Cladonia aff. sphacelata Vain. (1887: 456)

Yánez-Ayabaca, A., Ahti, T. & Bungartz, F., 2013, The Family Cladoniaceae (Lecanorales) in the Galapagos Islands, Phytotaxa 129 (1), pp. 1-33 : 25-26

Cladonia aff. sphacelata Vain. (1887: 456)

( Fig. 6c )

Primary thallus persistent, of laciniate squamules, esorediate, epruinose; podetia common, grayish green becoming deep brown in parts (melanotic), elongate, 1–5 cm tall; moderately branched; branching pattern irregular anisotomic, mainly dichotomous, rarely trichotomous; axils closed; tips often divided in 2–6 branchlets; ascyphose; surface ecorticate, apically initially with granules becoming larger and branching into microsquamules, eventually developing into narrow and laciniate basal squamules; esorediate; pycnidia with hyaline jelly; apothecia not seen.

Spot tests and chemistry: P+ yellow, K+ yellow, C−, KC−, UV−; thamnolic acid (according Ahti (2000), the spot test reactions and chemistry correspond to chemotype I; no other chemotype has so far been confirmed for the Galapagos).

Distribution and ecology: New to Ecuador and Galapagos; known from Isabela and Santa Cruz Island; all specimen from the humid zone, growing on the ground in fern-sedge vegetation.

Notes: This species is characterized by repeatedly branched podetia with tips often divided in 2–6 (–10) branchlets and a surface densely covered in narrow squamules. The identification of this species is somewhat provisional. Ahti (2000) reported it only from Brazil. However, since then Ahti & Sipman (2013a, 2013b) have reported it from the Guiana Highlands, even segregating two new species off it in the same area. The identity of the Galapagos material is thus not completely clear and molecular studies might help to elucidate it.

Selected specimens examined: ECUADOR. GALAPAGOS: Isabela Island, Volcán Sierra Negra, South side of Sierra Negra crater, trail to Alemania , 0°51’17.60”S, 91°8’55.2”W, 924 m, humid zone, on rock, 16 Aug 2008, Clerc, P. 08- 249, 08-198, 08-197 ( CDS 40103, 40052 ) , 40051), Bungartz , F. 8349 ( CDS 40995) . Santa Cruz Island, along trail from Media Luna to El Puntudo , 0°39’0”S, 90°20’2.9”W, 740 m, humid zone, on bark, 8 Oct 2008, Clerc, P. 08-118, 08-125B ( CDS 39972, 46960 ) , eastern slope below the summit of El Puntudo , 0°38’42”S, 90°20’14”W, 780 m, humid zone, on soil, 28 Feb 2006, Aptroot, A. 64672 ( CDS 31246) .

covered in a variety of propagules like true soredia, granules, microsquamules, even squamules (Nugra 21, scale 3 mm).

Figures

FIGURE 6. a general growth aspect of Cladonia aff. ramulosa (Aptroot 65546, scale 5mm); b pale yellow, elongate podetia of Cladonia scholanderi (Clerc 08-196, scale 10mm); c podetia of Cladonia aff. sphacelata (Bungartz 8349, scale 5 mm). d thick, crenate, and grayish green, esorediate squamules of Cladonia strepsilis (Bungartz 4134, scale 3 mm); e slender podetia of Cladonia subradiata (Bungartz 8162, scale 5 mm); f Cladonia subsquamosa, cone-shaped cups with marginal proliferations, podetia generally