, on bark, 27 October 2008, Wang 20083503 (SDNU—holotypus).
(Fig. 1A)
Fig. 1. Lecanora subjaponica. A, habit; B, asci and ascospores. Scales: A=1 mm; B=20 μm. In colour online.
Thallus corticolous, crustose, grey to yellow-grey, continuous, rough to verruculose, epruinose, esorediate, margin definite. Prothallus absent.
Apothecia numerous, sessile to adnate, 0·5–1·6 mm diam., lecanorine; disc reddish brown to dark brown, concave to plane, shiny, epruinose; margin usually paler than the thallus (whitish grey), rather thick, persistent, smooth, entire to occasionally flexuose. Amphithecium containing numerous small crystals (campestris-type) soluble in K; cortex distinct, hyaline, 50–75 μm thick, basally not expanded. Epihymenium reddish brown, 7·5–10·0(–12·5) μm high, without granules (allophona-type). Hymenium hyaline, not inspersed with oil droplets, 50·0–62·5 μm high. Subhymenium hyaline, 10–15 μm high. Hypothecium hyaline, not inspersed with oil droplets, 37·5–50·0 μm high. Paraphyses simple, not pigmented. Asci clavate, (16–)32-spored (Fig. 1B). Ascospores simple, hyaline, ellipsoid, (7·5–)8·2–11·8(12·5)×(4·0–)4·5–5·5(6·0) μm.
Pycnidia not observed.
Chemistry. Spot tests: thallus K+ yellow, C−, KC−, P−. Secondary metabolites: atranorin and zeorin.
Etymology. The specific epithet ‘subjaponica’ refers to the similar species L. japonica.
Ecology and distribution. At present L. subjaponica is known from Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Xizang Provinces where it is found growing on the bark of various deciduous trees at high elevations of 2400–3800 m.
Notes. This species is characterized by the epruinose, shiny apothecial disc, not granulose (allophana-type) epihymenium, (16–)32-spored ascus and by the presence of zeorin in addition to atranorin. Lecanora subjaponica is the only species among all known multispored species of the genus having such a high number of spores per ascus. Lecanora japonica and L. loekoesii resemble L. subjaponica. However, L. japonica has (8–)16-spored asci and produces atranorin only, while L. loekoesii has (12–)16-spored asci, a granulose (pulicaris-type) epihymenium, and contains usnic and norstictic acids in addition to atranorin and zeorin.
Additional specimens examined. China: Shaanxi Prov.: Meixian, Mt Taibai, alt. 2400 m, on bark, 2011, Dong 20114052A (SDNU). Sichuan Prov.: Kangding, Mt Paoma, alt. 2700 m, on bark, 2006, Du 20084144, 20084145 (SDNU). Yunnan Prov.: Jianchuan, Mt. Shibao, alt. 2600 m, on bark, 2008, Wang 20081509, Sun 20083410, Du 20083446 (SDNU); Kunming, alt. 2600 m, on bark, 2008, Ren 20081121-1 (SDNU); Lijiang, Mt. Yulong, Ganhaizi, alt. 3150 m, on bark, 1964, Wei 076802 (HMAS-L). Xizang Prov.: Nielamu, Quxiangdexintang, alt. 3550 m, on bark, 1966, Wei & Chen 098272 (HMAS-L).
We are grateful to Dr H. Thorsten Lumbsch (Chicago) and Dr Shou Yu Guo (Beijing) for critically reviewing the manuscript, and to Shandong National University for providing laboratory facilities. The authors would also like to thank the keeper of the HMAS-L, Ms Deng Hong (Beijing), for assistance during this study. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31070010) and Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (No. ZR2010CQ038).
