Myriolecis kunlunica R. Mamut sp. nov.

Fig. 4

Etymology.

“ kunlunica ” according to the specimen collection location, Kunlun Mountain.

Diagnosis.

Myriolecis kunlunica is characterised by its clearly visible, often forming distinct rimose thallus and the white heavily pruina on the dark apothecial disc and chemical characters (2, 7 - dichlorolichexanthone).

Description.

Thallus crustose, usually distinct, continuous, forming areolate to rimose, sometimes partly superficial, shade of brown to dark brown; Prothallus not visible; Apothecia abundant, lecanorine, occurring scattered to crowded, sessile, 0.5–1.2 mm diam.; Disc plane, almost black, heavily pruinose, never epruinose; Thalline margin prominent, thick, smooth, level with the disc or raised above discs, slightly flexuose, when old, apothecia white, pruinose; Amphithecium with algae and cortex, algal layer discontinuous, algae not very dense; Cortex well delimited, but not very thick, slightly expanded at the base, strongly expanding in K and N, N + pink upper part, with granules (well-visible in polarised light, insoluble in K, soluble in N); Epithecium brown to red brown or olive, unchanged with K, but N + reddish or deep orange, not at all granular; Hymenium hyaline, 35–70 μm high; Subhymenium distinct, hyaline, thin, 25–55 μm high; Hypothecium hyaline, 40–110 μm high, composed of gelatinized hyphae; Paraphyses slender, simple, expanded apically, distinctly septate, brown pigmented, coherent in K. Asci clavate, 8 - spored; Ascospores hyaline, simple, ellipsoid (broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid), 7–12 × 4.5–7.5 μm. Pycnidia not seen.

Chemistry.

Apothecial margin K –, C –, KC –, PD –; disc K –, C –, KC –, PD –; 2, 7 - dichlorolichexanthone detected by TLC.

Habitat.

On calcareous rock.

Notes.

M. kunlunica is characterized by its much more abundant thallus, usually pruinose and almost black apothecial discs, the presence of dispersa - like granules in the epithecium (insoluble in K and N, N + red), and a black-green color at the very top of the margin (N + purple). M. kunlunica is similar to M. perpruinosa, but the latter differs in having an ash-gray thallus and bluish-white pruina, a black or dark brown apothecial disc, and thick, submoniliform paraphyses.

Type species.

China • Xinjiang, Kashkar, Kargilik County, Mt. Kunlun, 36°58'33"N, 75°32'18"E, 4055 m a. s. l., on rock, 29 Jul 2008, R. Mamut (holotype designated here 20090729).

Additional materials examined.

China • Xinjiang, Kashkar, Kargilik County, Mt. Kunlun, Serik Daban, 36°58'33"N, 75°32'18"E, 4055 m a. s. l., on rock, 29 Jul 2008, R. Mamut 20040671, 200801001, 20081009, 20080989 (XJU).

Ecology and distribution.

M. kunlunica is known only from the Kunlun Mountains. It grows on calciferous rock, often with Aspicilia sp. and other members of Myriolecis.