The genus Pyxine (Lecanorales, Physciaceae) in the Yaboty Biosphere Reserve (Misiones, Argentina).

Abstract

Background and aims: Pyxine (Lecanorales, Physciaceae) is an interesting genus, which is little known in the Argentinian territory, for this reason a study of the species presents in the Yaboty Biosphere Reserve (Misiones, Argentina) is proposed.
M&M: The identification of the species was carried out following the methodology conventionally used for the study of lichens, which includes a morphological and chemical analysis. The macroscopic characters were studied with a stereoscopic microscope. In order to determine the type of plectenchyma and study the morphology of ascospores, freehand sections were made, which were subsequently mounted in 5% potassium hydroxide and observed under an optical microscope. The identification of the lichen substances present was carried out by means of specific color reactions with 10% potassium hydroxide, ultraviolet light chamber test and thin layer chromatography with solvent A.
Results & Conclusions: In this contribution Pyxine daedalea, Pyxine katendei, Pyxine maculata y Pyxine sorediata are cited for the first time for Argentina. It is presented a dichotomous key, a brief description of the species in the area, geographical distribution, observations and illustrations of each of them. It is considered that this work is a great contribution for further taxonomic and ecological investigations.