Circinaria nimisii (Megasporaceae, lichenized Ascomycota), a new manna lichen from Greece

The manna lichens, a group of vagrant species with subfruticose and subfoliose thalli in the genus Circinaria Link, have received attention for millennia. Here, a new manna lichen species, Circinaria nimisii sp. nov. (Megasporaceae), is described and illustrated. This vagrant lichen is found on Mount Olympus in Greece and is the fourth known manna lichen in Europe. The new taxon is characterized by its subfruticose, densely-branched thallus with a muddy, earthy colour, whitish pseudocyphellae on tips of branches, mature apothecia distinctly adnate to stipitate, and paraplectenchymatous cortex tissue. Molecular sequence data from the standard barcoding marker (nrITS) also corroborate the distinction of this species from closely related congeners. Finally, Agrestia zerovii, previously known only from its type locality in Ukraine, is proposed as a new synonym of Circinaria hispida.

Automated summary

A new manna lichen species, Circinaria nimisii sp. nov., is described and illustrated in this study. It is the fourth known manna lichen in Europe and was found on Mount Olympus in Greece. The distinct morphological and molecular characteristics differentiate this species from closely related congeners. Additionally, the study proposes Agrestia zerovii to be a new synonym of Circinaria hispida.