A new species of Micarea (lichenized Ascomycota, Pilocarpaceae) from alpine Australia

Abstract

Micarea argopsinosa sp. nov. (lichenized Ascomycota, Pilocarpaceae) is described from sheltered granite below the summit of Mt Ginini in the Australian Capital Territory. It has a thin, diffuse, greyish green thallus containing only argopsin, solitary or clustered, jet-black, convex apothecia with a K– and C– hymenium and a hyaline hypothecium, comparatively small 3-septate ascospores, and narrowly oblong to filiform, straight, curved or arcuate macroconidia with (1–)3-septa. A key is provided to distinguish the new species from broadly similar taxa known from Australia and elsewhere.