Usnea jezoformosana Y. Ohmura & P. Clerc, sp. nov. (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) from East Asia

Abstract

Usnea jezoformosana is described as a new species from East Asia. The morphology of this taxon is very similar to Usnea fragilescens but differs by the presence of granular soredia (instead of farinose soredia). It differs furthermore chemically by the presence of protocetraric acid (major) and barbatic acid (major to trace). The monophyly and independence of the newly described species from U. fragilescens and related taxa were inferred by a molecular phylogenetic tree based on ITS rDNA sequences. Usnea jezoformosana was collected in subboreal forests of Hokkaido (Japan) and in Taiwan where it grew on tree barks, building wood or cliffs.