Contribution to the knowledge of the distribution of <i>Parmelia</i> species (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) – New records confirmed by molecular data

Abstract

The first records of&lt;i&gt; Parmelia ernstiae&lt;/i&gt; from Madeira, as well as the new localities of &lt;i&gt;P. encryptata&lt;/i&gt; from Poland and &lt;i&gt;P. sulcata&lt;/i&gt; from Chile, are presented. All records are confirmed by molecular data, BLAST search, and haplotype network analysis of the nucITS rDNA sequences. The discussion on the morphology and secondary chemistry of all three species is provided with notes on their distribution and similar taxa. &lt;i&gt;Parmelia encryptata&lt;/i&gt; is a rarely reported cryptic species that is morphologically indistinguishable from &lt;i&gt;P. sulcata&lt;/i&gt;, and its identification requires molecular data. New localities of &lt;i&gt;P. encryptata&lt;/i&gt; from northern Poland suggest that the taxon may be widespread in the country and not confined to large forests but also present in open areas on free-standing trees. Moreover, a new nucITS rDNA haplotype of the species is reported. &lt;i&gt;Parmelia ernstiae&lt;/i&gt; is a near-cryptic species, morphologically and chemically very similar to &lt;i&gt;P. saxatilis&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;P. serrana&lt;/i&gt;. Two specimens of the species from Madeira have sublinear lobes with marginal and laminal isidia, unlike most specimens of P. ernstiae, having short, broad lobes with laminal isidia, and thus are morphologically closer to &lt;i&gt;P. saxatilis&lt;/i&gt; in lobe shape and to &lt;i&gt;P. serrana&lt;/i&gt; in placement of isidia. However, the BLAST search and haplotype analysis of nucITS rDNA sequences placed these specimens in &lt;i&gt;P. ernstiae&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;Parmelia sulcata&lt;/i&gt;, a common species in the Northern Hemisphere, is rare elsewhere, and only two records confirmed by molecular data were known from South America. The nucITS rDNA haplotype of two new and two previous records of the species represent the most common haplotype of the species known from the Northern Hemisphere.