Phylogeny, morphology and chemistry reveal two new multispored species in the Lecanorasubfusca group (Lecanoraceae, Ascomycota)

Two new multispored species from China, Lecanoraanhuiensis Li J. Li & Printzen, sp. nov. and Lecanorapseudojaponica Li J. Li & Printzen, sp. nov. are described and illustrated here, based on morphological, chemical and molecular evidence. Lecanoraanhuiensis is characterised by an epruinose, yellowish-brown to deep brown apothecial disc, an epihymenium with fine crystals, an amphithecium with small crystals, 16-spored asci and the presence of zeorin, in addition to atranorin. Lecanorapseudojaponica is characterised by an epruinose, red-brown apothecial disc, an epihymenium without crystals, an amphithecium with small crystals, 8 or 16- spored asci and the presence of zeorin and the stictic acid complex, in addition to atranorin. Phylogenetic reconstructions, based on mtSSU, nrITS and nrLSU suggest that these two species are members of the Lecanorasubfusca group. They are compared with morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species, based on a nrITS dataset. Phylogenetic results show that the multispored taxa of Lecanora are polyphyletic. The number of ascospores per ascus appears to be a taxonomic character of minor importance. Detailed descriptions, discussions and figures for the two new species from China and a key for the multispored species of Lecanora worldwide are provided.