The Sticta fuliginosa group in Norway and Sweden

Abstract

A recent investigation demonstrated that Sticta fuliginosa (Hoffm.) Ach., as currently treated, includes four distinct species in Europe: Sticta fuliginosa s. str., S. fuliginoides Magain & Sérus., S. ciliata Tayl., and S. atlantica Magain & Sérus. This finding prompted us to revise material named S. fuliginosa from Norway and Sweden. It is demonstrated here that three species occur in Norway: S. fuliginosa s. str., S. fuliginoides, and S. ciliata. S. fuliginoides is the most widespread species, whereas S. fuliginosa occurs mostly along the coast and S. ciliata is very rare in the most oceanic parts of the western coast. In Sweden, only a single species of the group occurs, viz. S. fuliginoides. It was formerly found in scattered sites across the southern half of Sweden but has now disappeared from most of them. The basionym Sticta fuliginosa var. propagulifera Vain. ex H. Magn. is lectotypified and synonymized under S. fuliginoides.