ORIGINAL ARTICLE
First European record of Sticta arenosella and new Central
European records of Sticta fuliginoides
1
Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätsstrasse 16,
Zürich 8092, Switzerland
2
Else-Züblin-Strasse 101, Winterthur 8404, Switzerland
Submission date: 2025-08-02
Acceptance date: 2025-10-20
Online publication date: 2025-12-09
Publication date: 2025-12-09
Plant and Fungal Systematics 2025; 70(2): 75-84
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The genus Sticta has recently undergone significant taxonomic revisions in Europe,
yet central regions such as Switzerland were not included in those revisions. To assess the
diversity of the species complex Sticta fuliginosa in Switzerland, we used an integrative
taxonomic approach combining morphological and genetic analyses. We sampled both the
well-known localities, as well as newly discovered localities along the Doubs River. Our
results showed that S. fuliginosa is presently absent from Switzerland. Instead, we confirmed
the presence of S. fuliginoides, and reported the first occurrence of S. arenosella, a species
previously known only from North and South America. Morphological, phylogenetic, and
haplotype network analyses confirmed that the Swiss specimen identified as S. arenosella is
morphologically and genetically indistinguishable from its holotype. Additionally, we also
documented the presence of apothecia on S. fuliginoides for the first time. This expands
the known phenotypic variation in this species and allows for a more complete taxonomic
description. Finally, we provide a taxonomic key for the Central European species of Sticta
to facilitate future research and monitoring.
FUNDING
The Legat “Eduard August Rübel”
supported the study financially as part of the project “Seltene
Makroflechten entlang dem Doubs”.
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