Pseudocyphellaria crocata (Ascomycota: Lobariaceae) in the Americas is revealed to be thirteen species, and none of them is P. crocata

We provide a phylogenetic revision of the Pseudocyphellaria crocata complex in the Americas. Specimens traditionally identified as P. crocata, based on their cyanobacterial photobiont, yellow pseudocyphellae, at least partially white medulla, and yellow soralia or soralia-like structures, are shown to represent 13 distinct species, forming a monophyletic group divided into four large clades, three comprising one species each and one containing eight species, plus two taxa for which no molecular data are available. Seven species correspond to what was previously recognized as P. crocata and one to P. dozyana, whereas a further one is identified as the sorediate counterpart of the usually apotheciate taxon P. lechleri and another as a pseudosorediate morph of the usually phyllidiate species P. neglecta. Surprisingly, none of the species represents P. crocata s. str., which must therefore be excluded from the American lichen biota. The 13 recognized species include three species new to science and three new combinations: P. citrina (Gyeln.) L ucking, Moncada & S. Stenroos, comb. nov. [bas.: Cyanisticta citrina Gyeln., nom. nov. pro Sticta citrina Pers. nom. illeg.], P. desfontainii (Delise) Vain., P. deyi L ucking, sp. nov., P. dozyana (Mont. & Bosch) D. J. Galloway, P. epiflavoides (Gyeln.) L ucking, Farkas & L} ok os, comb. nov. [bas.: Cyanisticta epiflavoides Gyeln.], P. hawaiiensis H. Magn., P. hillii (C. W. Dodge) D. J. Galloway, P. holarctica McCune, L ucking & Moncada, sp. nov., P. lechleri (M ull. Arg.) Du Rietz, P. neglecta (M ull. Arg.) H. Magn., P. punctata Lendemer, L ucking & Moncada sp. nov., P. sandwicensis (Zahlbr.) Moncada & L ucking, comb. nov. [bas.: Sticta crocata f. sandwicensis Zahlbr.], and P. xanthosticta (Pers.) Moncada & L ucking. Based on sequenced specimens, a neotype is selected for P. citrina and epitypes for P. hawaiiensis, P. lechleri, P. sandwicensis and P. xanthosticta. A key to all sorediate or pseudosorediate species of this complex in the Americas is presented, and all species are described, discussed and illustrated.