The systematic position, the delimitation and even the distinction of the genera Tomasellia A. Massal. and Mycoporum Nyl. are still rather controversial (e.g. see Harris 1995, Lumbsch 1999, Smith & al. 2009). The two genera, which were earlier treated by Migula (1929-31) and Keissler (1936-38) include several species which initiate their ascocarp development by production of an ascostroma. All species of Tomasellia appear to be non-lichenized (see e.g. Wirth 2009), whereas Mycoporum seems to include both lichenized and non-lichenized species (see e.g. Dietrich & Bürgi-Meyer 2012). Some non-lichenized species formerly assigned to Mycoporum are now included in Cyrtidula Minks.
This small key includes all species of Mycoporum and Tomasellia known to occur in Italy, plus a species reported from the Alps outside Italy, and to be looked for in the Italian Alps, for a total of 5 taxa.

References

Dietrich M., Bürgi-Meyer K. 2012. Spuren des Urner Naturforschers Anton Gisler (1820- 1888) im Flechtenherbar von Fintan Greter (1899-1984) am Natur-Museum Luzern (NMLU) - Lithographa tesserata (DC.) Nyl. im 19. Jh. in der Schweiz nachgewiesen. Meylania, 49: 19-26.
Harris R.C. 1995 More Florida lichens, including a 10c tour of the pyrenolichens. Botanical Garden, New York.
Keissler K. von 1936-38. Die Flechtenparasiten. Rabenhorst's Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, ed. 2, 8 (5,4): 1-712.
Lumbsch H.T. 1999. The ascoma development in Mycoporum elabens (Mycoporaceae, Dothideales). Plant Biology, 1, 3: 321-326.
Migula W. 1929-31. Flechten (Teile 1 und 2). Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, 4: 557 + 868 pp.
Smith C.W., Aptroot A., Coppins B.J., Fletcher A., Gilbert O.L., James PW., Wolseley P.A. (eds.) 2009. The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland. British Lichen Society, London. 1046 pp.
Wirth V. 2009. Tomasellia diffusa nach 150 Jahren in Deutschland wieder entdeckt. Herzogia 22: 323-326

Last modified: September, 28, 2022

Project Dryades, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste - CC BY-SA 4.0