Cora dewisanti Moncada, A. Suárez-Corredor & Lücking (2017a:170)

Oset, Magdalena, Guzow-Krzemińska, Beata, Flakus, Adam, Rodriguez-Flakus, Pamela & Kukwa, Martin, 2024, New records of Cora species (Hygrophoraceae, Agaricales, lichenized Basidiomycota) from Bolivia confirmed by molecular data, Phytotaxa 670 (2), pp. 83-96 : 87

Cora dewisanti Moncada, A. Suárez-Corredor & Lücking (2017a:170)

Description. Thallus foliose to 8.5 cm in diameter, composed of several semicircular, imbricate lobes (3 cm long, 2.5 cm wide). The colour of the thallus of the analysed specimens was olive-brown, without a distinct concentric zone of colour; edges of lobes distinctly developed in grey. Upper surface undulate-rugose, no setae observed in Bolivian specimen, but concentric bands of white setae observed in other specimens; lower surface eccentric, arachnoid (core exposed), yellowish. Thallus in section up to 340 µm thick, with upper cortex, photobiont layer and medulla. Upper cortex 20–35 µm thick, formed by loose sagittae 4–6 µm thick, supported by a 50-70 µm high ‘pith’ layer; photobiont layer up to 190 µm thick, olive-green in the lower part, orange-brown in the upper part, core 30–70 µm thick, hymenophore 80–100 µm thick in cross-section, resting on a thick medullary layer; hymenium composed of palisade-like basidioles; basidioles 20–30 × 5–7 µm; basidia not observed (cf. Lücking et al. 2017a and own observation).

Chemistry. No substances detected by TLC.

Distribution and ecology. Cora dewisanti is known from collections from the northern Andean area in Colombia and Venezuela ( Lücking et al. 2017a). In this paper we report the first localities from Bolivia, where it was found on the ground between bryophytes and other lichens above 2800 m altitudes in Yungas cloud forest and high Andean Puna.

Notes. Cora dewisanti has a similar distribution and is also related to C. arachnoidea J.E. Hern. & Lücking. Nevertheless they are morphologically and phylogenetically different, and they have different habitat requirements. According to Lücking et al. (2013a, 2017a) fresh specimens of C. arachnoidea have light greenish grey lobes, with a more distinct tomentum and with numerous marginal branches Moreover, it is predominantly an epiphytic species as opposed to terricolous C. dewisanti . The species is also related to C. elephas , which is mostly saxicolous lichen with larger (up to 17 cm across) thallus with slight concentric colour zonation, larger, sparsely branched lobes with grey colour when fresh, a glabrous upper surface, and very thick, white margins ( Lücking et al. 2017a).

Cora arachnodavidea B. Moncada, Dal-Forno & Lücking is similar in morphology and ecology to C. dewisanti but differs in the much more densely arachnoid-pilose lobe surface ( Lücking et al. 2017a).

Specimens examined. Bolivia, Dept. La Paz, Prov. Murillo, East Cordillera, near Cumbre pass, 16º19’18”S, 68º04’42”W, 4550 m, high Andean Puna, 17 June 2006, leg. A. Flakus 8578 (KRAM-L-67133, LPB). Prov. Camacho, Pacoamba near Wila Kala, 15°24’40”S, 69°04’24”W, 4283 m, Puna Húmeda, 6 July 2010, leg. A. Flakus 17759 & P. Rodriguez (KRAM, LPB).