Jejulea byssolomoides gen. et sp. nov., a Remarkable Pilocarpaceae (Lichen-Forming Ascomycetes) from Jeju Island, South Korea

The new genus and species, Jejulea byssolomoides, is described from Jeju Island, Korea. This lichen is characterized by saxicolous, crustose, pale greenish-gray, partly finely filamentous, matt, smooth thallus, prominent convex brown to dark brown ascomata with a concolorous margin constricted at the dark brown base, 300-800 mu m diameter, 200-250 mu m high, without a distinct proper margin, adhering to the substratum ending in a minute byssoid white external part of cylindrical cells, fusiform 3-5 septate ascospores (17-23 x 4-5 mu m). Phylogenetic analyses using ITS and mtSSU sequences place Jejulea in the Pilocarpaceae (Lecanorales). The new taxon is closely related to Byssoloma, a cosmopolitan group of foliicolous lichens, which is most diverse in the tropics. Like Byssoloma, Jejulea also forms a byssoid apothecial margin.

Automated summary

This study describes a new species of lichen, Jejulea byssolomoides, from Jeju Island, Korea, and provides its characteristics and phylogenetic position. The new taxon is closely related to Byssoloma in the family Pilocarpaceae.