A NEW SPECIES OF THE LICHEN GENUS PHYSCIA (LICHEN-FORMING ASCOMYCOTA)FROM TEXAS

A new species of foliose lichen, Physcia solistella Essl. & Egan, is d escribed from central Texas, where it may be endemic. The species is c haracterized by the presence of numerous erect blastidia, and resemble s an over-sized version of P. millegrana Degel., a very common species in much eastern North America. Physcia solistella can be distinguishe d from the latter species by its larger thallus and lobes, larger asco spores, paraplectenchymatous lower cortex, and K+ yellow medulla.