Sphaeronectria lichenophila Darmostuk, Etayo & Flakus 2025

Sphaeronectria lichenophila (Speg.) Darmostuk, Etayo & Flakus, comb. nov. MycoBank MB 858390. Figs 3E, 4D. Basionym: Nectria lichenophila Speg., Boln Acad. Nac. Cienc. Córdoba 11 (4): 525. 1889. Synonyms: Nectria spegazzinii Vouaux, Bull. Soc. Mycol. Fr. 28: 189. 1912. Nectriopsis lichenophila (Speg.) Etayo, Bibliotheca Lichenologica 84: 71. 2002. Typus: Brazil, Apiahy, on Anaptychia cf. podocarpa, 1881, J. Puiggari (holotype LPS-1587). Solenopezia [Solenopeziza] tetraspora Henn., in Engler, Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas Nachbarg., Teil C: 30. 1895. Typus: Tanzania, on thallus of Physcia integrata Nyl., unknown collection date, Holst n. 795 (type not located). Ascomata perithecioid, superficial, globose to subglobose, yellow to orange,collapsed when dry,with tiny subiculum on the lower part of ascomata, covered by abundant septate hyaline hairs, 150–250 μm diam. Ascomatal wall formed by several layers of cells, yellowish externally, up to 20 μm thick, inner hyaline, 10–12 μm, KOH–. Asci unitunicate, subcylindrical, 4-spored, 70–80 × 7–10 μm (n = 20). Ascospores hyaline, 1-septate, ellipsoid, with pointed and sometimes apiculate ends, slightly constricted at the septa, smooth-walled, without perisporium, (16.8–)19.4–24.4(–26.6) × (5.9–)6.2–7.5(–8.4) μm (n = 50). Conidiomata not observed. Distribution, habitat and host range: This species is known from numerous localities from South America and Africa (Tanzania), growing on several species of Heterodermia s. lat. (Etayo 2002, 2017). However, the record from Tanzania needs revision as we were not able to locate the specimen in the collection of P.C. Hennings stored at B. Specimens examined: Bolivia, Chuquisaca Department, Belisario Boeto Province, close to Padilla between Nuevo Mundo and Santa Rosa, 18º57’12”S, 64º16’37”W, 1790 m a.s.l., transition between Boliviano-Tucumano forests and dry interandean vegetation, on Heterodermia cf. spinigera, 16 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 26552 (LPB), ibid., on Heterodermia comosa, M. Kukwa 16271 (UGDA L, LPB); Luis Calvo Province, Iñao National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area close to Ticucha, between Tranqua and Monte Agudo, 19º39’50”S, 63º49’14”W, 1022 m a.s.l., disturbed area with shrabs, on lower and upper part of Heterodermia cf. comosa on twigs, 18 Jul. 2015, J. Etayo 32702, 32709 (hb. Etayo, LPB); Santa Cruz Department, Manuel María Caballero Province, Monte Empalme near Siberia, 17º50’05”S, 64º42’09”W, 2439 m a.s.l., partly grazed Yungas cloud forest near stream, on Heterodermia podocarpa, 8 Nov. 2016, A. Flakus 28086 (KRAM L-74693, LPB); Tarija Department, Aniceto Arce Province, Tariquía Flora and Fauna National Reserve between la Cumbre and camamento los Alisos, 22º02’38”S, 64º35’47”W, 2460 m a.s.l., Boliviano-Tucumano forest with Alnus acuminata and Polylepis, on Leucodermia sp., 22 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 26977 (KRAM L-74690, LPB); ibid., 22º01’02”S, 64º34’51”W, 2135 m a.s.l., on Heterodermia cf. comosa, 22 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27056 (KRAM L-74691, LPB); ibid., close to los Alisos camp, 22º01’25”S, 64º34’06”W, 1900 m a.s.l., disturbed Boliviano-Tucumano forest with Alnus acuminata, Podocarpus and Solanaceae, on Heterodermia sp. growing on twig, 24 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27086 (KRAM-L, LPB), M. Kukwa 16600 (UGDA L, LPB); ibid., on Leucodermia fertilis, 24 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27087 (KRAM L-74693, LPB); ibid., close to Coyambuyo, between Padcaya and Bermejo, 22º17’23”S, 64º28’50”W, 942 m a.s.l., Tucumano-Boliviano forest with bryophytes, Lauraceae and Meristomataceae, on corticolous Heterodermia cf. spinigera, 26 Jul. 2015, M. Kukwa 16726 (LPB); Burnet O’Connor Province, close to Entre Ríos, new road between Tarija and Entre Ríos, 21º30’47”S, 64º11’49”W, 1338 m a.s.l., disturbed Tucumano-Boliviano forest with shrubs and Tillandsia, on Heterodermia japonica, 28 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27360 (KRAM L-74694, LPB), ibid., on Heterodermia sp., M. Kukwa 16812, 16821 (UGDA L, LPB); la Cumbre close to Entre Ríos, old road between Entre Ríos and Tarija, 21º27’48”S, 64º13’24”W, 1943 m, Boliviano-Tucumano forest with Podocarpus, on Heterodermia comosa, 28 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27392 (KRAM L-74695, LPB), ibid., M. Kukwa 16833a (LPB); ibid., on Heterodermia cf. comosa, 28 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27383 (LPB); ibid., on Leucodermia sp., 28 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27400 (KRAM L-74696, LPB); ibid., 21º27’50”S, 64º12’51”W, 1924 m a.s.l., Boliviano-Tucumano forest with epiphytes exposed NW, on Heterodermia comosa, 30 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27650 (KRAM L-74698, LPB); ibid., 21º25’57”S, 64º19’17”W, 2178 m a.s.l., Boliviano-Tucumano forest close to small river dominated by shrubs, on Leucodermia cf. fertilis, 31 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27780 (LPB); ibid., on Leucodermia leucomelos on twigs, J. Etayo 32928 (LPB); ibid., close to los Pinos, 90 km from Tarija on old road between Entre Ríos and Tarija, 21º25’30”S, 64º19’07”W, 2265 m a.s.l., Boliviano-Tucumano forest dominated by shrubs, with Alnus acuminata, Podocarpus and Ericaceae, on Leucodermia leucomelos, 29 Jul. 2015, A. Flakus 27419 (KRAM L-74697, LPB); ibid., 21º24’50”S, 64º18’33”W, 2149 m a.s.l., on corticolous Leucodermia leucomelos, 29 Jul. 2015, M. Kukwa 16865b (LPB); ibid., close to Soledad, old road between Entrerios and Chuquiaca, 21º39’45”S, 64º07’22”W, 1750 m, Boliviano-Tucumano forest with shrubs and Alnus acuminata, on Leucodermia leucomelos, 31 Jul. 2015, J. Etayo XI-7 (LPB) Notes: Etayo (2002) discussed the morphological similarity of the ascomata of Sphaeronectria lichenophila to the genus Paranectria and pointed out the differences between this species and other fungi of Nectriopsis. These differences are supported by resulting phylogenetic analyses which showed a close relationship between Sphaeronectria and Paranectria rather than Nectriopsis.