Aridoplaca – Facesoffungi number: FoF 13604

Aridoplaca Wilk, Pabijan & Lücking, gen. nov.

MycoBank number: MB 836180; Index Fungorum number: IF 836180; Facesoffungi number: FoF 13604;

Type species: Aridoplaca peltata Wilk & Lücking.

Diagnosis: Thallus squamulose-peltate, orange red. Apothecia erumpent, disc red, slightly contrasting against thallus. Thalline cortex, parathecium, and hypothecium paraplectenchymatous. Thalline cortex very thick, with distinct cortex cones. Algal layer discontinuous, algae in distinct groups. Ascospores polarilocular, medium-sized with medium-thick septa. Similar to Xanthopeltis but differs in smaller thallus and different type of ascospores.

Etymology: The generic name refers to the occurrence in the arid regions of Bolivia and Peru.

Distribution: Aridoplaca is known from Bolivia and Peru.

Notes: – So far, Aridoplaca peltata is the only species included in the genus. The new genus is similar to the monospecific genus Xanthopeltis. The latter, however, produces larger thalli and different, 1-septate, spirally bent ascospores, and is nested within the subfamily Xanthorioideae.

Species