The Lichenologist 40(5): 387–397 (2008)  2008 British Lichen Society doi:10.1017/S0024282908007913 Printed in the United Kingdom Ameliella, a new genus of lichen-forming fungi from north-west Europe and western Canada Alan M. FRYDAY and Brian J. COPPINS Abstract: Ameliella Fryday & Coppins gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate two inconspicuous, undescribed species, A. andreaeicola and A. grisea, collected from high altitude in the Scottish Highlands. Outside the Scottish Highlands, Ameliella andreaeicola is known from single collections from Norway and Canada, and A. grisea from a single collection from Norway. The new genus appears to have some affinity with Miriquidica. Key words: alpine heaths, late snow-lie, Lecanoraceae, Miriquidica, Scottish Highlands Introduction The recent revival of interest in the lichen vegetation of high-altitude areas of the Scottish Highlands has resulted in numerous puzzling collections being made (Gilbert et al. 1988; Gilbert & Coppins 1992; Fryday & Coppins 1996; Fryday 1996a, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2005). Among these are two, closely related species that we have been unable to assign to any previously described genus and, consequently, the new genus Ameliella is here erected to accommodate them. The genus and the two species are described along with notes on their ecology and systematic position. Methods Apothecial characteristics were examined by light microscopy on hand-cut sections mounted in water, 10% KOH (K), 50% HNO3 (N) or 0·15% aqueous IKI. Thallus sections were investigated in water, 10% KOH (K) and lactophenol cotton-blue. The ascus structure was studied in 0·15% aqueous IKI, both without prior treatment and after pretreatment with 10% KOH. Measurements of ascospores, paraphyses and conidia were made in 10% KOH. For irregularly shaped areoles, the width was taken as the lowest measurement. All specimens of the newly described species are in the first author’s personal herbarium unless stated otherwise. Additional comparative material examined (all in MSC unless stated otherwise). Bryodina rhypariza (Nyl.) Hafellner (syn. Bryonora rhypariza (Nyl.) Poelt. Canada: Nunavut: Baffin Island, Head of Clyde Fiord, 1950, Hale 681.—Sweden: Torne Lappmark: Karesuando sn, Peldsaomra ˚det, Ga ˚bnetja ˚kko, N- branten, hammaren, bland mossa, reg. alp. 1948, Hasselrot s.n.;—Norway: [Oppland:] Dovre, Kongevold, 1863, Th. Fries s.n. Bryonora castanea (Hepp) Poelt. USA: Colorado: Gunnison-Chaffee Cos., above Cotton wood Pass, Sawatch Mts., 1952, Imshaug 11682-A; ibid., Huerfano-Las Animas Cos., Sangre de Cristo Range, summit of West Spanish Peak, 1952, Imshaug 12048. Bryonora pruinosa (Th. Fr.) Holtan-Hartwig. USA: Washington: Okanogan-Whatcom Cos., Cascade Mts., summit of Slate Peak, 1955 Imshaug 18606. Miriquidica complanata (Ko ¨ rb.) Hertel & Rambold. Great Britain: Scotland: V.C. 105, West Ross: Kintail, Kintail Estate, bealach between Sgurr nan Saighead and Sgurr Fhuaran, 18(NG)/976.174, alt. 800 m, damp, shaded N-facing rock face, 2005, Fryday 9092. Miriquidica instrata (Nyl.) Hertel & Rambold. Norway: Hordaland: Steinsaethorgen, near the town of Granvin, Sept. 1944, Havaas s.n.; ibid., Smøreggen, near the town of Granvin, Havaas s.n. Miriquidica leucophaea (Flo ¨rke ex Rabenh.) Hertel & Rambold. Czech Republic: Moravia: Telc ˇ, ad saxa granitica montis Javor ˇice, c. 800 m., 28 viii 1957, A. Ve ˇzda (Lichenes Bohemoslavakiae exsiccati #160).— Sweden: Västergötland: Go ¨ seborg, [Huiberg?], 1916, Magnusson s.n.—Great Brtitain: Scotland: V.C. 88, A. M. Fryday: Herbarium, Dept Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824- 1312, USA. Email: fryday@msu.edu B. J. Coppins: Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, UK.