A Synopsis of the Genera Skyttea, Llimoniella and - Lichens of ...

472 THE LICHENOLOGIST Vol. 32
Distribution. Austria, Belgium, France, Spain (Navarro-Rosines et al. 1994)
and Ukraine (B. J. Coppins, pers. comm.).
Observations. Unguiculariopsis acrocordiae clearly does not belong to
Skyttea s. str. It strongly resembles other species of Unguiculariopsis, but
is distinguished by straight, apically not hooked excipular hairs and asci with
a thickened apex. However, at least four other lichenicolous species of
Unguiculariopsis with straight (not hooked) excipular hairs are known: U.
lesdainii, treated in detail below, U. lobariellum S. Kondr. & D. J. Galloway (see
Kondratyuk & Galloway 1995), U. refractiva (see Coppins 1998), and U.
manriquei Etayo (see Etayo & Diederich 1996). The hairs in U. acrocordiae are
quite variable, and some have a distinctly swollen base, which is characteristic
for most species of Unguiculariopsis.
The structure of the ascus apex is also, in our opinion, variable in this genus.
In a specimen of U. thallophila {Coppins 156), we observed that most asci have
no apical wall thickening when studied in KI, whilst others in the same
apothecium have a thickened wall, some with an indistinct internal ocular
chamber. In U. acrocordiae, the wall is generally thicker at the apex, with
sometimes an ocular chamber visible.
A strong argument to consider U. acrocordiae, U. lesdainii, U. lettaui, U.
thallophila and U. refractiva as congeneric is the presence of the same excipular
pigment, which is orange brown, when observed in water, becomes darker
reddish to purplish in K, and N — (or more bright orange).
For all these reasons we are convinced that U. acrocordiae belongs to
Unguiculariopsis s. str. Unguiculariopsis acrocordiae is a minuscule, but very
distinct species with reddish, ± applanate apothecia and a hairy margin,
confined to Acrocordia gemmata. It can hardly be confused with any other
lichenicolous fungus, and it is the only known fungus growing on A gemmata.
Additional specimens examined. Austria: Burgenland: Siidburgenland, Giinser Gebirge, im engen
Taleinschnitt zwischen Markt Neuhodis und Althodis, 380 m, 1991, Hafellner 31378 (GZU);
Sudburgenland, Tal des Rodlingerbaches S von Tschaterberg, c. 1 km NW vom Stausee, 250 m,
1992, Hafellner 29329 (GZU); Tobaj N von Giissing, S-exponierte Hange des Tobajer Berges,
250 m, 1990, Hafellner 24958 (GZU).—France: Orne: S. loc, s. d., Olivier Lich. exs. 245 (as
' Verrucaria gemmata') (LUX).
Unguiculariopsis groenlandiae (Alstrup & D. Hawksw.) Etayo &
Diederich comb, nov.
Geltingia groenlandiae Alstrup & D. Hawksw., Meddr Grenland, Biosci. 31: 33 (1990).—Llimoniella
groenlandiae (Alstrup & D. Hawksw.) Triebel & Hafellner, in Kiimmerling et al., Bibl. Lichenol. 53:
156 (1993); type: Greenland, Narssaq d., 1 km S of Qagssiarssuk, 61°8'N, 45°32'W, alt. 140 m,
on Caloplaca citrina s. 1., 1980, Alstrup 801120 (C—holotype, vid.).
(Fig. 16A & B)
For a description and additional illustrations, see Alstrup & Hawksworth
(1990).
Hosts. Commensalistic on Caloplaca citrina s. lat., Fulgensia bracteata and
F. fulgens (thallus). An additional specimen of U. groenlandiae, mentioned by