Chaenotheca longispora (Coniocybaceae), a new lichen from coast redwood trees in California, U.S.A.

Chaenotheca longispora is described as a new species from the central coast of California, U.S.A. It is similar in morphology to C. laevigata but is distinguished by the long (up to 25 µm) and spirally ornamented ascospores as well as chemically by the PD+ orange and K+ yellow reaction of the thallus. Thus far, C. longispora has been collected only from the crowns of large coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) trees in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, where it occurs on the thick, fibrous bark of the trunks. A key to Chaenotheca species in North America, including C. longispora, is provided.