Melanolecia transitoria (Arnold) Hertel

Data Set Maintenance: Data set standard item. Data set author(s): Hertel H. (99-01-01). Data set not revised.

Nomenclature: Current taxonomic status: accepted. Taxonomic rank: species. Melanolecia. Synonyms: Lecidea subcaerulescens Arnold, Lecidea henrici Zahlbr. in Handel-Mazzetti; Lecideaceae Chevall. (1826); Lecanorales.

Type Information: Protologue: Hertel H. in Poelt J., Vezda A., Biblioth. Lichenol. 16: 361 (1981) - Lecidea transitoria Arnold: Arnold F., Flora 53: 123 (1870) - Tremolecia transitoria (Arnold) Hertel: Hertel H., Khumbu Himal 6: 356 (1977); type specimen label data: Austria, Tyrolia: Stubaier Alpen, Matreier Grube oberhalb der Waldrast, ca. 2000 m, July 1869, F. Arnold (M, lectotype).

Taxonomic Literature: Arnold F., Flora 53: 123 (1870); Hertel H., Beih. Nova Hedwigia 24: 77-79 (1967); Hertel H., Khumbu Himal 6: 356-357 (1977); Hertel H., Herzogia 4: 390, 401 (1977); Clauzade G., Roux C., Bull. Soc. Bot. Centre-Ouest, nouv. ser., num. spec. 7: 506 (1985); Hertel H., Biblioth. Lichenol. 58: 177 (1995).

Biogeography: Alpine. Continent: Europe (Au, Ga, Ge, He, It, Sb) and Asia-Temperate (China: Yunnan).

Ecology: Biotroph; lichenized; endosubstratic; substrate calciferous.

Thallus: Lobes angular at the front; separate thallus parts 0-.15 mm thick. Thallus Size and Differentiation: Large; main branches basally not constricted. Upper Surface: Plane; not sorediate; without thalloconidia thalloconidia.

Medulla: Iodine reaction in Lugol's solution positive (sometimes weak).

Ascocarps: Soon sessile, slightly constricted at the base, 60-120 per cm², .3-.5-(1) mm in diam.. Margin: Not flexuose or slightly flexuose, persistent, 35-85 µm wide, epruinose. Disk: Plane to weakly convex, black, epruinose, without an umbo, forming occasionally, on few disks only. Exciple: Hyphae radiating outwards; black; not inspersed with crystals. Epithecium: Apical cells olive, brownish yellow, or grey, cell pigment reacting with 10% HCl (in H2O). Hymenium: 55-73 µm high; white or pale green; iodine reaction: Lugol’s positive. Subhymenium: 15-30 µm high; white. Hypothecium: Brown or dark brown.

Ascospores: Ellipsoid, (8.5)-10.6-12.5-(16) µm long, (4.5)-5.5-7.2-(8) µm wide; wall not ornamented.

Conidia: (3.5)-4.3-5.5-(7) µm long.

Secondary Metabolites: Not detected.

Spot Tests: Medulla: K –, C –, PD – ascocarp margin (in section): K + bluish red (sometimes weak), C – disk: C – hypothecium: K – or + purplish brown (chinoide reaction); epihymenium: K –.

(report generated 04.Okt.2007)