Coenogonium (lichenized Ascomycota: Coenogoniaceae) was last treated in Aotearoa | New Zealand by Galloway (2007), who accepted nine species, with a further species subsequently described, bringing the total to 10 species. Since this treatment, mounting evidence has indicated that Coenogonium luteum (Dicks.) Kalb & Lücking may constitute a species complex in New Zealand collections, highlighting the need for a comprehensive taxonomic re-evaluation. Specimens of C. luteum were examined from multiple New Zealand herbaria, with a focus on those from Auckland War Memorial Museum (AK), University of Otago (OTA) and Unitec (UNITEC). The results of this indicated that collections of C. luteum sensu lato included multiple taxa. Here, we present a revised circumscription of C. luteum for New Zealand material, report two new records for Aotearoa, C. australiense Kantvilas & Lücking and C. pineti (Ach.) Lücking & Lumbsch, and describe two new species: C. hepatiphilum C.J. James sp. nov. and C. goniocystosum C.J. James sp. nov. For all five species, we provide morphological descriptions, ecological notes, distribution data, conservation assessments and a revised key to Coenogonium in Aotearoa. In addition, we synonymize C. pertenue (Stirt.) Kalb & Lücking with C. luteum and C. tomentosum Müll. Arg. with C. implexum Nyl.
Keywords: Aotearoa | New Zealand, Coenogonium, lichen taxonomy, lichenized mycobiota, new species, new synonyms
Full text: PDF (Eng) 5.44M