A COMPARISON OF ASCOMA ONTOGENY SUPPORTS THE INCLUSION OF THE EIGLERACEAE IN THE HYMENELIACEA (LECANORALES)

The systematic position of the lichen genus Eiglera is re-evaluated. P reviously this genus was either pierced in the Hymeneliaceae or, since its ascus type differs from that family, ill the Eigleraceae. The con flicting opinions are based on anatomical and isozyme data versus the ascus type. Therefore, the ascoma ontogeny of this genus was examined to obtain further data, and the comparative anatomy and ontogeny of As picilia cinerea, Hymenelia epulotica, Ionaspis lacustris, and, Lobotha llia radiosa were studied. The ascoma ontogeny of all the taxa examine d were rather similar, being weakly hemiangiocarpous, relatively simpl e, and having paraphysoids building the hamathecium of mature fruiting bodies, The ontogenic data suggest that Eiglera should be included in the Hymeneliaceae. The taxonomic importance of the characters examine d is discussed.