Kirschsteiniothelia is a saprotrophic genus that occurs in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. This study introduces a novel species of Kirschsteiniothelia, discovered on the bark of Abies fabri, collected from Yunnan Province, China, and named K. laojunensis. The identification was established through a combination of molecular analyses and morphological characteristics. Kirschsteiniothelia laojunensis is characterized by its large subglobose to globose, black perithecia, clavate, 8-spored asci, fusiform asymmetric ascospores, which are hyaline when immature and become greenish to brown at maturity. This discovery marks the first occurrence of Kirschsteiniothelia on tree bark, with some lichen thallus tissue surrounding the base of the perithecia. Detailed morpho-molecular characterization along with a synopsis table for the genus are provided.
Based on a combination of morphological, chemical, and phylogenetic analyses, we present a new revision of the lichen genus Pleopsidium in China. Pleopsidium tumidulumsp. nov. and P. corrugatulumsp. nov. are proposed as new species to science, both included in a distinctive clade (clade 1) together with P. gobiense. These three species are characterized by the absence of fatty acids, acaranoic and acarenoic acids, and share similar ecological traits. In contrast, species containing fatty acids, including Pleopsidium flavum, P. chlorophanum, and P. discurrens, constitute a separate clade (clade 2). Fresh specimens of Pleopsidium discurrens were collected from the type locality, Yulong Snow Mountain, and molecular data were generated to confirm the phylogenetic position of the species. Our study additionally reveals substantial morphological variation in this species. New collections and sequences of Pleopsidium gobiense from Hami City, the type locality, are provided, from which a neotype is designated, confirming its phylogenetic position. Differences in morphology, anatomy, chemistry, and ecology among Pleopsidium species from China are discussed. A key and several phylograms are provided.
Glypholecia qinghaiensis An C. Yin, Q. Y. Zhong & Li S. Wang is described as new to science. It is characterized by its squamulose thallus, compound apothecia, ellipsoid ascospores, and the presence of rhizines on the lower surface of the thallus. A phylogenetic tree of Glypholecia species was constructed based on nrITS and mtSSU sequences. Two species G. qinghaiensis and G. scabra are confirmed in China.