The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

The taxonomy of the Caloplaca citrina group (Teloschistaceae) in the Black Sea region; with contributions to the cryptic species concept in lichenology

På svenska

Author

  • Jan Vondrak
  • Pavel Riha
  • Ulf Arup
  • Ulrik Sochting

Summary, in English

A new taxonomy of the Caloplaca citrina group in the Black Sea region is presented. It is based on the nrDNA ITS molecular data, chemistry (anthraquinone contents) and 20 morphological characters. Six species previously known in the region are accepted: Caloplaca arcis, C. calcitrapa, C. dichroa, C. flavocitrina, C. geleverjae, C. limonia. Five new species are described: Caloplaca arcisproxima, C. austrocitrina, C. communis, C. confusa and C. nigromarina. Seven further species, Caloplaca britannica, C. citrina, C. marina, C. maritima, C. microthallina, C. ora and C. phlogina are also treated briefly. Some maritime species known from the Atlantic coast of Europe are absent from the region, and, surprisingly, Caloplaca citrina s. str. could not be confirmed from the study area. A key to the species present in the region is provided, although morphological characters are of very limited value in this group. The variability and taxonomic importance of particular features are discussed. No significant differences in secondary chemistry were observed among the species. Many examples of convergence and some semi-cryptic species were revealed by molecular data. The term 'semi-cryptic species' is introduced here into lichenology for those species which cannot be clearly diagnosed by their morphology, but which are determined by other characters, mainly by their ecology and distribution. We propose to describe formally such species, in spite of difficulties with subsequent morphological identification.

Publishing year

2009

Language

English

Pages

571-604

Publication/Series

Lichenologist

Volume

41

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Topic

  • Botany

Keywords

  • semi-cryptic species
  • Teloschistales
  • nrDNA ITS
  • lichens
  • alveolate cortex
  • Caloplaca citrina clade

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0024-2829