Phylogeny, ecology and morphology of the two corticolous lichen species Rinodina colobina and R. pityrea in the Nordic countries

• Rinodina pityrea and R. colobina are reported as two distinct species with differing ecology and morphological characters. Molecular analysis of their ITS and mrSSU genes show that R. pityrea and R. colobina are two clearly separated species. Furthermore, the two species are morphologically and geographically distinct in the Nordic countries and can usually be recognized with a hand lens rather than by observing spore type which can be very difficult. The differing characteristics of R. pityrea and R. colobina are here described in detail with photographs and a table is given of differing features. Additionally, some defining characteristics to separate sterile specimens from Caloplaca chlorina were discovered and are presented along with the rest of the findings. Finally, an updated distribution map of R. pityrea and R. colobina for Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark is presented. Rinodina pityrea is reported as new to Norway and R. colobina is reinstalled as a Danish lichen.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biologisk systematik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biological Systematics (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)