Cladonia chlorophaea Spreng. 1827

Cladonia chlorophaea (Flörke ex Sommerf.) Spreng. (1827: 273)

(Figs. 2e–f)

Primary thallus persistent, of small, compact squamules that easily erode and in some specimens remain only as a few corticate granules, rarely eroding into ecorticate soredia, epruinose; podetia common, grayish green, short; 0.5–1 (1.5) cm tall, always broadly scyphose and shaped like a cone, i.e., gradually narrowing towards their base; scyphi predominantly simple, very rarely proliferating; surface corticate only at the base, soon becoming completely decorticated; densely sorediate-granulose, the soredia generally of uniform size along the entire surface of the podetium; scyphus rarely with few corticate granules inside; old podetia commonly with large denuded areas lacking soredia; pycnidia hyaline; apothecia not seen.

Spot tests and chemistry: P+ orange red, K−, C−, KC−, UV−; fumarprotocetraric acid.

Distribution and ecology: Newly reported from the Galapagos Islands. Known from Floreana, Isabela, Pinzón, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Santiago Island; a common species in the humid and transition zone, rarely also in the dry zone; typically on the ground, often on plant debris or rotten wood.

Notes: The species can be identified by its abundant, granulose soredia of a more or less uniform size across its podetial surface. Cladonia subsquamosa is very similar but generally has farinose soredia of less uniform size interspersed with granules and microsquamules. At first glance the species also resembles C. pyxidata, which, however, generally has broader scyphi with a corticate surface disintegrating into corticate granules, not forming ecorticate soredia.

Selected specimens examined: ECUADOR. GALAPAGOS: Floreana Island, Cerro Alieri, 1°17’18”S, 90°26’60”W, 380 m, zona húmeda, rama de Macraea laricifolia, sobre corteza, 27 Mar 2006, Simbaña, W. 572 (CDS 32407), caldera of Cerro Pajas, trail at the end of road leading up to crater rim, 1°17’54.29”S, 90°27’22.5”W, humid zone, forest, on soil, 2 Jan 2010, Hillmann, G. GAL-61 (CDS 44839). Isabela Island, Volcán Alcedo, in the crater near fumaroles, 0°27’1”S, 91°7’19”W, 780 m, transition zone, on rock, 7 Mar 2006, Aptroot, A. 64790 (CDS 31365); Volcán Cerro Azul, S slope above Iguana Cove, crater on SE-slope, 800 m, humid zone, vegetation dominated by ferns and mosses, 22 June 1976, Sipman, H.J.M. L-56 (COLO 297904); Volcán Darwin, southwestern slope, above Tagus Cove, 0°13’27”S, 91°19’19.5”W, 874 m, transition zone, on soil and plant debris, 15 Nov 2007, Bungartz, F. 7727 (CDS 38231), southwestern slope, above Tagus Cove, 0°13’11.4”S, 91°19’14.1”W, 955 m, transition zone, on soil, 14 Nov 2007, Bungartz, F. 7624 (CDS 38126); Volcán Sierra Negra, El Mango, on the E-side of the dirt road, 0°53’1.7”S, 91°0’50.8”W, 162 m, transition zone, on soil, 15 Aug 2008, Bungartz, F. 8222 (CDS 40868); Volcán Alcedo, on the crater rim near the hut, 0°26’33”S, 91°5’31”W, 1100 m, humid zone, on rock, 3 July 2006, Aptroot, A. 65255 (CDS 31841). Pinzón Island, along the trail going up from Playa Escondida, N- to W-facing cliff above a crater, 0°36’29”S, 90°40’14”W, 318 m, transition zone, on rock, 16 Feb 2006, Bungartz, F. 3659 (CDS 27477). San Cristóbal Island, rim of crater to the NW of Media Luna, inland from the NW-coast, 0°43’51”S, 89°18’55”W, 149 m, transition zone, on rock, 22 Apr 2007, Bungartz, F. 6304 (CDS 34516). Santa Cruz Island, at base of barranco on old trail, 20 m, dry zone, on rock, 11 Apr 1976, Weber, W.A. (CDS 10807, QCA), trail from above Mina Granillo Rojo, leading south towards Cerro Crocker, 0°37’45.79”S, 90°22’0.4”W, 682 m, humid zone, on soil, 29 May 2008, Bungartz, F. 8001 (CDS 39036), above Mina Granillo Rojo, on the N-side of the island, 0°37’7.5”S, 90°21’55.5”W, 607 m, transition zone, on rock, 8 July 2008, Clerc, P. 08-43 (CDS 39897). Santiago Island, summit of Cerro Gavilán, inner N- and NE-exposed crater rim, 0°12’20”S, 90°47’3”W, 840 m, humid zone, on rock, 23 Mar 2006, Aptroot, A. 65693 (CDS 32285).