Macentina, A Lichen Genus New To Europe

Abstract

The new genus Macentina Vezda was described on the basis of a single species, M. perminuta Vezda, discovered on a collection of leaves from an unidentified tree in Guinea, West Africa (Vgzda, 1973). At the same time as receiving a copy of Dr Vezda's paper, the senior author and Dr F. Rose collected a minute, pale-fruited, pyrenocarpous lichen on Sambucus twigs in Eridge Park, Sussex, which when examined in detail proved to bear a remarkable likeness to the illustrations and description of Macentina perminuta; this similarity was later confirmed by one of us (A. V.). In view of the occurrence of several minor anatomical differences and also the markedly different geographical origins and habitats the Sussex collection is recognized as a new species of Macentina here.

Macentina Stigonemoides (Verrucariaceae), a New Lichenized Species from Great Britain and Ireland

“…Since the description of the genus Macentina and its type species M. perminuta from leaves in West Africa (Vezda 1973), three additional species have been added to the genus: M. abscondita on Sambucus in south-east England (Coppins & Vezda 1977), M. hepaticola on epiphyllous hepatics in Zaire (Dobbeler & Vezda 1982) and M. aurantiaca on Sambucus in Ireland (McCarthy & Vezda 1985). The last has been shown to be a species of Nectria (Orange 1989).…”

Macentinac Dictyospora (Verrucariaceae), A New Lichenized Species From Sweden

“…Five species are currently known from the genus Macentina, including two corticolous species from temperate Europe (Coppins & Vezda 1977, Orange 1989a, and three foliicolous species from tropical Africa (Vezda 1973, Dobbeler & Vezda 1982, Farkas & Vezda, 1987. In 1977 Dr B. J. Coppins and Dr L. Tibell collected a specimen which is referable to the genus Macentina, but which represents an undescribed species.…”

Macentina Aurantiaca, A New Lichen From the Burren, Western Ireland

“…The colour of the ascomata, the anatomy of the ascomatal wall, the absence of paraphyses, the abundance of periphyses and the shape and septation of the ascospores indicated a species of Macentina Vezda quite distinct from those previously known, viz. M. perminuta from Equatorial Guinea (Vezda 1973), M. abscondita from East Sussex [not 'West Sussex' as originally cited] (Coppins & Vezda 1977) and M. hepaticola from Zaire (Dobbeler & Vezda 1982).…”