XVI International Botanical Congess

The Cladonia subcariosa group in sect. Helopodium includes five species that differ in lichen secondary compounds, but are similar in morphology. I have examined the group using chemical, morphological and molecular characters. Between the species there are no fix morphological differences, but there are some differences in ecology and geographic distribution. Preliminary analyses of rDNA internal transcriped spacers (ITS1&2) suggest that Cladonia brevis, C. polycarpia, C. polycarpoides and C. sobolescens of the group are monophyletic and a sister group to sec Ascyphiferae. They share a unique signature sequence in ITS2. Further analyses will use ITS and other variable genes, to examine the relations of the group to other species in sect. Helopodium and other sect. in Cladonia.