Corresponding author: H. Thorsten Lumbsch (
Academic editor: G. Rambold
A number of lichen-forming fungal species are widely distributed. Here, we investigate biogeographic patterns in a widely distributed isidiate taxon –
Kirika PM, Divakar PK, Crespo A, Mugambi G, Orock EA, Leavitt SD, Gatheri GW, Lumbsch HT (2016) Phylogenetic studies uncover a predominantly African lineage in a widely distributed lichen-forming fungal species. MycoKeys 14: 1–16. doi:
The advent of DNA sequence technologies and advances in molecular phylogenetic methods have revolutionized our understanding on species delimitation and systematics in lichens and fungi in general (reviewed in
This study aims to assess biogeographic patterns in the widely distributed, isidiate, lichen-forming fungal species internal transcribed spacer region large subunit mitochondrial small subunit
A DNA data matrix was assembled using sequences of nuclear ITS,
Specimens used in this study, with location, reference collection detail and GenBank accession numbers.
Species | Seq/DNA code | Locality | Collector(s) | Voucher specimen | GenBank accession numbers | ||
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ITS |
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15505 | India: Sikkim | Divakar | MAF |
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- |
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BUIS318it | Congo | Mamush s/n | MAF-Lich 15511 |
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BUIS1376I | Madagascar: Col de Tapia N Ambositra | Ertz 12878 (BR) |
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3122 | Brazil: Curitiba | S. Eliasaro | UPCB |
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- | - |
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BRYC56001 | Cameroon: Ekona | Orock | BRYC56001 |
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- | - |
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7653 | India: Sikkim | Chatterjee & Divakar | MAF-7653 |
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322 | India: Uttaranchal | Divakar | MAF |
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3615 | India: South India | Lumbsch et al. | F |
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- | - |
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4678 | Kenya: Eastern | Kirika & Lumbsch, 4678 | EA, F, MAF |
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- |
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4715 | Kenya: Eastern | Kirika & Lumbsch, 4715 | EA, F, MAF |
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9310 | Kenya: Eastern | Kirika, 3432 | EA, F | - |
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9311 | Kenya: Eastern | Kirika, 3487 | EA, F |
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- |
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9312 | Kenya: Eastern | Kirika, Malombe & Matheka, 3703 | EA, F |
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- |
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9397 | Kenya: Rift Valley | Kirika, 3334 | EA, F |
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9398 | Kenya: Rift Valley | Kirika, 3145 | EA, F | - | - |
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9552 | Kenya: Rift Valley | Kirika, Mugambi & Lumbsch, 2815 | EA, F | - |
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9592 | Kenya: Rift Valley | Kirika, Mugambi & Lumbsch, 2974 | EA, F |
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- | - |
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9647 | Kenya: Coast | Kirika & Lumbsch, 4033 | F,EA,MAF |
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9693 | Kenya: Eastern | Kirika, 4280 | F,EA,MAF |
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250204 | China: Yunnan | Crespo, Blanco & Arguello | MAF-L-10411 |
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- |
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3131 | Brazil: Curitiba | S. Eliasaro | UPCB |
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- | - |
Total genomic DNA was extracted from small pieces of thallus devoid of any visible damage or contamination using the USB PrepEase Genomic DNA Isolation Kit (USB, Cleveland, OH) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. We generated sequence data from nuclear ribosomal markers, the ITS region and a fragment of the Polymerase-chain-reaction
New sequences were assembled and edited using GENEIOUS v8.1.7 (
Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum likelihood Bayesian inference Markov Chain Monte Carlo maximum clade credibility
Morphological characters, including lobe shape, size and width, cilia and rhizines were studied using a Leica Wild
Observations and measurements of ascospores were made in water, at 40× (objective) and 10× (eye piece) magnification with a Leica Leitz DM RB microscope. For each species at least 20 spores from different specimens were measured. Mean value standard deviation
A total of 28 new DNA sequences of
Phylogenetic relationships among
Specimens representing
Specimens representing
For clade ‘A’ there are a few potential names available that we studied. For example,
Clades ‘B’ and ‘D’ were each represented by a single specimen from Kenya and Brazil, respectively. The sample from the coastal region of Kenya (clade ‘B’) has a deviating morphology, i.e. very narrow, sublinear and dichotomous lobes, although the specimen from coastal Brazil (clade ‘D’) was more similar to
Our results add a further example to a growing body of evidence of the existence of distinct lineages hidden under currently circumscribed species (reviewed in
KENYA, Eastern Province, Makueni Co., Wote, Ngutwa village, Matooi hill, dry woodland,
Morphologically similar to
The taxon name is in the honor of W.G. Schimper, the first botanist to collect lichens in East Africa.
Thallus foliose, adnate to loosely adnate, 3–7 cm across. Lobes broad, irregularly to subirregularly branched, 3–8 mm wide, rounded crenate, with rotund apices, margins ciliate. Cilia simple, frequent in the lobe axils, 0.1–0.6 mm long. Upper surface grey, grey-green smooth, emaculate, usually pruinose, thallus irregularly cracked towards the centre on older parts, isidiate. Isidia laminal, cylindrical, mostly simple or branched 0.1–0.5 mm high, concolorous with the upper surface. Medulla white. Lower surface black with more than 2 mm broad, brown papillate margins, rhizinate. Rhizines black, evenly distributed, simple, 0.2–1 mm long. Apothecia laminal, adnate to sessile, 1–5 mm in diameter. Disc concave, brown, imperforate. Asci 8-spored. Ascospores ellipsoid to subglobose, 5–10 × 5–7.5 µm (
Morphology of the new species;
At present the new species is known from Kenya, Cameroon and South India. It occurs in montane regions and in dry woodland areas. It is predominantly corticolous and sometimes saxicolous rarely terricolous, found corticolous on
KENYA. Eastern Prov.: Marsabit Co., Marsabit National Park, Lake Paradise, disturbed forest on ridge,
Newly obtained DNA sequences were generated in the Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution at the Field Museum and at the Molecular Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid. This study was supported by a grant of the IDP/The Field Museum Africa Training Fund and the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (CGL2013-42498-P).