TYPE:

USA, North Carolina: Graham County, Nantahala National Forest, Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, vicinity of the summit of Hangover Mountain, approximately 4 mi SW of Tapoco, and approximately 5.3 mi W of the N end of Santeetlah Lake, 5,160 ft, heath bald community dominated by ericaceous shrubs (Rhododendron, Vaccinium, Kalmia) and exposed rock with sparse Acer, Betula, and Ilex, 30.ix.2014, on Rhododendron, Allen 4018 & Lendemer (NY, holotype).

Diagnosis.

Similar to Japewia subaurifera Muhr & Tønsb., but differing in the production of norstictic acid, characters of the apothecia which suggest placement in Japewiella (i.e., well-developed proper exciple with radiating hyphae, branched and anastomosing paraphyses), and size and shape of the ascospores (narrowly elongate ellipsoid and 12–14 × 4.3–5.5 μm vs. broadly ellipsoid and 15–22 × 12–17 μm in J. subaurifera).

Description.

Thallus crustose, varying from endo- to episubstratal, sorediate, when episubstratal continuous, becoming cracked and superficially appearing areolate, forming ± circular thalli 2–6 cm sometimes coalescing to forming extensive colonies several feet in diameter, greenish-gray to brown. Prothallus indistinct and colorless, not fibrous. Hyphae [1.5]–(2.2)–3.2–(4.3)–[5.7] μm (n = 72) wide. Soralia erupting and breaking through the surface of the thallus or substrate, flat to moderately convex and rounded, greenish-gray to brown, greenish-gray in outer areas sometimes grading to brown in central areas, punctiform, discrete, with age edges becoming poorly defined and often merging with adjacent soralia to form irregular, diffuse sorediate patches. Soredia globose [10.9]–(16.2)–23.8–(31.4)–[49.9] μm (n = 108) diameter, ecorticate, well organized and discrete, often forming aggregates; brown pigments dissolving in KOH. Apothecia very rare, known only from populations on Haoe Mountain, reddish brown, shiny with biatorine exciple. Epihymenium red-brown to olive-brown, pigment present in both the gelatinous matrix and the apical cell walls of the paraphyses, 10–30 μm thick. Hymenium hyaline, 30–50 μm thick, I+ blue. Paraphyses hyaline except in the terminal cell which has brown pigmented walls, simple and little branched or anastomosed, 1–2 μm wide, apical cell weakly enlarged and with a distinctive thick gelatinous sheath. Hypothecium hyaline, 50–80 μm thick. Exciple composed of branched and radiating hyphae that have a thick gelatinous wall and contrast strongly with the organization of the adjacent hypothecium, internally hyaline transitioning to light or dark red-brown in the outer portions, 50–100 μm thick. Asci Lecidella-type, 33.1–33.4 × 12.5–15 μm. Ascospores simple, hyaline, elongate-ellipsoid, with a single wall and lacking a gelatinous epispore, [12]–(12.1)–13.3–(14.4)–[13.7] × [4.3]–(3.8)–4.4–(5.0)–[5.5] μm (n = 27). Photobiont coccoid, green, cells globose [5]–(6.3)–8–(9.7)–[14.4] μm (n = 105) diameter.

Chemistry.

Norstictic and connorstictic acids. Spot tests: K+ yellow turning red (producing red crystals in a water mount), KC−, C−, P+ yellow, UV−.

Etymology.

Japewiella dollypartoniana is named in honor of Dolly Parton, one of the most famous country singers of all time and a native of the southern Appalachians. Ms. Parton rose to stardom from humble beginnings in the mountains of eastern Tennessee on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains where this species grows abundantly (Parton 1995). Over her career she has written thousands of songs, starred in influential movies, as well as been nominated for and won numerous awards. Her tireless efforts have led to national and even global attention for one of America's most scenic and biologically significant regions.

Ecology and Distribution.

The new species is widely distributed in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America where it occurs from Maine south to Georgia, USA (Figure 2C). Its core distribution appears to be centered in the southern Appalachian Mountains where it is common and often abundant on the branches of trees and the stems of saplings and shrubs at middle to high elevations (i.e., >762 m). It is particularly common on heath balds (Figure 2A, 2B). Although it occurs in the central and northern Appalachians, the species is much less common there and is instead replaced by Ropalospora viridis (Tønsberg) Tønsberg which has a similar ecology.

Figure 2.

Ecology and distribution of Japewiella dollypartoniana. A–B, high-elevation heath balds where the species is most commonly found in the southern Appalachians (photographs by S. McKenzie). C, known distribution of the species.

As is the case with other temperate Appalachian species such as pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill), Japewiella dollypartoniana is also found in the Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey and Long Island, New York (for discussion of this biogeographic pattern, see Heusser 1998). In the northern portions of its range J. dollypartoniana is typically found on the branches of conifers (Chamaecyparis, Pinus) in swamp forests which may exhibit humidity similar to high-elevation habitats that the species occupies elsewhere in its range.

Conservation.

This species is of low conservation concern due to its extensive range and ability to grow on a variety of substrates. If northern or coastal populations were threatened, the southern Appalachian populations would likely act as a stable refuge for Japewiella dollypartoniana.

Discussion.

Japewiella dollypartoniana is one of a handful of common sorediate species that has perplexed us for more than a decade. Indeed it has been reported as an unidentified sterile sorediate crust in several checklists (e.g., Harris and Lendemer 2005, Lendemer and Tripp 2008). Although the morphology of the thallus and presence of norstictic acid are distinctive features, the generic placement of the species was unclear. We long suspected a relationship with Japewia based on the variable pigmentation of the soredia, but were nonetheless uncertain in the absence of fertile material since norstictic acid would be chemically discordant with both Japewia and Japewiella (Tønsberg 1990, Printzen 1999, Kantvilas 2011). The discovery of abundantly fertile populations on a single peak in the Unicoi Mountains of western North Carolina finally allowed us to determine that it is actually an endemic member of the genus Japewiella, a genus which is not otherwise known from the Appalachian Mountains.

The genus Japewiella was originally included within a broad concept of Japewia; however, it was separated from that genus by Printzen (1999) based on a suite of differences in the apothecia, ascospores, and chemistry. Most notably, species of Japewiella differ from Japewia in having apothecia with a prominent (at least in section) proper exciple composed of radiating hyphae (vs. a poorly developed proper exciple composed of hyphae that are undifferentiated from the hamathecium), paraphyses which are abundantly branched and anastomosed (vs. not branched and anastomosing), ascospores that do not have multiple walls, and a thick gelatinous epispore. All of these features are present in J. dollypartoniana and suggest that placement in Japewiella is appropriate. The one discordant feature of J. dollypartoniana is the production of norstictic acid, as all other members of the genus produce either atranorin and xanthones or atranorin and other unrelated substances (Kantvilas 2011). Additionally, J. dollypartoniana is the first sorediate species to be placed in Japewiella. However, the discovery of a sorediate member of the genus is not unexpected considering that Japewia comprises two species, one sorediate (J. subaurifera) and one that is not (J. tornoënsis (Nyl.) Tønsberg). A key distinguishing the new species from all other species of Japewia and Japewiella is provided below.

When apothecia are present it is unlikely that Japewiella dollypartoniana will be confused with any other crustose lichen in eastern North America. Nonetheless, since fertile populations are known from only a single location, most readers are likely to encounter J. dollypartoniana in a sterile state. When sterile, J. dollypartoniana can be recognized by the combination of the production of norstictic acid and the color of the soredia which are either light green-brown or dark brown. There are few sympatric species with which J. dollypartoniana can be confused. The most likely cause of confusion is Buellia griseovirens (Turner ex Borr. & Sm.) Almb., a northern boreal species that also produces norstictic acid, although always in addition to atranorin (Allen and Lendemer 2013). In addition to the difference in chemistry, the soredia of B. griseovirens typically have a distinctive dark blue-gray or green-gray coloration that contrasts strongly with a thick white thallus (Allen and Lendemer 2013). Odd forms of Mycoblastus caesius (Coppins & P. James) Tønsberg with a thallus that is lighter gray than usual can also be confused with J. dollypartoniana. That species is also common at high elevations in the southern Appalachian Mountains and closer to sea level in the northern Appalachians. Nonetheless it can be easily separated from J. dollypartoniana by the presence of a dark blue-black prothallus and by the production of perlatolic acid instead of norstictic acid.

Selected Specimens Examined.

USA. CONNECTICUT. Litchfield Co.: Holleran Swamp Preserve, 10.ix.2003, on Pinus branch, Harris 47972 (NY). WINDAM CO.: Windham Bog, S of US 6, 20.ix.2009, on Chamaecyparis twigs, Harris 55734 (NY). GEORGIA. Rabun Co.: Chattahoochee National Forest, Rabun Bald, 20.ix.1996, on Kalmia, Harris 38989 (NY). Union Co.: Chattahoochee National Forest, along Duncan Ridge Trail from Wildcat Gap to Coosa Bald, 6.x.1998, on Nyssa, Harris 42540 (NY), on Betula, Harris 42554 (NY). MAINE. Hancock Co.: Donnell Pond Maine Public Reserve Lands, Black Mountain, East Black Peak, 5.vi.2012, on Picea branch, Lendemer 32331 & Moroz (NY). Washington Co.: Dyer Neck, Eagle Hill, 24.vii.2006, on Pinus, Harris 52843 (NY). York Co.: Ferry Beach State Park, Tupelo Swamp, 15.ix.2002, on Vaccinium, Harris 46361 (NY). NEW JERSEY. Burlington Co.: Bass River State Park, along Dans Bridge Rd., E of Lake Absegami, 12.v.2007, on Chamaecyparis, Lendemer 8914 & Moroz (NY). NEW YORK. Suffolk Co.: Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve, 20.ix.1986, on Chamaecyparis, Harris 19438 (NY). NORTH CAROLINA. Graham Co.: Nantahala National Forest, Cherohala Skyway [NC143], Stratton Ridge, 1.x.1997, on Acer, Harris 41002 (NY), Nantahala National Forest, Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, summit of Hangover Mt., 30.ix.2014, on Sambucus, Lendemer 43895 & Allen (NY); Nantahala National Forest, Huckleberry Knob, 30.ix.2014, on Fagus, Lendemer 43968 & Allen (NY). Haywood Co.: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, summit of Purchase Knob, 20.vi.2011, on hardwood, Lendemer 29341 & Davoodian (NY). Jackson Co.: Nantahala National Forest, Panthertown Valley, vicinity of Schoolhouse Falls, 29.iv.2006, on twig, Buck 50127 (NY). Macon Co.: Nantahala National Forest, N slope of Wayah Bald along Appalachian Trail, 12.x.1998, on Vaccinium, Harris 42818 (NY). Swain Co.: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 0–2 mi SE of jct w/Welch Ridge Trail/Cold Spring Gap Trail, above Poplar Flats Campground, 6.viii.2012, on Oxydendrum, Tripp 3419 & Lendemer (NY); Nantahala National Forest, Cheoah Wilderness, Cheoah Bald, 23.ix.2013, on Amelanchier, Lendemer 43688 & Allen (NY). Transylvania Co.: Gorges State Park, along Grassy Ridge Rd., Grassy Ridge, 9.viii.2005, on Acer, Lendemer 4741 & Tripp (NY). PENNSYLVANIA. Fayette Co.: Ohiopyle State Park, along the Great Allegheny Passage paralleling the Youghiogheny River, 28.iv.2012, on fallen branch, Harris 57410 (NY). Franklin Co.: 1.vi.2009, on Acer, Lendemer 18152 (NY). Tioga Co.: Tioga State Forest, W-facing slopes of S end of Callahan Hill, 14.v.2009, on Pinus branch, Lendemer 16891 (NY). Pike Co.: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 23.iv.2004, on branch, Harris 49509 (NY). UNION CO.: Bald Eagle State Forest, The Hook Natural Area, 13.ix.2010, on Acer, Lendemer 25252 (NY). RHODE ISLAND. Washington Co.: Marion Eppley Wildlife Sanctuary, ~1.5 mi NE of Usquepaug, 16.ix.2006, on Acer, Harris 53167 (NY). TENNESSEE. Blount Co.: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, between Flint Gap and Hannah Mt. on Hannah Mountain Trail, 9.viii.2012, on Acer, Tripp 3600 & Lendemer (NY). Cocke Co.: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, summit of Mt. Cammerer, 21.x.2012, on Rhododendron, Lendemer 33400 & Moroz (NY). VERMONT. Caledonia Co.: Wheelock Farm, NW shore of Flagg Pond, 22.x.2010, on Alnus, Lendemer 27579 & Sundue (NY). VIRGINIA. Smyth Co.: Jefferson National Forest, Whitetop Mountain, 5.iv.2009, on Rhododendron, Harris 54126 (NY).