Two New Lichen Species, Thelopsis ullungdoensis and Phylloblastia gyeongsangbukensis from Korea

Two new species, Thelopsis ullungdoensis and Phylloblastia gyeongsangbukensis are described from Ullung-Do (Island), South Korea. The closest relatives from Europe and Korea are epiphytic Thelopsis flaveola which differs by their immersed or semi-immersed yellow ascomata, ascospores without halo and their habitat of smooth bark (mainly Fagus) in humid and cold climates. Thelopsis gangwondoensis differs by its bigger semi-immersed ascomata (600–700 µm in diam.), oblong halonate ascospores (8–12 × 6–8 µm) and its habitat of smooth bark of deciduous trees. P. gyeongsangbukensis differs from its relatives within the genus in having 5-septate ascospores (22–26 × 6–8 µm), semi-immersed, subglobose ascomata with a flattened top (250–400 µm) and a thin, matt, uneven gray-brown to gray-green continuous thallus without isidia.

Two New Lichen Species, Thelopsis ullungdoensis and Phylloblastia gyeongsangbukensis from Korea

Two new species, Thelopsis ullungdoensis and Phylloblastia gyeongsangbukensis are described from Ullung-Do (Island), South Korea. The closest relatives from Europe and Korea are epiphytic Thelopsis flaveola which differs by their immersed or semi-immersed yellow ascomata, ascospores without halo and their habitat of smooth bark (mainly Fagus) in humid and cold climates. Thelopsis gangwondoensis differs by its bigger semi-immersed ascomata (600–700 µm in diam.), oblong halonate ascospores (8–12 × 6–8 µm) and its habitat of smooth bark of deciduous trees. P. gyeongsangbukensis differs from its relatives within the genus in having 5-septate ascospores (22–26 × 6–8 µm), semi-immersed, subglobose ascomata with a flattened top (250–400 µm) and a thin, matt, uneven gray-brown to gray-green continuous thallus without isidia.

Two New Corticolous Buellioid Species from South Korea

Several buellioid specimens were collected from South Korea during field surveys and two new species are described based on morphology, chemistry, and molecular phylogeny. Buellia boseongensis sp. nov. is similar to B. polyspora but differs in having a UV + orange thallus and cryptolecanorine apothecia. Sculptolumina coreana sp. nov., resembles S. japonica, but differs in having a smooth entire continuous thallus, which reacts K–, a narrower excipulum, thicker epihymenium, narrower subhymenium, and in containing secondary metabolites other than flavo-obscurin and myeloconone. A key to the buellioid lichens reported from Korea is also presented.

Cryptothecia austrocoreana (Arthoniales, Arthoniaceae), a New Species from South Korea

Cryptothecia austrocoreana is a new lichen species from South Korea. The species is characterized by the presence of a heteromerous thallus and faveolate ascigerous area (ascomata) immersed in a slightly raised thallus. The species has muriform ascospores, (4)6–8–spored 8–11 × 3–4 septate, (34)36–48(51) × (17)19–23(25) μm. Atranorin, chloroatranorin, and barbatic acid are present. In the phylogenetic tree, C. austrocoreana belongs to the arthonioid clade in Arthoniaceae.

New Species and New Records of Buellia (Lichenized Ascomycetes) from Jeju Province, South Korea

A new species and 2 new records of lichen genus Buellia were discovered from Chuja-do Island in Jeju Province during a recent floristic survey: B. chujana X. Y. Wang, S. Y. Kondr., L. Lőkös & J.-S. Hur sp. nov., B. halonia (Ach.) Tuck., and B. mamillana (Tuck.) W. A. Weber. The new species is characterized by a brown, areolate thallus, the presence of perlatolic acid, and a saxicolous habitat. Together with previously recorded species, 10 Buellia species were confirmed from Jeju-do Island. Among these species, 3 growing in the exposed rocky area contained xanthone (yellowish lichen thallus, UV + orange), indicating that production of xanthone in this genus might be a defense strategy against the harm of UV light. Although the genus Buellia has been thoroughly studied in Korea before, novel species have been discovered continuously, and large species diversity has been found in this crustose genus, even from a small rocky island. This study indicates that the coastal area harbors a vast number of crustose lichen species, and there is great potential to discover unknown lichens in the coastal rocky area in Korea.

Three New Monotypic Genera of the Caloplacoid Lichens (Teloschistaceae, Lichen-Forming Ascomycetes)

Three monophyletic branches are strongly supported in a phylogenetic analysis of the Teloschistaceae based on combined data sets of internal transcribed spacer and large subunit nrDNA and 12S small subunit mtDNA sequences. These are described as new monotypic genera: Jasonhuria S. Y. Kondr., L. Lokos et S. -O. Oh, Loekoesia S. Y. Kondr., S. -O. Oh et J. -S. Hur and Olegblumia S. Y. Kondr., L. Lokos et J. -S. Hur. Three new combinations for the type species of these genera are proposed.

Leiorreuma exaltatum and Trapelia coarctata, New to Korean Lichen Flora

The present account briefly describes two crustose lichen species new to South Korea. Detailed taxonomic descriptions of Leiorreuma exaltatum and Trapelia coarctata, supported by distribution, ecology and illustrations, are provided. Both species were collected from warm-temperate, humid forests of Jeju Island.

Two New Records of the Lichen Genus Placynthiella Elenkin in South Korea

This study describes two new records of the lichen genus Placynthiella (P. hyporhoda and P. icmalea) from South Korea. A brief taxonomic description and comments are provided for the new records. An artificial key is also provided for known species of this genus in South Korea.

Identification of Sculptolumina japonica (Physciaceae) in South Korea

The paper describes identification of new microlichen (Sculptolumina japonica) in South Korea. A detailed taxonomic description and comments are presented for the taxa studied. Lichen genus Sculptolumina is reported for the first time for this country.

Notes on Lichen Genus Buellia De Not. (lichenized Ascomycetes) from South Korea

Based on a literature survey and assessment of the important features of lichen genus Buellia (spore shape and size, anatomy of the exciple as well as analysis of the lichen substances), the present paper describes four new records of B. maritima, B. polyspora, B. spuria and B. stellulata from South Korea. Among them, B. maritima and B. polyspora are firstly reported in East Asia including in China, the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Brief description of all the new records along with earlier described species placed under genus Amandinea and Hafellia are provided with their distribution and chemistry. A key to all the Buellia species reported so far from South Korea is also provided.