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The genus Melanophloea, an example of convergent evolution towards polyspory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2012

André APTROOT  and
Felix SCHUMM
André APTROOT
Affiliation:
ABL Herbarium, G.v.d.Veenstraat 107, NL-3762 XK Soest, The Netherlands. Email: [email protected]
Felix SCHUMM
Affiliation:
Mozartstr. 9, D-73117 Wangen, Germany
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Abstract

The species described in or referred to the genus Melanophloea, traditionally referred to the Thelocarpaceae, are discussed. Detailed observations on two species, including the type species, show that they have not much more in common than their polysporous ascus. Melanophloea is reduced to the type species, M. pacifica. It shows a close resemblance to Aptrootia in the Trypetheliaceae, and it is therefore tentatively referred to this family. Melanophloea americana is shown to be close to Thelenella in the Thelenellaceae. The latter species and the related M. montana are newly combined into this genus as Thelenella americana and T. montana. Thelocarpon nigrum, which was recently compared to Melanophloea, is retained in Thelocarpon in the Thelocarpaceae. Polyspory is suggested to facilitate dispersion, especially when compared to parent taxa that produce large muriform ascospores. Based on the current classification, polyspory originated at least 57 times within the lichenized ascomycetes, a clear example of convergent evolution.

Keywords

AptrootialichenrainforesttaxonomyThelenellaThelenellaceaeThelocarpaceaeTrypetheliaceae
Type
Research Article
Information
The Lichenologist , Volume 44 , Issue 4 , July 2012 , pp. 501 - 509
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 2012

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