Taxonomic delimitation of the rare, eastern North American endemic lichen Santessoniella crossophylla (Pannariaceae)

The taxonomic delimitation and generic placement of Santessoniella crossophylla (Old Gray Crosslobes), a cyanolichen endemic to eastern North America, are revisited based on newly generated nrITS and mtSSU sequences. A population from Nova Scotia whose identification as S. crossophylla has been questioned is confirmed as belonging to the species. The monospecific genus Rockefellera is introduced to accommodate lichens ascribable to S. crossophylla in light of molecular results herein presented. The new name honors the Rockefeller family for their century-long support of North American conservation efforts, particularly with respect to national parks.

本研究基于新获得的nrITS与mtSSU序列，对北美东部特有蓝藻地衣桑特松氏叶叶衣（Santessoniella crossophylla，俗称Old Gray Crosslobes）的分类界定及其属级分类位置展开重新探讨。此前产自新斯科舍省的一个居群，其被鉴定为S. crossophylla的结论曾遭受质疑，本次研究确证该居群隶属于该物种。基于本文所呈现的分子结果，我们建立单种属Rockefellera，用以容纳原归于S. crossophylla的地衣类群。该新属名旨在致敬洛克菲勒家族，感谢其百年来对北美保护事业，尤其是国家公园保护工作的持续支持。