Preliminary version 1 January 2015

Ramalina hierrensis Krog & Østh.

Norw. J. Bot. 27: 276 (1980).

Synonym: Index Fungorum

Type: Spain, Canary Islands, Hierro, Barranco Hondo above Sabinosa, 350 m, 2.4.1978, H. Krog & H. Østhagen 2256 (O - holotype; BM, TFMC, UPS - isotypes).

 

Thallus: pendulous or decumbent, up to 30 cm long, stramineous to grey-green, older parts often discoloured. Laciniae richly dichotomously to irregularly branched, branches subparallel, subterete to flattened, sometimes canaliculate, 0.8 - 2.2 mm broad at the base, tapering gradually, distal parts attenuate, either slightly flattened or subterete of uneven width, ultimate branches and branchlets frequently with hook-shaped apices; in all saxicolous and some corticolous forms the branches are mainly subterete and less than 1 mm broad. Pseudocyphellae laminal, shortly linear. Soralia absent. Cortex compressed, indistinct, chondroid cylinder mainly continuous, of extremely uneven thickness, medulla compressed, with a few imbedded chondroid strands. Pycnidia with pale ostioles. Apothecia often numerous, lateral, marginal and laminal on often strongly geniculate branches, shortly stipitate, up to 8 mm in diameter, at first concave, becoming flat or slightly convex at maturity, thalline exciple with punctiform or shortly linear pseudocyphellae, thalline margin occasionally with short laciniae, spores 10 - 14 / 5 - 6 µm (Krog & Osthagen 1980: 276).

Chemistry: No medullary substances (Krog & Osthagen 1980: 276). Hierridin (Huneck & Yoshimura 1996: 159). Usnic acid (not cited).

Ecology: Corticolous or saxicolous.

Molecular data: Genbank

Distribution: Database

Note: Morphotypes of Ramalina hierrensis with subterete branches may be confussed with Ramalina chondrina, which, however, is very rarely fruiting, has few, indistinct pseudocyphellae, smooth branches, a chondroid cylinder of almost even thickness, and no interconnecting strands of chondroid tissue across the medulla. Acid deficient specimens of Ramalina huei differ from Ramalina hierrensis in that they usually have broader laciniae, a lax medulla without chondroid strands, and marginal pseudocyphellae. Ramalina usnea (L.) R. H. H., widely distributed in the New World (Rundel 1978), and the related African species Ramalina hoehneliana Müll. Arg. differ from R. hierrensis among other characters in their more robust thalli and the frequent occurrence of longly linear marginal and laminal grooves and pseudocyphellae, the latter often spreading irregularly over the laminae.