Sarcogyne is a genus of the Acarosporaceae which includes c. 28 species growing on calcareous and siliceous rocks, less commonly on soil, and has the highest diversity in temperate and semi-arid regions (especially in Europe, North Africa and North America), similar to the related genus Polysporina, with c. 10 species, which also includes a few parasitic taxa. While variability in some of the most common species of Sarcogyne has prompted the description of numerous infraspecific taxa, several taxa may have been inadequately collected and documented, and remain poorly understood. The molecular study of Acarosporaceae by Westberg & al. (2015) showed that the occurrence of strongly black pigmented (carbonised or melanised) ascomata has arisen secondarily and independently numerous times in the evolution of this group and that the Acarosporaceae as currently circumscribed fall into two major clades, centred on Acarospora s.str. and Sarcogyne, with species such as A. badiofusca, A. macrocarpa and A. glaucocarpa recovered in the Sarcogyne-clade (Westberg & al. 2015, Knudsen & al. 2020). Species previously assigned to Polysporina are found within both clades, and redistributed accordingly. Further study is required also on the delimitation of the species. The present key includes the 20 infraspecific taxa hitherto reported from Italy (including 2 species presently in Acarospora), plus 3 species which are known from neighbouring countries and should be looked for in Italy. A comprehensive key was published by Roux & al. (2019). Relevant information on Sarcogyne-species, with a key to European taxa, is also provided by Knudsen & Kocourková (2018) and Knudsen & al. (2021, 2023). Hymenial reactions with Lugol’s solution (IKI) should be assessed following the protocol by Knudsen & Kocourková (2018b).

References

Knudsen K., Kocourková J. 2018a – Sarcogyne praetermissa (Acarosporaceae), a new calcicolous lichen species from Europe, with a key to the European Sarcogyne species. Herzogia, 31, 1: 133-139.
Knudsen K., Kocourková J. 2018b. Two new calciphytes from Western North America, Acarospora brucei and Acarospora erratica (Acarosporaceae). Opuscula Philolichenum, 17: 242-250.
Knudsen K., Kocourková J., Cannon P., Coppins B., Flechter A., Simkin J. 2021. Revisions of British and Irish Lichens.12. Acarosporaceae. British Lichen Society, ISSN 2634-7768, 25 pp.
Knudsen K., van Zon S., Tsurykau A., Kocourková J., Hodková E., Huereca A. Malíček J. 2023. Sarcogyne (Acarosporaceae) on calcareous rock in Europe and North America. Herzogia, 36, 1: 52-71.
Roux C., Poumarat S., Gueidan C., Navarro–Rosines P., Monnat J.-Y., Houmeau J.M. 2019. La Acarosporaceae de Okcidenta Eŭropo. Bull. Soc. linn. Provence, 70: 107-167.
Westberg M., Millanes A., Knudsen K., Wedin M. 2015. Phylogeny of Acarosporaceae (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota, Fungi) and the evolution of carbonized ascomata. Fungal Divers., 73: 145-158.

Last modified: September, 2, 2024

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