Hypotrachyna chilensis, (Kurok.) Divakar, A. Crespo, Sipman, Elix & Lumbsch (2013: 31)

Elvebakk, A., Bjerke, J. W. & Støvern, L. E., 2014, Parmelioid lichens (Parmeliaceae) in southernmost South America, Phytotaxa 173 (1), pp. 1-30 : 7-8

H. chilensis (Kurok.) Divakar, A. Crespo, Sipman, Elix & Lumbsch (2013: 31)

Hypotrachyna chilensis has previously only been reported from a very restricted area near Coyaique and Puerto Aisén in the XI Region of Aisén in Chile, where it was stated to be locally common ( Kurokawa 1999). It is reported here with one additional collection from the same area, but it has also been found to be common in the central parts of the region of Magallanes. Here, several collections are also from Chile in the mountain Cerro Dorotea near Puerto Natales and many from eastern and central areas in the National Park Torres del Paine, partly made by the first author, partly by R. Santesson. All collections were made on rocks, and they are situated in the driest, thermophilous part of the forests bordering the temperate Patagonian steppe, characterized by Mulinum spinosum or Junellia tridens , see map of bioclimatic units in Magallanes proposed by Elvebakk & Moberg (2002). The westernmost records at Río Pingo and Lago Grey are from a north-facing slope, obviously with higher temperatures than elsewhere in the area.

The material has been compared with corticolous Central Chilean material of H. sorocheila , and the distinguishing characters given by Kurokawa (1999); shorter lobes, shorter cilia and presence of rhizines; were found to be convincing. All specimens of H. chilensis studied by us contain atranorin and salazinic acid as majors, in addition to a few unknown substances recorded in minor or trace quantities.

Specimens examined: CHILE. XI REGIÓN DE AYSÉN: Coyhaique, Coyhaique Bajo, Baquedano , on a boulder in a field with scattered Nothofagus antarctica , 14 Jun 1940, Santesson, R . 8423 ( S); XII REGIÓN DE MAGALLANES: Parque Nacional Torres del Paine , 2 km NE of E end of Lago Sarmiento Chico , 51 ° 03’S, 72 ° 55’W, 250 m, on rocks, Nov 1995, Elvebakk, A . 95:454 ( SGO); Laguna Mellizas E , 51 ° 04’30”S, 72 ° 58’W, 100 m, on protected rock surface, 1 Dec 2000, Elvebakk, A . 00:883 ( TROM); 1.5 km NW of Guardería Lago Grey , 51 ° 07’30”S, 71 ° 10’30”W, 80 m, on a steep south-facing cliff wall, 4 Dec 1999, Elvebakk, A . 99:1089 ( TROM); Pudeto , 300 m W of the northernmost inlet, 51 ° 04’S, 73 ° 01’W, 100 m, on a south facing rock surface in Mulinum spinosum shrubland, 11 Dec 1999, Elvebakk, A . 99:1304 ( TROM); 1.5 km N of Salto Grande , 51 ° 03’30”S, 73 ° 02’W, 80 m, on rocks, 7 Dec 1995, Elvebakk, A . 95:511 ( TROM); Lago del Toro ( L. Maravilla), Estancia Río Paine , on exposed rocks above the river, 15 Mar 1941, Santesson, R . 6591 ( S); 6592 ( S); on exposed rocks, 14 Mar 1941, Santesson, R . 6498 ( S); on stony ground in an open Nothofagus antarctica forest, 16 Mar 1941, Santesson, R . 6478 ( S); Puerto Natales, Cerro Dorotea , on sandstone rocks, 9 May 1940, Santesson, R . 8244 ( S) .