Siphula paramensis V. Marcano & L. Castillo (Icmadophilaceae, Lichenized Fungi), a new species from the high paramo in Venezuela

A new species of the genus Siphula is described from the Cordillera de Merida and Sierra La Culata in the Venezuelan Andes: Siphula paramensis V. Marcano & L. Castillo sp. nov. This species closely resembles Siphula subsimplex V. Marcano from the Guayana Highlands. Siphula paramensis differs by its very small thallus, obovoid or globuliform lobes, ochre-coloured, yellowish or whitish gray (in older thalli) surface, rugose, rounded and entire apices having usually reticulated lines, less thick cortex and shorter rhizines; the thalli are K–, C+ yellow, and P+ yellow in the cortex, and contain baeomycesic and squamatic acids. This is the Siphula species that grows at the highest altitude in Venezuela. It is considered to be endemic to the Venezuelan Andes.

Te genus Siphula Fr. (Icmadophilaceae, Lichenized Fungi) in Venezuela

Seven species of Siphula Nylander have been found in Venezuela (including Páramos and Guayana Highlands). Three species from the Guayana Highlands viz. S. chimantensis V. Marcano, S. subsimplex V. Marcano and S. subpteruloides V. Marcano are described as new to science. A key to the species is presented together with data on morphology, chemistry, variation, taxonomy, habitat and distribution. The data indicate that of the taxa reported from Venezuela, four are known only from the Guayana Highlands, one is known only from the neotropics, and two are pantropical. The high concentration of Siphula species seen in the Guayana Highlands suggests that this region constitutes an important centre for speciation and endemism for the genus.