PART 1

inspersed; hymenial gel IKI-. Ascospores subbiseriate to uniseriate, 4-celled, (30-)36-45(-50) × 12-17(-21)
µm, with a darker pigmented median band and with a brownish apical cap at both ends (outside the exospore)
which in fresh material is often reflexed looking like a little sombrero, gelatinous sheath otherwise not readily
evident.
Harris (1989) cited some of the collections now recognized as P. caryae under P. punctella (Nyl.)
Trevisan where it was noted "The taxonomy of P. punctella requires further work...". Pyrenula caryae was
initially segregated when the presence of lichexanthone was noticed. However, closer study revealed several
correlated characters, the "waxy" thallus, larger ascospores with the very odd apical caps and a strong
tendency to grow on Carya. Eleven of the fifteen known collections are from Carya and the species has been
named for this preference. The substrate of the other four is neither noted on the label nor readily
determinable. The ascospores of P. punctella are 27-38 × 12-18 µm and lack the apical caps but may have
an apical dark spot in the exospore or are weakly apiculate with the apiculus often darkening. Also older
ascospores tend to have a paler zone around the locules not seen in P. caryae. Pyrenula punctella is still
probably not homogeneous. The Coastal Plain collections, mostly on Fraxinus or Magnolia, have a reddish
almost endophloeodal thallus, interior collections, mostly on Fagus, have a whitish or grayish dull epiphloeodal
thallus but I am not as yet prepared to separate them at the species level in a group where the intimate
relation between lichen and substrate give rise to great differences in aspect. Three collections of P. caryae
seem to lack lichexanthone entirely. In fact one of the three collections made at the type locality lacks
lichexanthone. Overall it seems present only in low quantities as the fluorescence is quite weak. Presence or
absence of lichexanthone is sometimes recognized at the specific rank but the unique ascospores allow one
to dismiss such a treatment here. The known distribution of P. caryae may also be distinctive, running in an
arc around the Southern Appalachians from North Carolina to Missouri mainly on the Piedmont although like
P. caryae several also extend into northern Florida. The elevations noted are between 35 m and 900 m.
Gomphillus americanus also fits this pattern and also possibly Cladonia caroliniana Tuck. s. lat. (if usnic acid
only strain is included) and Cresponea premnea (Ach.) Egea & Torrente var. saxicola (Leighton) Egea &
Torrente.
Additional specimens. ALABAMA. Cleburne County: 2 mi NE of Heflin, 23 Oct 1964, Johnson
(NY);Tuscaloosa County: near Rickey, 24 Oct 1964, Johnson (NY). ARKANSAS. Washington/Crawford County:
Devil's Den State Park, 9 Jun 1961, Johnson (NY). FLORIDA. Holmes County: along St. Rd. 2 just E of
Choctawhatchee River, 10 Dec 1993, Buck 24686 (NY). GEORGIA. Towns/Rabun County: Chattahooche
National Forest, along Appalachian Trail between Dick's Creek Gap and Little Bald Knob, 825-900 m, 21 Sep
1992, Harris 28115 (NY). MISSISSIPPI. Itawamba County: Donivan Slough, Mile 283.3 along Natchez Trace, c.
35 m, 28 Sep 1992, Harris 28633 (NY); Lee County: near Tupelo, 31 Dec 1952, Johnson 1041A, 1046B (NY);
Pearl River County: 1 mi S of Carriere, 14 Jun 1939, Johnson 1118 (NY). MISSOURI. Carter County: Bluff on E
side of Current River across from Big Spring S of Van Buren, 23 Sep 1990, Harris 25633 (NY); Iron County: as
type, Harris 31190, 31204 (NY). NORTH CAROLINA. Graham County: Horse Cove Campground, Nantahala
National Forest, 3 Oct 1987, Buck 15387 (NY); Haywood County: Great Somky Mtns. Natl. Park, Big Creek,
45 mi ESE of Knoxville, 2000-2300 ft, 25 Aug 1977, Wetmore 29850 (MIN); Macon County: McDowell
Mountain, Nantahala National Forest, 640-945 m, oak-hickory woods, 12 Aug 1994, Harris 33192 (NY).
SOUTH CAROLINA. Chester County: Chester, [Green?] (NY).
Pyrenula concastroma R. C. Harris, sp. nov.
Characteribus internis ut P. concatervanti sed ascomatis inclusis in pseudostromatis trypethelioidibus.
Type. PUERTO RICO. Salinas de Guánica, 27 Dec 1930, Britton & Britton 9602 (NY, holotype).
Thallus grayish brown, corticate, not pseudocyphellate, UV-. Pseudostromata sessile, constricted at
base, mostly oval, ca. 2 × 1 mm, occasionally fused into larger groups, brown, filled with large oxalate(?)
crystals and a whitish powder bleeding yellow in KOH. Ascomata many/pseudostroma with apical ostioles.
Hymenium not inspersed. Hymenial gel IKI+ orangish. Asci with 8 biseriate ascospores. Ascospores 4-
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