Porina sphaerocephala Vain.

Porina sphaerocephala Vain., Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn., Ser. A 15 (no. 6): 368. 1921. Fig. 17 A, G Type. PHILIPPINES • Robinson (holotype: TUR–VAINIO). Notes. Porina sphaerocephala is a widely distributed species in Paleotropical rainforests (McCarthy 2013). It has also been reported from Madagascar by Aptroot (2016). This taxon is represented by three examined specimens from southern Madagascar (25321 D, 25329 C, and 25411 C), recovered in the P. sphaerocephala clade. These specimens closely match the description provided by McCarthy (2013). The ascospores are 7 - septate, measuring (28 –) 34–38.5 (– 41) × (3.1 –) 3.4–4.1 (– 4.7) µm (n = 46), consistent with the reported size range of 27–40 × 3–4.5 µm. Furthermore, the perithecia, 0.1–0.2 mm (n = 6), matched the reported subglobose, pale yellowish to pale orange-brown perithecia measuring 0.15–0.28 mm. However, distinct thalline ridges, sometimes associated with this species, were not observed in the specimens. In the ITS and mtSSU phylogenies, the examined specimens formed a well-supported clade sister to P. sphaerocephaloides, with little intraspecific genetic divergence (Figs 2, 3). A single rbc L sequence was recovered for this species, indicating an association with algal haplotype 29: 1 (Figs 4, 5). Overall, the specimens closely match the distinctive morphology described for P. sphaerocephala. Although no comparative accessions of the species are currently available, no other described species exhibits this combination of characters, making an alternative identification unlikely. The specimens can therefore be confidently assigned to P. sphaerocephala s. str. and represent the first sequenced specimens. Specimens examined. MADAGASCAR – Toliara Prov. • ca. 26 km northwest of Fort-Dauphin (Tolagnaro), National Park of Andohahela, South part of parcel 1, ca. 6 km West of the village of Malio, 24°55'46.9"S, 46°43'55.9"E, alt. 515 m, dense humid forest, 28 Nov. 2019; Ertz 25321 D, 25329 C (BR, TAN). • ibid., South part of parcel 1, ca. 6.5 km West of the village of Malio, 24°56'24.1"S, 46°43'26.2"E, alt. 1000 m, dense humid forest, 01 Dec. 2019; Ertz 25411 C (BR, TAN).