Gyalolechia pustutata D. L. Niu 2025, sp. nov.

Gyalolechia pustutata D. L. Niu, sp. nov. (FIGURE 3A–F) Fungal Names No.: FN 571858 Diagnosis: Gyalolechia pustutata has schizidia, with distinct marginal lobes, ascospores smaller, 8–10 × 3–5 µm, single-celled with rounded ends, ellipsoid or broader ellipsoid, often with 1–2 oil droplets visible. Type: China, Ningxia, Helanshan National Natural Reserve, Maliankou, on soil, 1671.5 m alt. 38°32’5.6” N, 105°54’38.3” E, 21 Sep 2014, D. L. Niu 14-03-0505 (NXAC – holotype). GenBank Accession no.: PP204168. Thallus crustose, small, 0.2–1.0 cm across, rounded to irregular, with distinct marginal lobe, without whitish pruina. Upper surface yellowish or whitish in the central portion exposing the whitish medulla after the schizidia on the upper surface eroded. Schizidia pustulae-like, usually numerous, especially in the central portion of the thallus, small, 0.5 –1.0 mm wide, spherical or irregular. Upper cortex, pale yellow, with numerous crystals, 60.5–230 µm thick. Algal layer continuous, 135–165µm thick, algal cell spherical, 28.4–32.0 µm in diam. Medulla white, 194–263 µm thick. Lower cortex absent. Lower surface white to pale brown with crystals. Apothecia zeorine, common or rare, appressed to sessile, 0.48–1.1 mm in diameter. Thalline margin yellow, concolor with thallus, containing algae. Proper margin obvious, orange, surrounding the disc, slightly raised above the disc. Disc brown-orange, flat, rarely becoming convex. Hymenium hyaline, 62.5–80 µm high. Epithecium yellow brown, with numerous amorphous particles dissolving in K+ purplish red, 7.5–12.5 µm high. Paraphyses unbranched. Subhymenium and hypothecium colorless, I-, 50.0–55.0 µm, with continuous algal layer present below the hypothecium, 95–117.5 µm thick. Asci clavate, sometimes slightly concave in the middle portion, 46–50 µm, 8–spored. Ascospores single-celled with rounded ends, ellipsoid or broader ellipsoid, sometimes constricted in the center, often with 1–2 oil droplets visible, 8–10 × 3–5 µm. Pycnidia unseen. Chemistry: Spot test: cortex K+ purplish red, C–, medulla K–, C–. parietin, and an unknown depsidone with pink color after acid and heating as major substances detected by TLC. The Rf value of the unknown depsidone is between parietin and emodin. Etymology: The epithet pustutata refers to the schizidia on the thallus like pustulae. Distribution and Ecology: Gyalolechia pustutata has a wide altitude range on Helan Mountain, from 1175 to 2859 m. Gyalolechia pustutata mainly grows on soil, occasionally on moss, and often grows together with Collema sp. and Endocarpon sp. Notes: This taxon was initially identified as ‘ Gyalolechia bracteata ’. However, G. pustuta differs from G. bracteata in its distinct marginal lobes, and upper cortex with numerous crystals. Gyalolechia pustutata clustered with G. cranfieldii, and both have schizidia for asexual propagations. However, G. pustutata is characterized by smaller asci (46–50 µm) and ascospores (8–10 × 3–5 µm) and a thicker upper cortex (60.5–230 µm). Additional specimens examined: China, Neimenggu, Helanshan National Natural Reserve, Taoligou, on soil, 1687 m alt. 38°49’6.87”N, 105°45’36.5”E, 24 May 2023, D. L. Niu 23052450; Nan Temple, on soil, 2859 m alt. 38°38’55.4”N, 105°51’6.03”E, 25 May 2023, D. L. Niu 23052550; Ningxia, Helanshan National Natural Reserve, Gangou, on soil, 1185.2 m alt. 38°30’47.1”N, 106°0’58.1”E, 6 Oct 2014, D. L. Niu 14-08-1170.