Taxonomic and phylogenetic study of genus Sarcogyne (Acarosporales, Acarosporaceae) reveals two new species from Pakistan

Two new species, Sarcogyne crispula and S. pakistanensis are described and illustrated from Pakistan. Sarcogyne crispula is similar to S. praetermissa. Both have lecideine apothecia with smooth melanized margins which curl inward above the apothecial disc and grow on calcareous rock, but they differ especially in S. crispula having larger apothecia (2–3 mm wide vs. usually less than 1 mm) with thinner margins (50–70 vs. 70–120 μm) as well as differing in nrITS and mtSSU regions. Sarcogyne pakistanensis is similar to S. similis. Both grow on siliceous rocks and produce psoromic acid. Sarcogyne pakistanensis differs from S. similis especially in having a lower hymenium (55–85 vs. 100–125 µm), a thinner margin [ca. 100 vs. (100–)150–200 μm], a hypothecium with dark black area, as well as differing in their nrITS regions.