Parmelinella schimperiana Kirika & Divakar

Kirika, Paul M., Divakar, Pradeep K., Crespo, Ana, Mugambi, George, Orock, Elizabeth A., Leavitt, Steven D., Gatheri, Grace W. & Lumbsch, H. Thorsten, 2016, Phylogenetic studies uncover a predominantly African lineage in a widely distributed lichen-forming fungal species, MycoKeys 14, pp. 1-16 : 6-8

Taxon classification Fungi Lecanorales Parmeliaceae

Parmelinella schimperiana Kirika & Divakar sp. nov. Figure 2

Type.

KENYA, Eastern Province, Makueni Co., Wote, Ngutwa village, Matooi hill, dry woodland, 01°49'S, 37°66'E, 1400m, on bark, 12 December 2013, P. Kirika, I. Malombe & K. Matheka, 3703 (holotype: EA, isotype: F). GenBank accession number. ITS KX341985, nu LSU KX342003

Diagnosis.

Morphologically similar to Parmelinella wallichiana but differs in having smaller ascospores (5-10 × 5-7.5 µm), being restricted in distribution to Africa and South India, and molecular phylogenetic position (Clade ‘A’; Fig. 1).

Etymology.

The taxon name is in the honor of W.G. Schimper, the first botanist to collect lichens in East Africa.

Description.

Thallus foliose, adnate to loosely adnate, 3-7 cm across. Lobes broad, irregularly to subirregularly branched, 3-8 mm wide, rounded crenate, with rotund apices, margins ciliate. Cilia simple, frequent in the lobe axils, 0.1-0.6 mm long. Upper surface grey, grey-green smooth, emaculate, usually pruinose, thallus irregularly cracked towards the centre on older parts, isidiate. Isidia laminal, cylindrical, mostly simple or branched 0.1-0.5 mm high, concolorous with the upper surface. Medulla white. Lower surface black with more than 2 mm broad, brown papillate margins, rhizinate. Rhizines black, evenly distributed, simple, 0.2-1 mm long. Apothecia laminal, adnate to sessile, 1-5 mm in diameter. Disc concave, brown, imperforate. Asci 8-spored. Ascospores ellipsoid to subglobose, 5-10 × 5-7.5 µm (M = 5.5-6.4 × 7.6-8.5 μm, ± SD = 0.7-1.0 × 1.0-2.3 μm, n = 100). Pycnidia absent.

Secondary chemistry - Cortex K+ yellow, UV–; medulla K+ yellow turning red, C–, KC–, P+ orange-red, UV–; upper cortex with secalonic acid A and atranorin, medulla with salazinic acid.

Distribution and ecology.

At present the new species is known from Kenya, Cameroon and South India. It occurs in montane regions and in dry woodland areas. It is predominantly corticolous and sometimes saxicolous rarely terricolous, found corticolous on Mangifera indica , Juniperus procera , Podocarpus spp., Lannaea spp. and on Eucalyptus in artificial habitats.

Additional specimens examined.

KENYA. Eastern Prov.: Marsabit Co., Marsabit National Park, Lake Paradise, disturbed forest on ridge, 2°16'N 37°56'E, 1434m, on bark, P. Kirika 4678 & H.T. Lumbsch (EA, F, MAF). Eastern Prov.: Marsabit National Park at roadside between Marsabit Lodge and Lake Paradise, forest on slope, 2°18'N 37°57'E, 1513m, on bark, P. Kirika 4715 & H.T. Lumbsch (EA, F, MAF). Eastern Prov.: Tharaka South, Chiakariga, Kijege Hill, Acacia - Commiphora woodland, 00°16'S, 37°50'E, 1160m, on bark, P. Kirika 3432 (EA, F). Eastern Prov.: Mwingi Co., Mumoni Hill, Eucalyptus plantation, 00°31'S, 38°00'E, 1620-1695m, on bark, P. Kirika 3487 & G. Mugambi (EA, F). Eastern Prov.: Tharaka South, Chiakariga, Kijege Hill, Acacia - Commiphora - Encephalartos woodland, 00°16'S, 37°50'E, 1160m, P. Kirika 3436 (EA, F). Rift Valley: Eldama Ravine, Lembus Forest off Eldama Ravine-Eldoret Road, remnant montane forest, 0°13'N, 35°69'E, 2275m, on bark, P. Kirika 2870, G. Mugambi & H.T. Lumbsch (EA, F); 0°16'N, 35°75'E, 2137m, on rock, P. Kirika 2815, G. Mugambi & H.T. Lumbsch (EA, F). Rift Valley: Kericho, James Finlay Tea Estate, Chomogondy, secondary forest, 00°23'S, 35°18'E, 2056m, on bark, P. Kirika 3145 (EA, F). Rift Valley: small disturbed remnant forest in tea plantation, 0°44'S, 35°31'E, 2049m, on bark, P. Kirika 2974 G. Mugambi & H.T. Lumbsch (EA, F). Rift Valley: Bomet , Koiwa, Unilever riparian forest, 00°35S, 35°17'E, 2030m, on bark, P.Kirika 4900 (EA). Rift Valley: Kajiado Co., Ngong Hills, Upland grassland with rocky outcrops, 01°24'S, 36°38'E, 2430m, on soil, P. Kirika 3334 (EA, F). CAMEROON. E of Mount Cameroon, vic. of Ekona, E.A. Orock 56009 (BRY-C). INDIA. S India: Tamil Nadu, Vellore distr., Yellagiri hills, 13°30'N, 79°05'E, 1393m, on Mangifera indica tree trunk, hill side with teak and eucalyptus vegetation, H.T., Lumbsch, P.K. Divakar, D.K. Upreti, J. Tandon 19705a (MAF).

Remarks.

Parmelinella schimperiana is morphologically most similar to Parmelinella wallichiana , but differs in having smaller ascospores (5-10 × 5-7.5 µm), whereas the ascospore size in P wallichiana is: 15-20 × 9-14 µm.