The genus Poeltinula in the Rhizocarpaceae was introduced as a new name for Melanospora Mudd (nom. illeg.) and originally included a single species, P. cerebrina (Hafellner 1984). Later, three more species were included, P. cacuminum, P. cerebrinella, and P. interjecta, the latter currently included in Melaspilea. According to Ihlen & Ekman (2002), however, Rhizocarpon in its current sense is polyphyletic, and can only be made monophyletic if R. hochstetteri is excluded or Poeltinula is included. Möller & al. (2025) emended the genus to include also the Rhizocarpon hochstetteri group. This key includes the 3 species known to occur in Italy, plus 2 other species whose presence in the Italian Alps is possible.

References

Hafellner J. 1984. Studien in Richtung einer natürlicheren Gliederung der Sammelfamilien Lecanoraceae und Lecideaceae. In: Hertel H., Oberwinkler F. (eds.). Beiträge zur Lichenologie. Festschrift J. Poelt. Beihefte zur Nova Hedwigia, 79: 241–371.
Ihlen P.G., Ekman S. 2002. Outline of phylogeny and character evolution in Rhizocarpon (Rhizocarpaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) based on nuclear ITS and mitochondrial SSU ribosomal DNA sequences. Biol. J. Linnean Soc., 77: 535-546.
Möller E.J., Timdal E., Haugan R., Bendiksby M. 2025. Integrative taxonomy and genus delimitation in the Rhizocarpaceae (lichenized Ascomycota). Fungal Syst. Evol., 16: 215-231.

Last modified: August, 8, 2025

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