Two new species of Rhizoplaca (Lecanoraceae) from Southwest China

By

Zhang, Yanyun (Botanist)
Yin, Yujiao
Wang, Lun
Printzen, Christian
Wang, Lisong
Wang, Xinyu

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

MycoKeys

Volume

101

Pages

233--248

Subjects

new taxa , R. melanophthalma-complex , Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca-complex , saxicolous lichen

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2011-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.101.115678

 

Abstract

In this study, two new species, Rhizoplaca adpressa Y. Y. Zhang & Li S. Wang and R. auriculata Y. Y. Zhang, Li S. Wang & Printzen, are described from Southwest China, based on their morphology, phylogeny and chemistry. In phylogeny, the two new species are monophyletic, and sister to each other within Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca-complex. Rhizoplaca adpressa is characterized by its placodioid and closely adnate thallus, pale green and heavily pruinose upper surface, narrow (ca. 1 mm) and white free margin on the lower surface of marginal squamules, the absence of a lower cortex, and its basally non-constricted apothecia with orange discs that turn reddish-brown at maturity. Rhizoplaca auriculata is characterized by its squamulose to placodioid thallus, yellowish green and marginally pruinose squamules, wide (1−3 mm) and bluish-black free margin on the lower surface of marginal squamules, the absence of a lower cortex, and its basally constricted apothecia with persistently orange discs. Rhizoplaca adpressa and R. auriculata share the same secondary metabolites of usnic and placodiolic acids.