Bibliotheca Lichenol. 80: 207 (2001).

Basionym: Parmelia alabamensis Hale & McCull., Bryologist 71: 44 (1968).

Protolog: Thallus adnatus, saxicola, cinereoalbicans, 2-4 cm latus, lobis sublinearibus, 0.8-1.2 mm latis, superne transversim rimosus, sparse sorediatus, soraliis capitatis, subtus niger, modice rhizinosus, rhizinis simplicibus. Apothecia ignota.

Protolog type data: Type: Alabama. St. Clair Co.: 6 mi. E of Leeds, on outcrops near Highway 78, Hale & McCullough 24072, 20 June 1966 (US-holotype; Samford Univ., DUKE, UPS-isotypes).

Type locality: USA, Alabama, St. Clair County, 6 miles east of Leeds, on outcrops near Highway 78, unknown altitude, 20 June 1966, M. E. Hale & McCullough 24072, (US - holotype; SAMF, DUKE, UPS - isotypes).

Type locality coordinates: 33°32'44?N, 86°33'27?W; 33.545556°, -86.5575°.

Thallus: whitish mineral-gray, rather closely adherent to sandstone in open oak-pine woods, forming numerous orbicular, often confluent colonies 2-4 cm broad; lobes sublinear, contiguous, 0.8-1.2 mm wide; upper surface smooth and shiny to transversely cracked; sorediate, soralia rather sparse, capitate; lower surface jetblack, moderately rhizinate, the rhizines simple, black. Apothecia unknown (Hale & McCullough 1968: 44).

Photobiont: Trebouxia.

Chemistry: Cortex K+ yellow, atranorin present; medulla K-, C-, KC-, P+ red, protocetraric acid present (Hale & McCullough 1968: 44).

Ecology: On rock.

Distribution type: USA: Alabama, USA: Louisiana, Mexico: Chiapas, Venezuela.

Taxonomy: This species is clearly a member of Parmelia subgenus Parmelia section Cyclocheila because of the simple rhizines, narrow lobes, and lack of marginal cilia (Hale & Kurokawa, 1964). It has no affinities with any other Parmelias in North America and even on the world level it is exceptional. The general configuration of the lobes is typical of certain African species occurring on rocks in semiarid regions, such as P. xanthomelaena Müll. Arg., which contains stictic acid and is nonsorediate, and P. ischnoides Kurok., which has isidia. Two other comparable species in this section with protocetraric acid are from Mozambique and, while similar except for being larger and in growing on bark, they are probably distinct and are as yet undescribed.

Note:

Distribution Database: Distributions

Distribution Database: Discover Life

Picture Database: Tropical Lichens

Molecular Database: Genbank

Synonym Database: Index Fungorum

Synonym Database: Mycobank