Ramalina europaeaandR. labiosorediata, two new species of theR. pollinariagroup (Ascomycota:Ramalinaceae), and new typifications forLichen pollinariusandL. squarrosus

Abstract

AbstractRamalina europaeaGasparyan, Sipman & Lücking andR. labiosorediataGasparyan, Sipman & Lücking, two species of theR. pollinariagroup, are described here as new to science.Ramalina europaea, widely distributed in Europe, can be distinguished by small, punctiform, often terminal soralia starting out on small, spine-like branchlets, whereasR. labiosorediatafrom North America differs fromR. pollinarias. str. andR. europaeain the almost exclusively terminal soralia formed on the tips of normal lobes, originating from the underside and becoming irregularly labriform. Morphological characters, chemistry, ecology and geographical distribution are discussed and a key to the species of theRamalina pollinariagroup is provided. The topology of a maximum likelihood tree based on ITS shows the presence of three well-supported clades, corresponding to the morphological differences of the three species. The status of several historical names variously placed in synonymy with or described as infraspecific entities ofR. pollinariais reassessed and a new neotype and an epitype are designated forLichen pollinarius, a neotype forL. squarrosus, making it a synonym ofR. farinacea, and lectotypes forR. pollinariavar.elatior, making it a synonym ofR. pollinarias. str., and for var.humilis, a taxon of yet unknown affinity.