Sucioplaca – Facesoffungi number: FoF 13614

Sucioplaca Bungartz, Søchting & Arup, gen. nov.

MycoBank number: MB 836961; Index Fungorum number: IF 836961; Facesoffungi number: FoF 13614;

Generic type: Sucioplaca diplacia (Ach.) Bungartz, Søchting & Arup, ibid.

Diagnosis: Thallus saxicolous on coastal rocks, crustose, rimose, often sorediate, bluish gray. Apothecia rare, lecanorine, asci clavate, of Teloschistes-type, with 8 spores. Ascospores polaribilocular, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose with a thick septum. Phylogenetically Sucioplaca occupies a very isolated position on a distinct clade in Caloplacoideae with presently only one species.

Chemistry: Thallus with atranorin, isofulgidin, vicanicin and caloploicin.

Etymology: The genus name is a combination of the syllables ‘-placa’ hinting at Caloplaca (from which species in the genus were transferred), and the Spanish word ‘sucio-’, meaning ‘dirty’, a reference to the dust-rich habitats close to the ground, where the only known species typically grows.

Known distribution: Widely distributed and common in Central America, particularly around the Caribbean Sea.

Species