Phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of the Leptogium lichenoides group (Collemataceae, Ascomycota) in Europe

The taxonomy of the Leptogium lichenoides complex is revised here based on a morphological, ecological and molecular phylogenetic study. A phylogenetic analysis of phenotypic characters was compared to a phylogeny based on nrITS and β-tubulin data. Using these phylogenies, we concluded that what was commonly recognized as Leptogium lichenoides s.l. encompasses three distinct species. Leptogium lichenoides var. pulvinatum is now recognized as a separate species L. pulvinatum comb. nov. Leptogium aragonii sp. nov., a non-isidiate species with large thalli, is the second species part of this complex, and L. lichenoides s.str., as redefined here, is the only species of this group with isidia. We also found that Leptogium lichenoides s.l. is polyphyletic. Leptogium pulvinatum and L. lichenoides s.str. are more closely related to L. gelatinosum than to L. aragonii. The taxonomic status of L. quercicola is reduced to a variety of L. pulvinatum. Identification key, descriptions and distribution maps are presented for Leptogium aragonii, L. gelatinosum, L. intermedium, L. lichenoides s.str., L. pulvinatum, and L. pulvinatum var. quercicola.

Duke Scholars

Author Francois M. Lutzoni Biology