[Fungi • 2017] Kalbionora palaeotropica • A New Genus and Species (Malmideaceae, Ascomycota) from Coastal Forests in Southeast Asia and Australia

Kalbionora palaeotropica Sodamuk, Leavitt & Lumbsch

  DOI:  10.3897/mycokeys.22.12528 

Abstract

A new species and genus, Kalbionora palaeotropica, is described for a crustose lichen occurring in coastal forests in Thailand, Vietnam, and northeastern Australia. It is morphologically similar to Malmidea and Eugeniella, but differing in morphological and chemical characters. The single known species in the new genus contains atranorin, zeorin, the stictic acid chemosyndrome and chlorinated xanthones. Morphologically it is characterized by having asci of the Catillaria-type, a yellowish brown colour, a granulose epihymenium, dark brown hypothecium, hyaline, 1–3 transversely septate ascospores. Molecular data strongly support a phylogenetic position in Malmideaceae, sister to a clade including Malmidea, Savoronala and two species currently placed in Lecidea s. lat. (including L. cyrtidia and L. plebeja).

Key words: Lecanorales, lichens, mangroves, taxonomy, tropical diversity

 Taxonomy

Kalbionora palaeotropica Sodamuk, Leavitt & Lumbsch, gen. et, sp. nov.

 Type: THAILAND, Trat Province: Muang District, Nhong Sa Nho Subdistrict, the route to Nature Education Center Ban Pak Khlong Nam Chiew, on the bark of Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B.Rob., 2014, M. Sodamuk RAMK-24530 (holotype: RAMK; isotypes: F, S).

Figure 1. Morphology and anatomy of Kalbionora palaeotropica, 
A–B habit C cross-section through thallus showing cortex and algal layer D cross-section through apothecium showing dark brown hypothecium E hymenium, and F transversely septate ascospores (holotype).

Scale bars: 0.5 cm (A, B), 20 µm (C), 0.1 mm (D), 10 µm (E), 5 µm (F). 

 Diagnosis: Characterized by having asci of the Catillaria-type, yellowish brown, granulose epihymenium, exciple consisting of prosoplectenchymatous cells, dark brown hypothecium, hyaline, 1-3 transversely septate ascospores, and the presence of atranorin, zeorin, and the stictic and arthothelin chemosyndromes.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the occurrence of the species in the Paleotropics, whereas the genus is named after our colleague Klaus Kalb who has made tremendous contributions to our knowledge of tropical lichens and who has been enormously helpful to colleagues in Thailand.

 Mattika Sodamuk, Kansri Boonpragob, Pachara Mongkolsuk, Anders Tehler, Steven D. Leavitt and H. Thorsten Lumbsch. 2017. Kalbionora palaeotropica, A New Genus and Species from Coastal Forests in Southeast Asia and Australia (Malmideaceae, Ascomycota).
  MycoKeys. 22: 15-25.  DOI:  10.3897/mycokeys.22.12528