NEW RECORDS OF LICHENS AND LICHENICOLOUS FUNGI FROM KENYA AND TANZANIA (EAST AFRICA) 2

Abstract

Collections of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi were studied from Kenya (2000, 2023) and Tanzania (1989, 1990) analysing the usual morphological, anatomical characters, as well as secondary chemistry by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Altogether 57 species of lichen-forming fungi and five species of lichenicolous fungi have been recognised in the investigated collections. The following 7 species of lichens, Flavoparmelia pachydactyla (Hale) Hale, Hypogymnia subobscura (Vain.) Poelt, Hypotrachyna microblasta (Vain.) Hale, Montanelia disjuncta (Erichsen) Divakar, A. Crespo, Wedin & Essl., Parmotrema pilosum (Stizenb.) Krog & Swinscow, Usnea aristata Mot. and Xanthoparmelia phaeophana (Stirton) Hale are new distribution records for Tanzania. Additionally, the species Hypogymnia subobscura (Vain.) Poelt is newly recorded for East Africa. The records of lichenicolous fungi presented from East Africa are the Biatoropsis usnearum Räsänen species complex, Didymocyrtis melanelixiae (Brackel) Diederich, R.C. Harris & Etayo, Echinothecium hypogymniae Zhurb. (new for East Africa), Lichenoconium erodens M.S. Christ. & D. Hawksw. and Roselliniella africana Diederich (new for Tanzania).