A Lichenological Legacy – Festschrift Thomas H

23. Phyllopsora minor Brako
Mycotaxon 35: 15 (1989). – Lecidea corallina var. schizophylloides Vain., J. Bot. 34: 106 (1896).
– Type: SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES (see SWINSCOW & KROG 1981). – Description:
BRAKO (1991).
(Colour Plates 15E)
Chemistry: no lichen substances (by TLC).
Notes: This poorly known species is characterized by the effuse thallus consisting
of irregularly oriented, narrow (up to 0.1 m wide) squamules which are closely
adnate to a well developed, reddish brown prothallus, the lack of vegetative
dispersal units, the medium to dark brown apothecia, the ellipsoid (7–12 × 2.5–5
μm, BRAKO 1991) ascospores, and the lack of lichen substances. It is known only
from the type material. See P. microsperma for discussion.
Specimens examined: SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES. Elliott 261[a] (TUR-V 22612,
lectotype; BM, isolectotype).
24. Phyllopsora ochroxantha (Nyl.) Zahlbr.
Catal. Lich. Univers. 10 (24): 377 (1939). – Lecidea ochroxantha Nyl., Annls Sci. Nat., Bot., sér.
4, 11: 223 (1859). – Type: BOLIVIA (see SWINSCOW & KROG 1981). – Lecidea glabriuscula Nyl.,
Sertum Lich. Trop.: 48 (1891). – Descriptions: TIMDAL (2008b), ELIX (2009).
Chemistry: phyllopsorin (major), chlorophyllopsorin (minor to major), argopsin
(occasional trace), norargopsin (occasional trace), and unknown compounds
(occasional traces).
Notes: The present circumscription of P. ochroxantha corresponds to P. corallina
var. ochroxantha chemical strains I and II in BRAKO (1991). Strain III is here
regarded as a distinct species, P. swinscowii, see that species for discussion.
Phyllopsora ochroxantha differs from P. corallina mainly in the presence of
phyllopsorin and chlorophyllopsorin, but also in having a thicker, always reddish
brown prothallus, a thicker (20–30 μm vs. 15–20 μm) upper cortex which is
composed of more thick-walled lumina (type 1–2 vs. type 2), and in having darker
brown apothecia.
In some specimens there are traces of unknown compounds below phyllopsorin
and chlorophyllopsorin on the chromatograms. They are possibly identical with
BRAKO’s (1991) methyl-phyllopsorate and methyl-chlorophyllopsorate. The
difference between Brako’s strain I and II was based on the presence of those two
compounds, but I found the occasional traces insufficient for distinguishing two
chemotypes. Atranorin, methyl 2,7-dichloropsoromate, pannarin, and zeorin
(reported by BRAKO 1991 and/or ELIX 2009) were not found in the West Indian
material.
The species is widely distributed in the Neotropics (BRAKO 1991) and also
occurs in Australia (ELIX 2009). New to Guadeloupe, Haiti, and Trinidad and
Tobago.
Specimens examined: CUBA. Buck 7620, 7684 (NY), Harris 14181, 14190, 14282, 14285, 14350,
14351, 14359, 14410, 14445, 14523, 14644, 14654 (NY), Imshaug 24843, 25111 (MSC), Wright,
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