Neuropogon and the phylogeny of Usnea s.l. (Parmeliaceae, Lichenized Ascomycetes)

Molecular phylogenies based on the ITS-LSU nrDNA and part of the beta-tubulin region were used to investigate the position of Neuropogon in Usnea s. lat. Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony strongly supported the monophyly of Neuropogon. Subgenus Usnea and Neuropogon form a strongly supported group with subg. Eumitria and subg. Dolichousnea as consecutive monophyletic sister groups. The following generic classification is proposed: Usnea (subgenus Usnea only), Neuropogon, Eumitria, and Dolichousnea. Dolichousnea is elevated to generic rank. Usnea as presently conceived is clearly non-monophyletic but with the present recircumscription it may be monophyletic, or not; this requires further analysis. The genera are well characterised morphologically, and pending further investigations this classification is in agreement with current practice and minimises the need for nomenclatural changes. The following new combinations are made: Dolichousnea (Y. Ohmura) Articus, Dolichousnea longissima (Ach.) Articus, D. trichodeoides (Vain.) Articus, D. diffracta (Vain.) Articus, and Eumitria pectinata (Taylor) Articus.