A new revision of the lichen genus Pleopsidium (Acarosporales, Acarosporaceae) in China reveals two new species

By

Ai, Min
Miao, Cong-Cong
Worthy, Fiona R.
Nurtai, Lazzat
Zhang, Dening
Zhang, Sheng Bang
Han, Gui Lan
Wang, Lisong
Wang, Xinyu

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-8-12

Original Publication

MycoKeys

Volume

120

Pages

255--276

Subjects

lichenized fungi , neotype , Phylogeny , saxicolous yellow species , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2011-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.120.161566

 

Abstract

Based on a combination of morphological, chemical, and phylogenetic analyses, we present a new revision of the lichen genus Pleopsidium in China. Pleopsidium tumidulumsp. nov. and P. corrugatulumsp. nov. are proposed as new species to science, both included in a distinctive clade (clade 1) together with P. gobiense. These three species are characterized by the absence of fatty acids, acaranoic and acarenoic acids, and share similar ecological traits. In contrast, species containing fatty acids, including Pleopsidium flavum, P. chlorophanum, and P. discurrens, constitute a separate clade (clade 2). Fresh specimens of Pleopsidium discurrens were collected from the type locality, Yulong Snow Mountain, and molecular data were generated to confirm the phylogenetic position of the species. Our study additionally reveals substantial morphological variation in this species. New collections and sequences of Pleopsidium gobiense from Hami City, the type locality, are provided, from which a neotype is designated, confirming its phylogenetic position. Differences in morphology, anatomy, chemistry, and ecology among Pleopsidium species from China are discussed. A key and several phylograms are provided.