Peltigera

ACTA BOT. ISL. 10: 37-44. 1990. 

New or interesting lichens and Iichenicolous fungi from Iceland 

Alan Orange 

Department of Botany, National Museum ofWales, 

Cardiff CF13NP, United Kingdom 

ABSTRACT; Fourteen lichenized and seven lichenicolous fungi are 

reported as new to Iceland; each species is briefly described. The 

chemotypes of the Pe1tigera aphthosa group are discussed. 

Lichens and lichenicolous fungi were collected by the 

author in Iceland in 1987, during an expedition of the Department 

of Botany of the National Museum of Wales. Species for 

which there are no published records from Iceland, or records 

of particular interest, are listed below. The short descriptions 

of each lichen refer to Icelandic material only. Thinlayer 

chromatography (TLC) was carried out according to the 

methods of WHITE & JAMES (1985). Solvent systems G and EH were 

used for separation of triterpenoids in the peltigera aphthosa 

group. 

ARTHONIA FUSCOPURPUREA (Tul.) R. Sant. 

Apothecia arthonioid, becoming convex, 550-750 ~m diameter, 

blackish. Hypothecium and epithecium reddish-brown, K+ dull 

(greenish-) brown. Hymenium I+ red. Spores I-septate, 14-17.5 

x 5-6.5 ~m. Lichenicolous. 

Specimens examined: vestur-Skaftafellssysla: west of 

Kirkjubrejarklaustur, Hunkubakkar, 63° 46'N, 18° 10'W, alto 100 

m, 9 July 1987, A. Orange 6146 (NMW). - Suour-pingeyjarsysla: 

south of Kinnarfj611, north side of lake Lj6savatn, 65°42'N, 

l7°38'W, 2 July 1987, A. Orange 5918a (NMW). 

New to Iceland. Both collections on the thallus of Peltigera 

rufescens. 

ARTHRORHAPHIS VACILLANS Th. Fr. 

Thallus on soil, areolae lemon-yellow, 

soralia, weakly radiating at thallus margin. 

300-800 ~m diameter. Epithecium and exciple 

spores 3-septate, 15-19 x 3-3.5 ~m. 

convex, without 

Apothecia black, 

green, K+ brown;

38 ACTA 80TANICA ISLANOICA NO. 10 

Specimen examined: Norour-pingeyjarsysla: H6lssandur, near 

Dettifoss, 65°49'N, 16°23'W, alto 340 m, on soil, 3 July 1987, 

A. Orange 5971 (NMW). 

New to Iceland. 

BELONIA NIDAROSIENSIS (Kindt.) P.M. J0rg. & Vezda 

Thallus powdery, orange-pink when fresh, fading to cream in 

the herbarium; photobiont trentepohlioid. Ascomata colourless, 

globose, with apical pore. Spores colourless, muriform, 

strongly tapered to apices. 

Specimen examined: Vestur-Skaftafellssysla: 

Kirkjubrejarklaustur, Hunkubakkar, 63°46'N, 18°10'W, 

m, on dry, slightly basic cliffs near river, 9 July 

Orange 6151 (NMW, AMNH). 

west 

alto 

of 

100 

1987, A. 

New to Iceland. Previously known from Norway and the 

British Isles (J0RGENSEN et al. 1983). 

CALOPLACA CHLORINA (Flotow) Sandst. 

Thallus light brownish-grey, areolate, areolae crenulatelobed, 

plane or becoming somewhat verrucose, without isidia or 

soralia. Apothecia numerous, lecanorine, 700-1100 ~m diameter, 

margin grey, smooth at first, becoming crenulate; disc plane 

to slightly convex, yellowish-orange, epruinose. Thalline excipulum 

colourless within, surface layer dilute greyish. 

Spores 12-14 x 7-8 ~m, septum 5-8 ~m long. 

Specimen examined: Snrefellsnessysla: west of Grundarfjorour, 

Lardalur, H6lalrekur, 64°55'N, 23°21'W, alto 220 m, on 

nutrient-enriched basalt cliffs, 30 June 1987, A. Orange 5876 

(NMW, AMNH). 


CALOPLACA EXSECUTA (Nyl.) Dalla Torre & Sarnth. 

Thallus pale grey, rimose, without isidia or soralia. Apothecia 

lecideine, 260-600 ~m diameter, scattered or in small 

groups, margin persistent, dark grey to black, smooth or 

eventually irregularly crenulate; disc orange to dark brown, 

pruinose or not, ± plane. Exciple not containing algae, purplish-grey, 

K+ purple, or the inner part colourless; hypothecium 

colourless to brown. Spores 10-12 x 6-8 ~m, septum 

2.5-4 ~m long. 

Specimens examined: Snrefellsnessysla: Breioavik, Buoahraun, 

near Buoir, 64°49'N, 23°24'W, alto

1990 ORANGE: LICHENS AND LICHENICOLOUS FUNGI FROM ICELAND 39 

diameter, sometimes several becoming confluent. Apothecia 

absent. 

Specimen examined: Austur-Skaftafellssysla: north of Hofn, 

east of Hoffellsa river, near Krossbrejargeroi, 64°22'N, 

15°15'W, alto 20 m, on vertical rock outcrop in field, 7 July 

1987, A. Orange 6066 (NMW). 


CARBONEA SUPERSPARSA (Nyl.) Hertel 

Apothecia black, glossy, epruinose, 350-600 I!m diameter; 

disc plane. Hymenium in section bright pale blue; exciple dull 

blue, hypothecium brown. Spores simple, colourless, ellipsoid 

with rounded apices, 9-11 x 5-5.5 I!m. Lichenicolous. 

Specimen examined: Norour-Mulasysla: south-west of Seyoisfjorour, 

near road south of Stafdalsfell, 65°13'N, 14°7'W, 

alto 560 m, on thallus of Lecanora polytropa, 6 July 1987, A. 

Orange 6044 (NMW). 


CLADONIA PORTENTOSA (Dufour) Coem. 

Thallus 70 mm high, densely (2-)3(-4)-chotomously branched, 

pale yellow-grey, branch apices not oriented in one direction. 

Thallus K-, Pd-, UV+ white. Contains perlatolic acid and 

usnic acid by TLC. 

Specimen examined: Snrefellsnessysla: Breioavik, Buoahraun, 

near Buoir, 64°49'N, 23°24'W, alto 10 m, over rocks in lava 

fields, 29 June 1987, A. Orange 5779 (NMW). 


C. arbuscula differs in the Pd+ red, UV- thallus (fumarprotocetraric 

acid) and the branches which tend to be oriented 

in one direction. C. mitis differs in the Pd-, UV- thallus 

(rangiformic acid). 

GYALIDEA FRITZEI (Stein) Vezda var. FRITZEI 

Thallus brown, very thin. Apothecia 300-380 I!m diameter, 

disc concave, disc and margin mid to dark brown, margin entire 

or sometimes with a whitish, slightly crenulate layer at apex. 

Exciple colourless within, brown near surface; hymenium I-, 

pale brownish in uppermost part, otherwise colourless. Spores 

4 or 8 per ascus, colourless, muriform, 25-42 x 13-23 I!m. 

Specimen examined: Vestur-Skaftafellssysla: west of Kirkjubrejarklaustur, 

Holtsdalur, 63°46'N, 18°15'W, alto 80 m, on 

non-basic vertical rocks near stream, with Polyblastia 

cruenta, 9 July 1987, A. Orange 6138 (NMW). 

New to Iceland. Reported from Czechoslovakia, Sweden and 

Scotland (V~ZDA 1966). Closely related to G. lecideopsis, which 

differs in the colour of the hymenium and in the drier, basic 

habitat. Spores from 8-spored asci measured up to 30 I!m long. 

Several asci had 4 mature spores up to 42 I!m long, together 

with 4 small aborted spores. Four-spored asci were not 

reported for this species by Vezda; their occurrence parallels 

the 4-spored var. eucarpa (Serv.) Vezda (var. convarians 

(Nyl.) Vezda) of G. lecideopsis.

40 ACTA BOTANICA ISLANDICA NO. 10 

LECIDELLA SUBINCONGRUA (Nyl.) Hertel 

Thallus pale yellowish grey, cracked-areolate. Apothecia 

black. Epithecium green-blue, K-; hypothecium brown, K+ 

yellow-brown. Contains unidentified xanthones by TLC. 

Specimens examined: Snrefellsnessysla: Breioavik, Buoahraun, 

64°49'N, 23°24'W, alt. ingeyjarsysla: MYvatnssveit, 

Burfellshraun, south of Sandfell, 65°38'N, 16°44'W, alto 370 

m, on the thallus of Peltigera rufescens, 4 July 1987. A. 

Orange 6020b (NMW). 

The description is of the anamorph, Illosporium carneum Fr. 

Illosporium corallinum Roberge was reported on Peltigera in 

LARSEN (1931), but the identity of the host suggests that the 

record may refer to I. carneum. A common species in Iceland 

on Peltigera didactyla (H. KRISTINSSON, in litt.), but not 

previously published. 

PARMELIA SEPTENTRIONALIS (Lynge) Ahti 

Thallus brown, lobes up to 3 mm wide, sparse pseudocyphellae 

present at least on margins; isidia and soralia absent. 

Apothecia numerous, 0.7-1.9 mm diameter, margin ± 

smooth. Medulla K-, C-, Pd+ orange-red. 

Specimen examined: Suour-I>ingeyjarsysla: east side of Myvatn, 

Markhraun, 65°35'N, 16°56'W, alto 280 m, on twigs of 

Betula pubescens, with Cetraria sepincola, 4 July 1987, A. 


A rare species in Iceland, reported from the south-east by 

AHTI (1966). The closely related P. olivacea, which has not 

been confirmed from Iceland, has somewhat larger lobes, apothecia 

and spores, and the apothecial margin is crenulate (AHTI 

1966, ESSLINGER 1977). 

PARMELIA SUBAURIFERA Nyl. 

Thallus mid-brown, lobes glossy when young, later matt. 

Soralia numerous, laminal, at first punctiform, later confluent 

and forming extensive yellowish or whitish areas, very 

quickly isidiate, isidia small, up to 0.4 mm long (longer in 

sheltered pockets on thallus). Cortex HN03-, medulla K-, C+ 

red. 

Specimen examined: Snrefellsnessysla: west of Grundarfjorour, 

Lardalur, H6lalrekur, 64°55'N, 23°21'W, alto 220 m, 

dry vertical basalt on cliffs, 30 June 1987, A. Orange 5869 

(NMW, AMNH).

1990 ORANGE: LICHENS AND LICHENICOLDUS FUNGI FROM ICELAND 41 

New to Iceland. Widespread in North America and Europe, 

usually on bark and wood but occasionally on rock (ESSLINGER 

1977). Differs from P. glabratula in the presence of soralia. 

PELTIGERA BRITANNICA (Gyelnik) Holt.-Hartw. & T0nsb. 

Differs from P. aphthosa in the peltate, easily detached 

cephalodia. 

Specimens examined: fsafjaroarsysla: Skalavik, Breioab61, 

alto 20-30 m, on the edge of a ravine on soil, 22 July 1968, 

H. Kristinsson 10279 (AMNH). - Austur-Skaftafellssysla: Kvisker, 

Muli, June 1971, H. Bjornsson (AMNH). - Smefellsnessysla: 

Breioavik, Buoahraun, 64°49'N, 23°24'W, alto conical warts 1 underside with pale brown, indistinct 

veins and dark brown fasciculate rhizines. Photobiont 

blue-green. 

Specimen examined: Snrefellsnessysla: Fr6oarheioi, Miofellsdalur, 

64 ° 51' N, 23 ° 29'W, alt. 360 m, on mossy ground below 

cliffs, 28 June 1987, A. Orange 5755 (NMW). 

Very rare in Iceland (H.KRISTINSSON, in litt.) Reported from 

4 localities by KRISTINSSON (1972).

42 ACTA BOTANICA ISLANOICA NO. 10 

PERTUSARIA CHIODECTONOIDES Bagl. ex Massal. 

Thallus light grey, cracked-areolate, margin not zoned, 

without isidia or soralia. Apothecial discs expanded, irregular 

or stellate, concave, black, often greyish-pruinose. 

Spores 8 per ascus, 32-40 x 18-21 ~m. Contains stictic acid by 

TLC 

Ṡpecimen examined: Snmfellsnessysla; west of Grundarfjorour; 

Lardalur; H6lalmkur. 64°55'N, 23°21'W. Alt. 220 m. Dry 

vertical basalt on cliffs. 30 June 1987. A. Orange 5868 

(NMW, AMNH). 

New to Iceland. The thallus of the specimen is K- and Pddue 

to the low concentration of stictic acid. 

PHRAGMONAEVIA PELTIGERAE (Nyl.) Rehm 

Apothecia in circular groups, immersed in host thallus, 

discs black, up to 220 ~m diameter. Exciple thin. Spores 3( 

4)-septate, colourless, 19-24 x 4.5-6 ~m. Lichenicolous. 

Specimen examined: Suour-l>ingeyjarsysla: south of Kinnarfjoll, 

north side of lake Lj6savatn, 65°42'N, 17°38'W, alto 

140 m, on thallus of Peltigera rufescens, 2 July 1987, A. 



POLYCOCCUM TRYPETHELIOIDES (Th.Fr.) R. Sant . 

Perithecia 140-190 ~m wide, immersed in gall-like bodies on 

the host thallus. Hamathecium of branched and anastomosing 

hyphae. Asci 8-spored, rarely 4-spored by abortion of 4 

immature spores. Spores brown, I-septate, 14.5-16.5 x 8.5-11 

~m, cells markedly unequal, surface verruculose. Lichenicolous. 

Specimen examined: Austur-Skaftafellssysla: Suoursveit, 

north-east of Jokulsarl6n, near Stemma river-bridge, 64°4'N, 

16°7'W, alto

1990 ORANGE: LICHENS AND LICHENICOLOUS FUNGI FROM ICELAND 43 

Specimen examined: vestur-Skaftafellssysla: west of 

Kirkjubrejarklaustur, Holtsdalur, 63°46'N, 18°1S'W, alto 100 m, 

on thallus, of Solorina saccata, 9 July 1987, A. Orange 6136 

(NMW, AMNH). 

New to Iceland. Distinguished from S. solorinaria by the 

larger apothecia and spores, and the reddish-brown rather than 

greenish-black epithecium (HAWKSWORTH 1986). 

SCUTULA TUBERCULOSA (Th.Fr.) Rehm 

Apothecia black, 120-250 j.lm diameter, soon convex, margin 

inapparent. Epithecium brown. Spores colourless, 1-septate, 

13-15 x 5.5-6.5 j.lm. Lichenicolous. 

Specimen examined: Suour-I?ingeyjarsysla: south of Kinnarfjoll, 

west of Lj6savatn, near St6rutjarnir, 6s o 42'N, 17°42'W, 

alto 140 m, on thallus of Peltigera lepidophora, 2 July 1987, 

A. Orange 5907b (NMW). 


TRAPELIA PLACODIOIDES Coppins & P.James 

Thallus crustose, forming patches up to 8 mm diameter, 

rimose, pinkish-white; areolae plane, matt; thallus margin 

often slightly effigurate. Soralia developing from cracks or 

on upper surface of areolae, 150-300(-500) j.lm, pale brownish. 

Apothecia absent. Thallus C+ red. 

Specimen examined: Snrefellsnessysla: Breioavik, Buoahraun, 

64°49'N, 23°24'W, alto

44 ACTA BOTANICA ISlANDICA NO. ID 

COPPINS, B.J. & JAMES, P.W. 1984. New or interesting British 

lichens V. Lichenologist 16: 241-264. 

ESSLINGER, T.L. 1977. A chemosystematic revision of the brown 

Parmeliae. J. of the Hattori Bot. Laboratory 42: 1-211. 

GALL0E, O. 1920. The lichen flora and lichen vegetation of 

Iceland. In: Rosenvinge, L.K. & Warming, E. (eds.) The 

Botany of Iceland Vol. 11: 103-248. 

GR0NLUND, C. 1885. Afsluttende Bidrag til Oplysning om Islands 

Flora. Bot. Tidsskr. 14: 159-217. 

HAWKSWORTH, D.L. 1986. Notes on British lichenicolous fungi: V. 

Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh 43: 497-519. 

HAWKSWORTH, D.L. & DIEDERICH, P. 1988. A synopsis of the genus 

Polycoccum (Dothideales), with a key to accepted species. 

Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 90: 293-312. 

J0RGENSEN, P.M., VEZDA, A. & BOTNEN, A. 1983. Clathroporina 

calcarea, a misunderstood lichen species, and a note on the 

genus Clathroporina in Europe. Lichenologist 15: 45-55. 

KRISTINSSON, Horour. 1972. Additions to the lichen flora of 

Iceland I. Acta Bot. Isl. 1: 43-50. 

LARSEN, P. 1931. Fungi of Iceland. In: Rosenvinge, L.K. & 

Warming, E. (eds.) The Botany of Iceland. Vol. 11: 451-607. 

T0NSBERG, T. 

Nephroma, 

& HOLTAN-HARTWIG, J. 1983. Phycotype pairs 

Peltigera and Lobaria in Norway. Nord. J. Bot. 

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3: 

681-688. 

VEZDA, A. 1966. Flechten systematische Studien IV. Die Gattung 

Gyalidea Lett. Folia geobot. phytotaxon. bohemoslovaca 1: 

311-340. 

WHITE, F.J. & JAMES, P.W. 1985. A new guide to microchemical 

techniques for the identification of lichen substances. 

Brit. Lich. Soc. Bull. 57 (suppl.): 1-41.

Peltigera

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