Pulvinora subcavicola Mazur & Sliwa 2025, comb. nov.

Pulvinora subcavicola (B. D. Ryan) Mazur & Śliwa comb. nov. Lecanora subcavicola B. D. Ryan., in Nash et al. (eds). Lich. Fl. Sonoran 2: 269 (2004). Basionym. Notes. A detailed description of the species (under the name L. subcavicola) is provided by Ryan et al. (2004). In morphology and secondary metabolite content (atranorin and alectorialic acid present), it closely resembles P. cavicola, except that P. subcavicola does not produce vegetative propagules. There is no obvious molecular distinction between the two species on our phylogenetic tree, and more extended sampling in the future will perhaps resolve this issue. However, we were able to indicate differences between P. cavicola and P. subcavicola, based on the published data – such as the color of the epihymenium: olive-brown (P. cavicola) vs. brown-black (P. subcavicola); lack (P. cavicola) vs. presence (P. subcavicola) of fine granules in the epihymenium; and differing chemistry, which is more diverse in the case of P. cavicola. A thorough discussion of the latter species’ similarities, differences, and correlations with P. brandegeei is available in Ryan et al. (2004) and Davydov et al. (2021 a).