Ramalina baltica Lettau

Ramalina baltica Lettau; Mycobank #403657 Festschr. 50 Jahr. Best. Preuss. Bot. Vereins 1912: 69. Type:― Ostpreussen, Cranzer Wald (Klein-Thüringen-Grenz), a. Picea u. Pinus, 1909, leg. G. Lettau (B, holotype) (Krog & James 1977). Thallus fruticose, pulvinate to lax, the laciniae exhibit a color ranging from greyish-green to a muted green hue, appearing glossy and opaque when moist, widened at the bottom, flattened, with a solid interior or partially becoming hollow over time; pulvinate structures might display lobes featuring significantly worn apices, causing the fractured open tips of the pustules to be exposed. Soralia primarily formed near the tips, sides, or close to the ends, with soredial growth occurring on the surface, and soredia being discharged through lacerations or the breaking of uneven, blisterlike protrusions. Apothecia very rare, at the edge or on the surface of the thallus lobes. Chemistry: Medulla spot tests K–, C–, KC–, PD–, UV–; TLC: Evernic acid (Krog & James 1977). Ecology and distribution: Ramalina baltica Lettau was collected for the first time in Iran in January 2003 in Golestan Province by Massoumi & Safavi and reported by Seaward (Seaward et al. 2004, 2008). Notes: This species and R. obtusata are morphologically very similar and seem to have the same chemistry. The two pertinent substances, evernic and obtusatic acid, give very similar spots in TLC, with the same colors and fluorescence, and almost the same Rf values. Bartsch (1992) found that obtusatic acid in the investigated Ramalina species always is accompanied by a much larger quantity of evernic acid, which covers its spot on TLC plates. Our results agree with this and we assume that both species contain the same substancess. The only differences between both are morphological. R. obtusata has narrower lobes and helmet-shaped soralia, whereas R. baltica has wider lobes and the soralia are not concave. Specimens examined: GOLESTAN PROVINCE: C. 12 km from Aliabad towards Zaringol, 36.8397N, 54.9762E, 420 m, 29 January 2003, Maassoumi & Safavi 2067 (B).