Five species of Candelaria and Candelariella (Ascomycota, Candelariales) new to Switzerland Author Westberg, Martin Author Clerc, Philippe text MycoKeys 2012 3 1 12 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.3.2864 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.3.2864 1314-4049-3-1 Candelariella aggregata M.Westb. Bryologist 110: 393. 2007. Holoype. U.S.A. Colorado: Larimer Co., Trail Ridge, 0.5 mi SE of Ranger Station, NW of Tombstone Ridge, 11500-11700 ft alt., 30 June 1962, R. A. Anderson 2229 (COLO!, isotype BRY!). Candelariella aggregata was recently reported from Europe for the first time from the Murmansk Region in Russia ( Urbanavichus and Urbanavichene 2008 ) and also from Switzerland ( Spinelli 2011 ). It is a terricolous species growing in arctic-alpine areas as well as in dry, steppe-like habitats in North America, Asia and Europe ( Westberg 2007b , Westberg and Sohrabi manuscript). It is recognized by its yellow granular to areolate thallus, numerous and often crowded apothecia with a thin margin (Fig. 1). The asci are 8-spored with narrowly ellipsoid spores (14 -)15-18(- 21) x 5.0-6.0 µm . Compared to e.g., Candelariella aurella (Hoffm.) Zahlbr it also has a proper exciple that does not form a distinct stipe below the hymenium and the structure of the exciple is paraplechtenchymatous with thin cell-walls ( Westberg 2007b ). Candelariella aggregata appears to be common in the continental parts of Switzerland in steppe-like habitats at low altitudes or on well lit calcareous walls on south-facing slopes at higher altitudes. There is a large variation in thallus morphology, apothecia and in spore size in 8-spored terricolous material in Switzerland. Possibly several species are involved and this group is clearly in need of revision. The name Candelariella unilocularis (Elenkin) Nimis has been used for a terricolous species with a well-developed thallus and long spores but this name is a synonym of Candelariella aurella ( Khodosovtsev 2005 , Westberg and Sohrabi in press ). Material of the long-spored species from the Swiss Alps will be described in a forthcoming paper (Otte and Westberg, in prep.). Figure 1, 2. 1 Candelariella aggregata - granular thallus and crowded apothecia with thin margins 2 Candelariella antennaria - grey thallus, composed of scattered to contiguous areoles or indistinct and with lecanorine, flattened apothecia Specimens examined. Graubuenden : Ardez, alt. 1491 m, 11 Oct 2007, Vust (G 00298392, G 00298400); sous l'eglise de Feldis, alt. 1470 m, 6 June 1999, Clerc (G 00298388); Fetan, Mot da l'Hom , alt 2380 m, 24 July 1956, Frey (G 00298391); National Park, Piz Pisoc, 29 July 1934, Frey (G 00298390); Tarasp, alt. 1440 m, 10 Aug 1995, Vust (G 00298398); Tarasp, alt. 1420 m, 12 June 1998, Vust (G 00298389); Valais: Bagnes, LaLy, alt. 2350 m, 24 July 2008, Vust (G 00298397, 00298399); Charrat, alt. 518 m, 2 Oct 2007, Vust (G 00298394); Guttet/Leuk, alt. 1000 m, 18 Oct 1997, Vust (G 00298403); Loeche , alt. 855 m, 7 Aug 1997, Vust (G 00298395); Mauvoisin, alt. 2740 m, 15 Aug 1998, Vust (G 00298413); Mazembroz, alt. 600 m, 28 April 1999, Vust (G 00298402); Rarogne, Heidnischbiel, alt. 759 m, 16 Oct 2007, Vust (G 00122115); Saillon, colline du chateau , alt. 504 m, 20 Sept 2007, Vust (G 00298396); Saillon, W part of the Saillon hill, alt. c. 500 m, 19 Nov 2010, Westberg 10-178, 10-182 (S F177773, F177825); Vex, les Cretes , alt. 1083 m, 5 Aug 1996, Vust (G 00298404); Zeneggen, alt. 1315 m, 15 Oct 2007, Vust (G 00298393, G 00298401); Zeneggen, Eich, 1010-1030 m, 19 Nov 2010, Westberg 10-193 (S F178469).