Pleopsidium

Abstract: The phylogeny of the Acarosporaceae (Lecanoromycetes, Acarosporomycetidae, Acarosporales) is investigated using data from three molecular markers; nuclear ITS-LSU rDNA, mitochondrial SSU and β-tubulin. Acarosporaceae is shown to be constituted by six main clades; Myriospora, Timdalia, Pleopsidium, a clade composed by “Acarospora” rhizobola and “A.” terricola, the poorly supported Sarcogyne clade (including several Polysporina and Acarospora species) and the Acarospora clade (including the type of Polysporina, P. simplex, and several other Polysporina species). The common ancestor of the Acarosporaceae did not produce strongly black pigmented (carbonized or melanized) ascomata, but this trait has arisen secondarily and independently numerous times in the evolution of the group. The number of changes in character states of both carbonized epihymenium and carbonized exciple are considerably more than the minimum number. The genera Sarcogyne and Polysporina—largely circumscribed based on the presence of black pigmented ascomata—are shown to be distinctly non-monophyletic. The presence of green algae in the ascoma margin (lecanorine or lecideine ascomata) may vary even within single species.

Abstract: Abstract: All species of Antarctic Acarosporaceae (s. lat., including Biatorellaceae) with yellow thalli are revised. Four genera, Acarospora, Biatorella, Biatorellopsis, Eklundia , and ten species, all of them endemic, were previously reported from Antarctica. Our results indicate that in Antarctica Acarospora subgen. Xanthothallia s. str. includes only two species, A. gwynnii Dodge and A. flavocordia sp. nov.; Biatorella does not occur in Antarctica, the species described by Dodge belonging instead in Candelariella ; the genus Eklundia is a synonym of Candelariella; Biatorellopsis does not occur in Continental Antarctica, and the genus is a synonym of Pleopsidium; Pleopsidium is represented in Antarctica by one species, P. chlorophanum , which was treated under very different generic and specific names by earlier authors. Altogether, the number of species of yellow Acarosporaceae known from Antarctica is reduced from ten to three, distributed in two genera: Acarospora and Pleopsidium . The two Acarospora species, A. gwynnii and A. flavocordia are apparently endemic to Antarctica, whereas P. chlorophanum is a widespread bipolar lichen. A comprehensive list of synonyms and a key are provided.