Candelariella subdeflexa (Nyl.) Lettau. Hedwigia52: 196. 1912.

Westberg, Martin & Clerc, Philippe, 2012, Five species of Candelaria and Candelariella (Ascomycota, Candelariales) new to Switzerland, MycoKeys 3, pp. 1-12 : 5

Candelariella subdeflexa (Nyl.) Lettau. Hedwigia52: 196. 1912.

Basionym.

Lecanora subdeflexa Nyl., Flora62: 355. 1879.

Lectotype.

FRANCE. [locality uncertain] 1871, Weddell (H-NYL 29173! designated by Westberg 2007a: 369).

Candelariella subdeflexa was first reported from Switzerland by Lettau (1956) but remained overlooked until it was collected several times within the framework of the Red List project. The species was described in detail in Westberg (2007a) based on North American material. It is unusual, but not unique, for a Candelariella in having biatorine apothecia (Fig. 6). North American populations typically have a thallus composed of grey, shiny squamules. The material from Europe and North Africa, seen during this study has an inconspicuous grey thallus that is indistinct, granular or composed of scattered, grey, narrow and incised squamules. This is a rare species but easily overlooked as the apothecia are small, mostly c. 0.2-0.4 mm wide. It is known in Europe from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. The distribution within Switzerland is distinctly southern.

Specimens examined.

Bern: Unterseen, Unteres Stadtfeld, alt. 560 m, 2 April 1997, Keller (G 00298366); Graubünden: Brusio, Scala, alt. 920 m, 30 Aug 1995, Groner (G 00298411); Luzern: Escholzmatt, Irmibodenweidli, alt. 1120 m, 29 July 1996, Frei (G 00298365); Tessin: Malvaglia, Cregua, alt. 1233 m, 26 Sept 1995, Keller (G 00298368); Valais: Ausserbinn, Weng, alt 1270 m, 17 Sept 1996, Frei (G 00298366); Eggenberg, alt. 900 m, 30 Sept 1997, Frei (G 00298412); Ried-Brig, Schallberg, alt. 1400 m, 1 Sept 1998, Frei (G 00298367); Viège, alt. 650 m, 22 Sept 1997, Frei (G 00298364).