Acarospora anthracina K. Knudsen, Kocourk. & Kondrysová, 2025

Acarospora anthracina K. Knudsen, Kocourk. & Kondrysová sp. nov.

Fig. 2 View Figure 2

Type.

U. S. A., Nevada, Lincoln Co., Mormon Mountains, N-facing cliffs WSW of Horse Springs, ca. 250 m E of peak x 7189, base of massive N-facing limestone cliffs, pinyon-juniper zone , 36.937, -114.457, alt. 2100 m, on limestone, 10 Aug. 2019, J. Hollinger 23119 ( holotype, Bry-L-0050241 ), J. Hollinger 23110 ( topotype, BRY-L-0050234 ) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Similar to the calciphyte Sarcogyne urceolata in Europe and Africa, which is also lichenicolous. but with different sequence data and recovered in the Acarospora clade rather than in the Sarcogyne clade.

Etymology.

Its name refers to its black apothecia.

Description.

Thallus endolithic of hyphae mostly 2 µm wide, algae usually at base of apothecia in substrate, algal cells 5–10 µm wide in loose clusters, sometimes absent, especially beneath the smallest apothecia. Apothecia black, broadly attached, 0.1–0.4 (– 0.5) mm wide, rarely larger than 1.0 mm and replicating by division, 0.1–0.3 mm thick, smallest on hardest limestone. Margin entire in young apothecia, becoming knobby or uneven and / or segmented, irregular when apothecia replicating by division, in largest specimens ca. 100 µm wide, outer layer ca. 80 µm wide, carbonized, inner layer hyaline, hyphae 1–2 µm wide, sometimes 40 µm wide in smallest specimens. Disc black, rarely pruinose, without carbonized epihymenial accretions when young, usually forming one umbo, usually higher than margin, sometimes with gyrose structures. Hymenium (60 –) 80–100 µm tall, epihymenium black. Paraphyses 1–2 µm wide, apices barely expanded in black caps, hymenial gel IKI + dark blue, euamyloid. Asci 40–70 × 10–25 µm, ascospores variable 2.0–5.5 × 1.0–2.5 µm, sometimes globose 2 × 2 µm mixed with ellipsoid ascospores (n = 40), sometimes with an oil drop. Subhymenium 10–30 µm tall, IKI + blue. Hypothecium continuous with margin and endolithic thallus, hyphae mostly 2 µm thick. Pycnidia not observed. Not producing secondary metabolites.

Habitat and distribution.

On limestone and other calcareous rock in Arizona, California (White Mountains), Nevada, and Utah. Expected to have wider distribution in North America.

Additional specimens examined.

U. S. A., • Arizona, Mohave Co., Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument , 36.67, - 113.6311, alt. 1500 m, on limestone, 20 May 2003, K. G. Sweats 206 ( ASU); • California, Mono Co., White Mountains, Patriarch Grove, Bristlecone Pine Forest , 37.5275, -118.1980, alt. 3453 m, on dolomite rock chips, 17 Jul. 2002, S. Tucker 38026 ( SBBG); GoogleMaps • Colorado, Rio Blanco Co, BLM land southwest of Rangely, off CR 23, Piceance Basin, rocky steppe dominated by junipers , 39.9739, -108.8641, 1874 m, on calcareous sandstone, 18 Apr. 2025, E. Manzitto-Tripp 11423 ( COLO); GoogleMaps • Nevada, Lincoln Co., Golden Gate Range, Continental Pass , 37.953, -115.399, alt. 1650 m, on limestone, J. Hollinger 11031 & N. Noell ( BRY-L-0049261 ); GoogleMaps • Highland Peak, north slope near top of western peak, massive limestone cliffs surrounded by Abies concolor - Pinus longaeva forest high on steep north slope , 37.899, -114.586, alt. 2750 m, on ledge in limestone slot, 2 Jun 2016, J. Hollinger 12539, 12544 & N. Noell (hb. H & N); GoogleMaps • Highland Peak, ridge to west of western peak, high limestone ridge with old Cercocarpus ledifolius forest , 37.897, -114.587, alt. 2835 m, on vertical limestone cliff, 2 Jun 2016, J. Hollinger 12651, 12656, 12669 & N. Noell (hb. H & N); GoogleMaps • Mount Irish, high on N ridge with some large limestone outcrops and open conifer forest with Abies concolor , Pinus longaeva , P. monophylla , Juniperus osteosperma , J. scopulorum and Artemisia nova , 37.646, -115.401, alt. 2600 m, on limestone talus, 14 Jun 2016, J. Hollinger 13181 & N. Noell (hb. H & N), ( BRY- L-0050241 ); GoogleMaps • Pershing Co., Humboldt Range, Black Canyon , 40.5482, -118.1887, alt. 2565 m, on limestone, 10 Oct. 2014, J. Hollinger 8156, 8157 (hb. H & N); GoogleMaps • Utah, Garfield Co., Aquarius Plateau, near head of Sweetwater Creek slopes of conifer woodland , 37.827 -111.899. alt. 2650 m, on calcareous sandstone, 5 May 2017, J. Hollinger 17278, 17279 (hb. H & N); GoogleMaps • Grand Co., La Sal Range, Monti La Sal National Forest on Barrow Ridge , 38.5008, -109.2287, alt. 3560 m, on calciferous sandstone, 21 Aug. 2018, S. Leavitt 18629 a ( BRY-L-0051913 ); GoogleMaps • Kane Co., Fifty Mile Bench, pinyon juniper woodland on N to NE-facing slope , 37.3015 -111.1035, alt. 1930 m, on calcareous sandstone, 9 May 2017, J. Hollinger 17397 (hb. H & N); GoogleMaps • Millard Co., Pavant Mountains, side valley above Chalk Creek Canyon , 38.9263, -112.2117, alt. 1994 m, outcrops of rocks, on limestone, 10 Sept. 2024, J. Kocourková 11551 & K. Knudsen (hb. K & K); GoogleMaps • Chokecherry Creek, Fillmore Canyon Rd. , 38.9186, -112.2026, alt. 2283 m, outcrops of rocks above creek valley, on limestone, 11 Sept. 2024, J. Kocourková 11553 & K. Knudsen (hb. K & K); GoogleMaps • San Juan Co., La Sal Range, Dark Canyon , 38.4444, -109.2321. alt. 3500 m, on calcareous sandstone, 20. Aug. 2018. S. Leavitt 18541 ( BRY-L-0051395 ); GoogleMaps • Washington Co., Big Mountain , 37.513, -113.655, alt. 2200 m, on calcareous sandstone, 21 Sept. 2015, J. Hollinger 19709 & N. Noell ( BRY-L-0052022 ) GoogleMaps .

Notes.

Sarcogyne anthracina differs from S. urceolata in usually having a higher hymenium (60 –) 80–100 vs. 60–80 µm, in not being lichenicolous, and in having different sequence data placing it in the Acarospora clade and not in the Sarcogyne clade ( Thor et al. 2023).

There are many North American specimens in the Consortium of Lichen Herbaria identified as Sarcogyne urceolata , but this name was used for any specimen on limestone ( CLN 2024). We do not consider S. urceolata as verified in North America. It could occur in the Holarctic flora of northern North America. At the same time, A. anthracina may occur throughout North America.