Melaspilea demissa(Tuck.) Zahlbr. (lichenized Ascomycota) in eastern North America with a key to North American species ofMelaspileas. lat.
AbstractRecently collected specimens of the crustose lichenMelaspilea demissafrom south-eastern USA have been compared with those ofMelaspileaspp. previously determined from North America. A review of both the historical and contemporary treatments of this species is provided. A lectotype was selected from the type collection ofM. demissain FH and is here proposed as it best matches incomplete citations in the original treatment. We also discuss the nomenclatural and taxonomic status of the nameOpegrapha cymbiformisvar.deformis(considered a synonym ofM. gibberulosa). North American specimens ofM. gibberulosawere found to be misidentifications, as were specimens attributed toM. lentiginosula,M. mesophlebiaandM. octomera. We therefore recommend that these species be removed from the North American lichen checklist. We also present a key to North AmericanMelaspilea.