Abstract

The lichenicolous species of genus Melaspilea has been studied. As a result, a new species Melaspilea amarkantakensis has been described and M. insitiva has been lectotypified. The new species grows on the thallus and ascomata of Pertusaria species in ‘sal’ forests of central India and is characterized by relatively small, blackish ascomata, I– and K/I+ pale blue hymenium, 4-spored, shorter, 25.4–33.2 × 14.3–20.2 μm asci and 1-septate, (12.1–)13.3–16.0(–17.5) × (5.0–)6.1–7.6(–8.9) μm ascospores lacking perispore.

Keyword: Arthoniomycetes, Ascomycota, lectotypification, Madhya Pradesh, taxonomy.