Bull. Natn. Sci. Mus., Tokyo, Ser. B, 22(2), pp. SS- 57, June 22, 1996

Ramalina kurokawae Kashiw., a New LichenSpecies from Japan
ByHiroyuki KASHIW AD ANI
Department of Botany, National Science Museum,4- 1- 1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, lbaraki 305, Japan

Abstract Ramalina kurokawae Kashiw. is described from Japan as new to science. It
is so far known from Japan and China.

In the course of reviewing Ramalina collections from Japan and China, I
have found an undescribed species of Ramalina. It resembles R. almquistii
Vainio, a saxicolous species found in Japan, Aleutian Islands and Saghalien, butdiffers in having soredia and producing evernic and obtusatic acids as mainchemical substances. I gave the name R. kurokawae Kashiw. for this taxon andprovide description herein. The species is named in honor of Dr. Syo Kurokawa(Botanic Gardens of Toyama) for his major contributions to lichenology over thepast four decades.
The specimens used for the present study are preserved in the herbarium of
the National Science Museum, Tokyo (TNS) . The secondary products of thespecimens examined were identified by the thin layer chromatography (TLC)
using the amended procedures of Culberson & Johnson (1982) . To evaluate
anatomical variation within the thallus and apothecia, sections were cut by handwith a razor blade. These were mounted in lactophenol-cotton blue solution. The
anatomy and spores were observed with standard light microscopic procedures.
Ramalina kurokawae Kashiw., sp. nova(Fig. 1)
Affinis Ramalina almquistii, sed thallo sorediato et acidum evernicum etacidum obtusaticum continenti differt.
Type collection: Japan. Kyushu. Prov. Bungo: Mt. Monjusen, Kunisaki
Peninsula. On rock. November 14, 1962, S. Kurokawa 62425 (holotype in TNS) .
Chemistry (TLC): evernic acid, obtusatic acid and usnic acid.
Thallus saxicolous, decumbent, caespitose, forming a tuft up to 2 cm high,densely and intricately branched without distinct main branches. Branches
yellowish green, often turning black near the base, hollow, irregularly inflated tosubterete, 0.1-o.s mm thick, irregularly compressed in older parts and in forks,
nodulose, usually ending in granular ( 6G-1 00 t.tm diam.) soredia. Soralia termi-

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Hiroyuki KASHIW ADANI

Fig. 1. Holotype of Ramalina kurokawae Kashiw. (Kurokawa 62425, TNS). a) part ofholotype (scale = I cm). b) granular soralia on the tips of branchlets (scale = O.S mm).

nal, soredia granular. Pseudocyphellae absent. Thallus 1()()-500 flm thick; cortex
distinct, 10-15 flm thick; chondroid tissue cracked, 25-70 f1m thick; medulla
discontinuous, forming clusters of hyphae. Apothecia not seen.
Chemistry: evernic acid, obtusatic acid and usnic acid (no chemical racefound).
Ramalina kurokawae resembles R. almquistii Vainio, a saxicolous species
reported from Aleutian Islands, Saghalien and Japan, in having a similar nodulose
thallus with discontinuous medullary hyphae and clearly cracked chondroid
tissue. However, it is easily distinguished from the latter by the presence ofsoredia and by the chemistry; R. a/mquistii does not produce soredia and contains
sekikaic or divaricatic acid as a main chemical substance. In addition, Ramalina
kurokawae grows on exposed rocks in lowland (less than 700m above see level) ofJapan, whereas R. almquistii found on rather shaded rocks in subalpine and alpine
regions. This species might be confused with R. exilis Asah., a saxicolous species
from Japan, from which it can be distinguished by the hollow branches and by the
production of depsides in the medulla.
Ramalina kurokawae is so far known from Japan and China.
Specimens examined. Japan. Hokkaido. Prov. Kitami: Momo-iwa, Rebun Island, Rebun-gun.
On rock, elevation about 70m, August 10, 1970, H. Kashiwadani 8224 (TNS). Oki Islands. Prov. Oki :Fukuura, Goka-mura. On rocks, elevation about 3m, December I, 1984, H. Kashiwadani 21027(TNS) . Prov. Bitchu: Gohkei Gorge, Sohja-city. On rocks; elevation about 250m. May 9, 1981 , H.
Kashiwadani 16774 (TNS). Prov. Aki : Mt. Kamakuraji, Takata-gun. On rock, elevation about 500
m. May 17, 1970, H. Kashiwadani 7456 (TNS); Sandankyo Gorge, Yamagata-gun. On rocks,elevation about 640m, September 9, 1972, H. Kashiwadani 6257 (TNS); Mt. Kanmuri, Saiki-gun. Onrock, elevation about 700m, June 12, 1966, H. Kashiwadani 396 (TNS) . Shikoku. Prov. lyo:
Panoramadai, Omogo. On rock, elevation 700m, December 12, 1960, S. Kurokawa 60111 (TNS) .
China. Prov. Jiangxi : Lushan. September 26, 1942, F. Fujikawa 78 (TNS) .

Ramalina kurokawae, a new lichen species from Japan57

Acknowledgements

I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dr S. Kurokawa of Botanic Gardensof Toyama for his critical reading of the manuscript. This study was partly
supported by a Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry ofEducation, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan to H . Kashiwadani, no.
02640642.
References
Culberson, C. & A. Johnson, 1982. Substitution of methyl tert.-butyl ether for diethyl ether in thestandardized thin-layer chromatographic method for lichen products. J. Chromatogr. 238:
438- 487.