Monoblastiopsis nigrocortina R.C.Harris & C.A.Morse

Description

Type: U.S.A. COLORADO. KIT CARSON CO: ca 4 mi E of Flagler, Flagler Reservoir Wildlife Management Area, N end of reservoir along dam, T9S R50W section 3 NW¼ SW¼, 39.2931°N 102.9584°W, 4710 ft, 3 Oct 2007, Morse 15804 (KANU 377380, holotype; COLO, KANU 377381, NY, isotypes).

Description: (from Harris & Morse 2008) - Ascomata ± globose, sessile, black, slightly shiny, solitary or often 2-5(-8) confluent, especially in cracks in sandstone, 0.15-0.2(-0.3) mm in diameter, often collapsing and cup-like with age, with conspicuous, open or sunken ostiole with short periphyses; ascomatal wall entire, ca. 20-30 µm thick. Asci cylindrical to ± clavate, initially with 8 spores. Ascospores narrowly ellipsoid, weakly ornamented at maturity, 12-(18.5)-26 x 4.5-(6.1)-8 µm. Pycnidia very rare (only one found). Conidia ca 4 x 1.5 µm.

Etymology: (from Harris & Morse 2008) - The specific epithet nigrocortina (nigro- "black", cortina "kettle") honors Black Kettle (d. 1868), Chief of the Southern Cheyenne, one of several Native America tribes who occupied the area from which the species is presently known. Black Kettle struggled to secure peace between the Cheyenne and Euro-American settlers of the Great Plains and to maintain some independence for his people. The type specimen was collected approximately 60 mi (96 km) northwest of the site of the Sand Creek Massacre, where in 1864 some 200 Southern Cheyenne were killed when members of the Third Colorado Volunteers under John Chivington attacked their settlement. Black Kettle escaped this attack, moving survivors to reservation lands in present-day Oklahoma. He and his wife, Medicine Woman Later, were killed by members of the 7th Cavalry under George Custer during the Washita Massacre.

Distribution and ecology: (from Harris & Morse 2008) - Monoblastiopsis nigrocortina is presently known from the Western High Plains ecoregion, and along the eastern edge of the Southwestern Tablelands and western edge of the Central Great Plains (Chapman et al. 2001) of western Kansas and eastern Colorado, at elevations of 2480-6240 ft (755-1901 m). Like its congener, however, the species is probably more common and more broadly distributed than collection records would suggest. All specimens examined for this study were from calcareous substrates. On coarser sandstones, M. nigrocortina is clearly associated with the cementing material, rather than the sand grains themselves. The type was collected from coarse, poorly cemented, sandstone riprap boulders of unknown provenance, but probably of the Tertiary Ogallala Formation. Elsewhere, the species has been found rarely on mortarbed boulders of the Ogallala Formation, and more frequently on sandstone boulders and outcrops. Three specimens were taken from coarse-grained sandstones of the Ogallala Formation or of unknown provenance and one from fine-grained sandstone assumed to be Jurassic or Triassic in age. Two specimens were collected from aging concrete blocks. Associated species have included Acarospora strigata (Nyl.) Jatta, Caloplaca crenulatella (Nyl.) H. Olivier, C. pratensis Wetmore ined., Candelariella aurella (Hoffm.) Zahlbr., Collema coccophorum Tuck., C. fuscovirens (With.) J. R. Laundon, Lecanora crenulata Hook., L. dispersa (Pers.) Sommerf., Polysporina simplex (Davies) Vezda, Psorotichia schaereri (A. Massal.) Arnold, Rinodina bischoffii (Hepp) A. Massal., Sarcogyne dakotensis H. Magn., S. similis H. Magn., and Staurothele elenkinii Oksn.

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