Parmelinopsis cryptochlora (Vain.) Elix & Hale

Parmelia cryptochlora

Parmelia cryptochlora Vainio, 1896, p. 34.

TYPE COLLECTION.—Laudat, Dominica, Elliott 912 (BM, holotype).

DESCRIPTION.—Thallus closely adnate on bark, small, 2–3 cm broad; lobes linear, 1–2 mm wide; upper surface plane, sorediate toward the lobe tips, soralia capitate, up to 1 mm in diameter, the soredia farinose; cilia sparsely developed along the margins, 0.1–0.2 mm long; lower surface black, sparsely rhizinate, the rhizines simple; no apothecia present.

CHEMISTRY.—Cortex K+ yellow (atranorin); medulla K–, C + , KC + rose, P– (gyrophoric acid).

WORLD DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS.—Endemic to Dominica; on hardwoods at mid elevations (600–800 m), entering mossy forest.

The type of P. cryptochlora is so fragmentary that I was previously unable to typify it. From the larger specimens that I collected in Dominica, it can now be placed in section Imbricaria, most closely allied to P. dissecta, an isidiate species. It could be mistaken at first for P. revoluta Floerke, but the soredia are capitate and powdery in contrast to the irregular sorediate-pustulate soralia of P. revoluta. Rhizines are poorly developed but appear unbranched or at most furcate, whereas in P. revoluta the rhizines are at least in major part dichotomously branched.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.—Hale collection: 20 (35–357).