A revision of the lichen genus Micarea (Pilocarpaceae) in Belarus, with a key to the species

Abstract

As a result of the revision of the herbarium material stored at the V. F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (MSK), 17 lichen species from the genus Micarea have been identified for Belarus, of which six are reported for the first time for the republic: M. byssacea, M. microareolata, M. nowakii, M. pusilla, M. pseudomicrococca, and M. soralifera. In addition, four other species are known for Belarus according to the literature. In general, the paper provides a list of 21 Micarea species. The distinguishing characters, differences from similar species, distribution in Belarus, as well as phytocoenotic and substrate confinement are discussed for each of them. A key for identification of Micarea species in Belarus is given.