CORTICOLOUS PYRENOCARPOUS ASCOMYCETES (LICHENIZED AND NON-LICHENIZED)FROM THE SONORAN DESERT (ARIZONA AND MEXICO)

The corticolous pyrenocarpous ascomycetes (lichenized and non-licheniz ed) from the Sonoran Desert (Arizona and Mexico), collected during fie ldwork carried out in the framework of the Sonoran Desert Lichen Flora Project, are documented and keyed out. As deserts are under-collected and usually thought to be poor in ascomycetes, all species but one ar e new to the area. Several normally corticolous ascomycetes were found on Cactaceae and other succulents. Anisomeridium subprostans is repor ted to comprise both lichenized and non-lichenized specimens. A list o f corticolous lichens from nearby California, based on an evaluation o f the literature, suggests that an adjacent, but partly moister area i s much richer in species.