Molecular data confirm the position of Flakea papillata inthe Verrucariaceae

摘要

Flakea papillata is a predominantly tropical, widespread lichen characterized byflake-like thalli of narrowly arranged, irregularly wrinkled, small bluish-green lobes, whosetaxonomic position was unclear. The lichen shows superficial similarity with either algalcolonies, bryophytes or fern prothallia, but the production of zeorin and other triterpenoids supports its inclusion in the ascomycetes. Analysis of the nuclear large andsmall subunits rRNA sequence data of samples from different origins supports the positionof F. papillata within the Verrucariaceae: it forms its own supported clade not related tothe core of Agonimia, in which it has been previously placed.