LICHEN FLORA OF THE HIMALAYAS .6. THE GENUS TEPHROMELA (WITH COMMENTS ON THE GENUS HEPPSORA)

The species of Tephromela known from the Himalayas are keyed and described. The type species of the genus, the widespread T. atra, was not found. On the other hand several taxa related to T. atra are described as new to science. T. glacialis has rather large apothecia and squamose areolae with dark lower surfaces. T. siphulodes s. str. has Siphula-like, fruticose and +/- netlike subdivided thalli. Both taxa are reported from the Central Himalaya. T. siphulodes var. adnata, known from Eastern Himalaya, is different from the typical variety by its squamose thalli. The morphologically relatively distinct T. armeniaca group is represented by T. armeniaca and T. aglaea, species formerly included in Lecidea. variation with both species is taxonomically not homogeneous. The monotypic genus Heppsora, described from S-India, is closely related to Tephromela, particularly to the T. atra-group. The thalli of H. indica are anatomically different from those of Tephromela species by being completely surrounded by a true cortex. Within the thalli of Tephromela species true cortical structures could be found only in initial stages of ascomatal development.