Data from: Molecular data confirm morphological variability in the widespread foliose lichen Canoparmelia carolinana (Parmeliaceae)

Canoparmelia caroliniana is among the most common macrolichens in southeastern North America, occurring on the bark of trees in habitats from urban centers to pristine wilderness. Canoparmelia amabilis was distinguished from C. caroliniana on the basis of differences in the color of the lower surface and morphology of the isidia. Recent fieldwork revealed previously overlooked morphologically variability within C. caroliniana, prompting a revision based on morphology, ecology, and analyses of nrITS sequence data. These data do not support the distinction between C. amabilis and C. caroliniana, and indicate that C. amabilis should be placed in synonymy with C. caroliniana. Analyses of nrITS sequence data confirmed the monophyly of C. caroliniana (including C. amabilis) as well as that of C. cryptochlorophaea and C. texana. A lectotype is selected for Canoparmelia amabilis because the holotype is presumed to be lost.

卡罗琳扁枝衣（Canoparmelia caroliniana）是北美东南部最常见的大型地衣之一，其生长于从城市中心到原始荒野的各类生境中的树木树皮表面。此前学界曾依据下表面色泽与裂芽（isidia）的形态差异，将可爱扁枝衣（Canoparmelia amabilis）与卡罗琳扁枝衣区分为两个独立物种。近期野外考察发现，卡罗琳扁枝衣类群中存在此前被忽视的形态变异，这促使研究人员基于形态学、生态学特征及核核糖体内转录间隔区（nrITS）序列数据分析对该类群开展分类修订。序列分析结果并不支持可爱扁枝衣与卡罗琳扁枝衣的物种区分，表明可爱扁枝衣应处理为卡罗琳扁枝衣的同物异名。核核糖体内转录间隔区序列分析证实，卡罗琳扁枝衣（包含可爱扁枝衣）、隐绿扁枝衣（Canoparmelia cryptochlorophaea）以及德克萨斯扁枝衣（Canoparmelia texana）均为单系类群。由于可爱扁枝衣的主模式标本（holotype）已被推定遗失，研究人员为其指定了后选模式标本（lectotype）。