Nephroma helveticum Ach, 1810

Westberg, Martin, Timdal, Einar, Asplund, Johan, Bendiksby, Mika, Reidar Haugan,, Jonsson, Fredrik, Larsson, Per, Odelvik, Goeran, Wedin, Mats & Millanes, Ana M., 2015, New records of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi in Scandinavia, MycoKeys 11, pp. 33-61 : 41-43

Nephroma helveticum Ach, 1810

Nephroma helveticum Ach. Lich. Univ.: 523. 1810.

Lectotype.

'In montibus Helvetiae, Schleicher’ (H- ACH 1470B, James & White 1987).

Distribution.

New to Sweden. Nephroma helveticum is a cosmopolitan species complex with a wide ecological amplitude and a large morphological and chemical variation. In Europe, however, the species is very rare and appears to have declined considerably (Klepsland 2103, James and White 1987). There are very few recent finds, among them a locality in Oppland in Norway, which is the first find in that country ( Klepsland 2013). In the Nordic countries it is elsewhere known from a few old localities in Finland ( Vitikainen 2007). Here we report it from one locality found in 2009 in Västerbotten and in addition we have found an old specimen in the herbarium in Stockholm from Västerbotten collected by Sten Ahlner in 1945 but never reported in the literature. The two localities are located 2.5 kilometers apart. We also report a second find of this species in Norway. The species is recognized by its tomentose lower surface without papillae (Fig. 7 ) and its chemistry of secondary metabolites, including the terpenoid T4 ( James and White 1987). The most similar species N. resupinatum also has a tomentose lower surface but has white papillae between the tomentum and lacks secondary metabolites. One of the recently collected specimen from Västerbotten has been barcoded and the ITS sequence confirms the identity as N. helveticum .

On Ahlner´s locality, Borstaberget, the bedrock consists of greenstone (porphyrite) and the mountain has long southwest facing slopes with steep cliffs. Ahlner collected, together with N. helveticum , also the rare lichen Heterodermia speciosa . On the mountain Mitti-Skansberget N. helveticum was found in 2009 in two places 200 meters apart. It was found growing on conglomerate cliffs in the southwest facing precipices. Other species that were found on the cliffs were Peltigera rufescens , Lobaria scrobiculata , L. pulmonaria , Fuscopannaria leucophaea and Biatora vernalis .

Specimens examined.

NORWAY. Buskerud: Nes municipality, Gardnosberget, MGRS: 32V NN 0230, 2309, alt. 300 m, east-facing, steep slope below high mountain wall, open spruce forest over rock field, on boulder. 10 September 2013, Hofton 13176 ( O L-196491), TLC: series of terpenoids, including T4 (major). SWEDEN. Västerbotten: Jörn par., Borstaberget. 24 June 1945, Ahlner ( S L-54838); Norsjö par., Mitti-Skansberget SE precipice, SE of Klövertjärnen, 9.7 km NW of Petiknäs church. 28 Sept. 2009, Jonsson 4200 ( UPS L-193714).

Figures

Figure 7. Nephroma helveticum (O L- 196491) Scale: 5 mm.