Bryoria wuii Li S.Wang, 2017

Wang, Li Song, Wang, Xin Yu, Liu, Dong, Myllys, Leena, Shi, Hai Xia, Zhang, Yan Yun, Yang, Mei Xia & Li, Li Juan, 2017, Four new species of Bryoria (Lichenized Ascomycota: Parmeliaceae) from the Hengduan Mountains, China, Phytotaxa 297 (1), pp. 29-41 : 37-38

Bryoria wuii Li S.Wang sp. nov. ( Fig. 4 )

Mycobank # MB 816228

Thallus erect, dense and anisotomic dichotomously branched, without main branches, pseudocyphellae fissuriform to fusiform, secondary substances absent.

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Deqin Co., Baimaxueshan Mt., 4300 m elev., 28°22’N, 99°00’E, on bark of Larix potaninii var. macrocarpa , 21 June 2013, L. S. Wang & X. Y. Wang 13–38467 ( KUN-L, Holotype!).

Etymology:— The species name “wuii ” is in honor of Prof. Wu Ji-nong, who has contributed significantly to lichen research in China.

Morphology:— Thallus erect, tufted, 3–6 cm tall, fragile when dried ( Fig. 4A ); surface basal part light brown, upper part brown to dark brown, dull; branching anisotomic-dichotomic, dense without main branches, angles between the dichotomies acute, usually <45°, irregularly branched near the apex, branches cylindrical and partly flattened, 0.5–1 mm in diam., third-order branches not developed or immature ( Fig. 4B ); lateral spinules concolorous with the thallus, 0.2–0.5 mm long; spinulose branches rare, 2–3 mm long, concolorous with the thallus, branch angles 30°–90°; pseudocyphellae rare, fissuriform to fusiform, surface concave, dark brown, 0.2–1 mm long ( Fig. 4C ); soralia absent; isidia - like spinules absent; cortex 50–75 μm thick, single-layered, outer part brownish and smooth, inner part hyaline; medulla hyphae loose and not ornamented, 4–5 μm in diam.; apothecia not seen; pycnidia not seen.

Secondary metabolites:— Cortex and medulla P–, K–, C–, KC–, CK–, no lichen substances detected by TLC.

Substrate and ecology:— On bark of Larix potaninii var. macrocarpa , at elevation between 3950–4400 m.

Distribution in China:— Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, China.

World distribution:— Only found in the Hengduan Mt. area.

Notes:— Bryoria wuii is characterized by erect to subpendent thallus, dense and anisotomic dichotomous branching pattern without main branches, dull and light brown basal parts, dark brown to black apex, fusiform pseudocyphellae, and the absence of secondary substances.

Morphologically it resembles B. confusa , but that species usually has apothecia and the basal part of the thallus is dark brown to black, with light brown apex, whereas in B. wuii , the coloring is opposite. Furthermore, B. confusa lacks pseudocyphellae and has a shiny thallus and dense lateral spinules perpendicular to the main branches.

Specimens examined:— CHINA. Sichuan Prov.: Derong Co., Wuci Vil., 4100 m, 30°17’N, 99°41’E, 05 September 2009, L. S. Wang 09–30955. Yunnan Prov.: Deqin Co. , Meili Snow Mt. , 4400 m, 28°38’N, 98°37’E, 10 September 2012, D. L. Niu 12–38648 ; Deqin Co., Baima Snow Mt. , 4200 m, 28°21’N, 99°04’E, 21 June 2013, L. S. Wamg 13–38506 ; Shanggerila Ci., Tianbao Mt. , 3900 m, 27°33’N, 99°51’E, 14 October 2007, L. S. Wang 07–42758 .

Figures

FIGURE 4.Bryoria wuii.A.Habit,scale=1 cm;B.Irregularlybranchedthallus,scale=2 mm;C.Concaveand darkbrown pseudocyphellae, scale = 1 mm, photo by Li Song Wang.