The ‘Mediterranean' Ramalina Panizzei North of the alps: Morphological, Chemical and rDNA Sequence Data

Ramalina panizzei De Not. is reported from Switzerland and north of the Alps for the first time. Recent collections and thalli found amongst specimens of R. fastigiata (Pers.) Ach. are described; the species is obviously not restricted to the Mediterranean. The confusion in several herbaria around this and related corticolous species, particularly R. subgeniculata Nyl. and R. fastigiata, can be traced back to imprecise original and subsequent diagnoses, all of which lack a clear species delimitation. Similarities and differences of these species are discussed. In addition, sequences from the rDNA ITS regions were determined for two individuals of R. panizzei and two of R. fastigiata, including one of each from a site where both species grow intermixed. Kimura 2-parameter genetic-distance estimates indicate that R. panizzei and R. fastigiata are as different from each other as either is from the reference species R. siliquosa (Hudson) A. L. Sm. s.l. A broad-based taxonomic revision of involved species is not possible due to the limited number of analyses, but the results demonstrate the potential for using DNA sequence data to investigate species-level questions in lichens. Based on morphology, chemistry, and DNA sequence data, R. panizzei is retained as a distinct specie

Calicioid lichens and fungi in the Muota Valley, central Switzerland: high species diversity in a small area

Abstract GRONER, U. (2010). Calicioid lichens and fungi in the Muota Valley, central Switzerland: high species diversity in a small area. Candollea 65: 377-391. In English, English and French abstracts. An inventory of the calicioid lichens and fungi of the Böd-meren Forest region in the Muota Valley, central Switzerland, produced no less than 51 lichenized and non-lichenized taxa on bark and wood. This mainly subalpine spruce forest in the Prealps hosts the most diverse calicioid flora in Switzerland today and a similarly rich flora from a comparably small area is unknown from neighbouring countries. Calicium denigratum (Vain.) Tibell and Chaenothecopsis oregana Rikkinen are new to Switzerland. Calicium adaequatum Nyl., Chaenothecopsis tasmanica Tibell and Chaenothecopsis vainioana (Nádv.) Tibell are also reported for the first time from this region. Chaenotheca chrysocephala (Ach.) Th. Fr., Calicium viride Pers., Chaenotheca trichialis (Ach.) Th. Fr. and Microcalicium disseminatum (Ach.) Vain. are the most frequent species, the majority of the other taxa are uncommon or rare. The diversity of the calicioid (and other) species is due to several favourable conditions, such as the presence of old-growth forest stands and the occurrence of standing dead trees. More than 40% of the recorded lichenized calicioid taxa are threatened; the state of the poorly known non-lichenized calicioids is undetermined as they were not evaluated in the "Red List". Key-word