Psora taurensis Timdal, Bendiksby, Kahraman & Halici

Timdal, Einar, Bendiksby, Mika, Kahraman, Arife Merve & Halici, Mehmet Goekhan, 2017, Psorataurensis (Psoraceae, Lecanorales), a new lichen species from Turkey, MycoKeys 21, pp. 1-12 : 8-9

Psora taurensis Timdal, Bendiksby, Kahraman & Halici sp. nov. Fig. 2

Diagnosis.

Morphologically most similar to Psora russellii , but squamules more ascending and lacking a central depression, and apothecia brownish black. Phylogenetic sister species of P. tenuifolia , but having a thicker, more adnate thallus with a poorly developed lower cortex and lacking zeorin.

TYPE. TURKEY. Mersin: Gülnar-Silifke Highway, exit of Kayrak , 36°21'24.5"N, 33°33'08.8"E, 1000-1020 m alt., on soil on calcareous bedrock, 12 Apr 2012, M.G. Halıcı (holotype: ERCH-AMEKA 0.018!)

Description.

Thallus squamulose; squamules up to 8 mm wide, rounded, adnate with ascending margin to imbricate, becoming deeply lobed, concave; upper surface medium brown, dull, pruinose in the outer part of the lobes, with regular fissures in the cortex; margin first concolorous with upper side, soon becoming white by pruina, straight or somewhat up-turned; upper cortex up to 130 µm thick, including an up to 20 µm thick epinecral layer, composed of thick-walled hyphae with angular to rounded lumina, not containing crystals, containing remnants of algae throughout (chlor-zinc-iodine!); algal layer continuous, 30-45 µm thick; medulla not amyloid, containing lichen substances (K+ yellow, red crystals precipitating) and calcium oxalate; lower cortex poorly developed; lower surface white to pale brown. Apothecia up to 1.5 mm diam., laminal or submarginal on the squamules, weakly convex and indistinctly marginate when young, soon becoming strongly convex and immarginate, brownish black, epruinose. Proper exciple yellowish brown in the rim, colourless in inner part, lacking crystals, composed of radiating, thick-walled hyphae; hypothecium colourless in lower part, pale brown in upper part, containing crystals of calcium oxalate; epihymenium yellowish brown, containing orange crystals dissolving in K, K+ purple; hymenium 70-90 μm high, colourless, amyloid. Paraphyses straight, thin-walled, moderately conglutinated, sparingly branched and anastomizing, with a slightly swollen apical cell. Ascus clavate, with a well-developed, amyloid tholus containing a deeper amyloid tube, lacking an ocular chamber ( Porpidia -type); ascospores ellipsoid, non-septate, hyaline, 11-16 × 5.5-7 µm (n = 20). Conidiomata unknown.

Chemistry.

Norstictic acid (by TLC); medulla K+ yellow turning red, C–, KC–, P+ orange.

Habitat and distribution.

The species is known from two localities in Turkey, both at c. 1000 m altitude. Both sites are in areas with Mediterranean climate. The holotype was collected in a rocky area with scrub vegetation derived by forest degradation; the paratype grew in an open pasture. Both specimens were terricolous, the holotype grew on soil over limestone.

Etymology.

The name refers to its occurrence in the Taurus Mountains.

Other specimen examined.

Turkey. Antalya: along the road a few km SE of Gündoğmuş, 36°48.1'N, 32°00.3'E, 1000 m alt., on soil in open pasture, 24 Apr 1994, E.Timdal 7908 (O L-203076, paratype).