Cladonia polyscypha Ahti & L. Xavier

Yánez-Ayabaca, A., Ahti, T. & Bungartz, F., 2013, The Family Cladoniaceae (Lecanorales) in the Galapagos Islands, Phytotaxa 129 (1), pp. 1-33 : 21

Cladonia polyscypha Ahti & L. Xavier in Ahti et al. (1993:61)

( Fig. 5c–d )

Primary thallus persistent though poorly developed, of small squamules, esorediate, epruinose; podetia common, whitish gray, becoming brown with age (melanotic), blackened and dying off at the base (necrotic), elongate; 1.5–4 cm tall; simple to branched; axils closed; tips always with very narrow scyphi; surface corticate at the base but cortex sometimes reaching up to about 1/2 of the stalk; young podetia generally more extensively corticate; typically moderately microsquamulose-granulose, but scarcely sorediate, the soredia, when present, farinose; pycnidia with hyaline jelly, apothecia with brown jelly.

Spot tests and chemistry: P+ red, K−, C−, KC−, UV−; fumarprotocetraric acid.

Distribution and ecology: New to Ecuador and the Galapagos; known from Isabela, and Santa Cruz Island. Ahti (2000) reported this species only from eastern South America, but it seems to be more widespread. Moderately common in Galapagos, but known only from the humid zone, where it grows mostly on soil or rocks, amongst plant debris and bryophytes, less common also as epiphyte, typically at the base of larger trunks.

Notes: This species can easily be confused with C. aff. ramulosa , but that species is more strongly corticate, the cortex typically flaking of as microsquamules, these eventually disintegrating into ecorticate soredia. Cladonia pulverulenta also is very similar, but its podetia are more densely covered by soredia, granules, microsquamules, and schizidia. For a detailed discussion of thallus morphology see C. pulverulenta . Selected specimens examined: ECUADOR. GALAPAGOS: Isabela Island, Volcán Darwin, southwestern slope, above Tagus Cove, 0°13’34”S, 91°19’21.4”W, 840 m, transition zone, on soil, 13 Nov 2007, Bungartz, F. 7496 (CDS 37987). Santa Cruz Island, Steve Divine's Farm at the end of Tortoise Road, off the main road to Baltra, Tortoise Territory, 0°40’8”S, 90°24’17”W, 364 m, humid zone, agricultural area, on rock, 23 Feb 2006, Aptroot, A. 64514 (CDS 31086), cerca la vía sector Los Gemelos, 0°37’33.39”S, 90°23’0.7”W, 611 m, zona húmeda, sobre corteza, 10 Nov 2006, Nugra, F. 143 (CDS 32797) above the quarry Mina Granillo Rojo, off the main road to the channel, on the N-side of the island, 0°37’5.79”S, 90°21’59.1”W, 617 m, transition zone, on soil, 21 Oct 2007, Bungartz, F. 7139 (CDS 37624).

Figures

FIGURE 5. a the predominantly sorediate podetia of Cladonia macilenta (Bungartz 7758, scale 3 mm); b highly dissected, minute squamules with very short podetia, characteristic of Cladonia nana (Aptroot 64501, scale 5 mm); c–d Cladonia polyscypha. c general growth aspect (Bungartz 3970, scale 5 mm); d close-up with podetia terminating in narrow scyphi (Aptroot 64514, scale 5 mm); e podetia of Cladonia pulverulenta (Aptroot 64518, scale 5 mm); f broad, trumpet-shaped podetia with coarse corticate granules