Heteroplacidium compactum reported as a genus new to China

Abstract

Three specimens of Heteroplacidium compactum (Verrucariaceae), isolated from arid areas in Northwest China, were identified by morphological and phylogenetic comparisons with other species, including species of Endocarpon and Placidium (common verrucariaceous genera in the same area). This is the first report of Heteroplacidium from China.

Hidden Species Diversity was Explored in Two Genera of Catapyrenioid Lichens (Verrucariaceae, Ascomycota) from the Deserts of China

“…When the BSCs developed to the lichen crust stage, they would contribute to the greater compressive strength and carbon and nitrogen fixation [ 35 , 36 ]. Lichens existing as the crust in the desert regions are very popular, such as Endocarpon and catapyrenioid lichens, which have started to be explored as a species diversity in China [ 37 , 38 ], but due to the small size of the lichen thallus and diverse, continuously changing, and transitional phenotypes, sometimes there will inevitably bring difficulties in correctly recognizing and choosing some related genera and species in the field survey, which then affects the sampling for the further study in the lab especially when we also should consider small sampling for not destroying too much the BSCs, all of which could lead to the missing findings for new taxa and the hidden species diversity in deserts.…”