The genus Biatora Fr. was described in 1817^[1]. In 1874, Fries Theodor Magnus divided the Lecidea into four subgenera of Psora, Biatora, Mycoblastus and Eucledeide by using Nylander's method, and was later treated as a subgenus of Lecidea for nearly a hundred years^[2]. Also, in addition to the charac- teristics of spores, Biatora was divided into 12 groups according to the color of disc, the presence of margin or not, and the pigmentation of hypothecium and paraphyses^[3]. Coppins and Hafellner reintroduced Biatora to genus level^[4‒5]. The genus is characterized by crustose lichens with green algae, convex apothecia, distinct exciple, asci of Biatora-type or Bacidia-type, and colorless ascospore simple to 3-septate^[6]. The genus Biatora comprises about 40 species, inhabiting organic substrata (bark, wood, bryophytes and plant debris)^[7]. Three species of Biatora were reported from China, B. vernalis (L.) Fr., B. sphaeroides (Dicks.) Hornem, and B. carneoalbida (Müll. Arg.) Coppins^[8‒9]. During the research on Chinese crustose specimens, three new records of Biatora were encountered and reported here.

1 Biatora alaskana Printzen & Tønsberg, Bryologist, 102(4): 696 (1999)  Fig. 1

Thallus crustose, more or less with granular verrucae, soredia and isidia absent; prothallus absent; surface gray to grayish white, matt; photobiont trebouxioid. Apothecia rounded or slightly irregular in outline, sessile with strongly constricted base, or some with short stipes, 0.5–0.8 mm diam., mostly single or a few in groups of three; disc pale to orange-brown, strongly convex, epruinose; margin lacking from beginning; exciple distinct, colorless, 50–62 µm wide, hyphae cylindrical; epihymenium lacking; hymenium colorless to pale orange, 50–75 µm high, I+ blue; subhymenium pale brown, 55–80 µm high; hypo- thecium colorless, 90–200 µm high; paraphyses simple, with 1–2 µm, apically 2.5 µm wide lumina; asci of Biatora-type, 8-spored; ascospores colorless, long fusiform, simple or 3-septate, 18–27.5(–30) µm× 4.8–5.0(–6.2) µm, the ratio of length to width is about 3–6 times. Pycnidia not observed.

Chemistry: Thallus and apothecia 10% KOH (K)–, NaClO (C)–, KOH and NaClO (KC)–, P-Phenyl- enediamine (Pd)–. No lichen substances detected by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC).

Distribution: America and Canada^[10]. New to China.

Specimen examined: CHINA. Yunnan, Lijiang City, Mt. Laojunshan, alt. 3 600 m, on bark, 5 Nov. 2009, Zhang Lulu 20100024 (SDNU).

Discussion: Biatora alaskana is similar to B. vernalis in morphology and apothecial anatomy, but the later one species has rarely 3-septate ascospores shorter and wider (12.5–19 µm×4.5–7.0 µm).

2 Biatora alborufidula (Hedl.) S. Ekman & Printzen, in Printzen, Biblthca Lichenol, 60: 68 (1995)  Fig. 2

Thallus crustose, continuous, verrucose or weakly splitting, surface usually white, esorediate, prothallus absent, matt. Apothecia rounded, sessile, 0.2–0.8 mm diam.; single or in groups of two to three, disc pale brown to dark reddish brown, flat to strongly convex, epruinose; margin lacking or some with pale beige, soon excluded; exciple distinct, colorless or pale brown near hymenium, 25–50 µm wide; epihymenium lacking; hymenium colorless or locally pale brown, 30–70 µm high, I+ blue; subhymenium pale brown, 40–60 µm high; hypothecium colorless or pale yellow, 70-120 µm high; paraphyses simple or weakly branched and anastomosing; asci of Biatora-type, 8-spored; ascospores colorless, narrowly ellipsoid, mostly 1-septate, rarely simple, 15 µm×(10–)12.5–(2–)2.5–3 µm, the ratio of length to width is about 4–6 times. Pycnidia not observed.

Chemistry: Thallus and apothecia K–, C–, KC–, Pd–. No lichen substances detected by TLC.

Distribution: Europe^[11]. New to China.

Specimen examined: CHINA. Jilin, Helong City, Mt. Zengfengshan, alt. 1 600 m, on bark, 19 Aug. 2011, Cheng Yuliang 20119884 (SDNU).

Discussion: This species is characterized by its mostly 1-septate and narrow ascospores. It is similar to Lecidea albohyalina (Nyl.) Th. Fr., but the latter one has mostly simple ascospores and endophloeodal thallus^[12].

3 Biatora longispora (Degelius) Lendemer & Printzen, in Lendemer, Opuscula Philolichenum, 1: 38 (2004)  Fig. 3

Thallus crustose, continuous and smooth, surface grayish white or grayish green, esorediate, prothallus absent. Apothecia approximately rounded, mostly in groups of two to three or single, disc pale yellow brown, flat to strongly convex, margin lacking; exciple distinct, colorless, composed of radiating and weakly branched and anastomosing hyphae; epihymenium lacking; hymenium colorless or pale brown near subhymenium, 50–80 µm high, I+ blue; subhy- menium colorless or pale, 20–30 µm high; hypo- thecium colorless or pale yellow, 45–60 µm high; para- physes simple and not separated easily; asci of Biatora- type, 8-spored; ascospores colorless, narrowly ellipsoid, simple, 16–22.5 µm×2.5–3.2 µm, the ratio of length to width is about 6–7 times. Pycnidia not observe.

Chemistry: Thallus and apothecia K–, C–, KC–, Pd–. No lichen substances detected by TLC.

Distribution: America, Canada, Korea and Turkey^[12]. New to China.

Specimen examined: CHINA. Jilin, Helong City, Mt. Zengfengshan, alt. 1 600 m, on bark, 19 Aug. 2011, Cheng Yuliang 20119565 (SDNU).

Discussion: Biatora longispora is similar to Biatora subgilva in apothecial anatomy, but the later one contains usnic and isousnic acids^[13].

Key to the know species of Biatora in China

1. Thallus gray green to green·························································································································2

1. Thallus gray white to white···························································································································4

2. Apothecia brown, ascospore mostly simple, 12.5–19 µm×4.5–7.0 µm·······················B. vernalis

2. Apothecia pale yellow, ascospore 1- or 3-septate·················································································3

3. Apothecia mostly single, ascospore mostly 1- or 3-septate, 15–20 µm×5–7.0 µm················B. sphaeroides

3. Apothecia in groups, ascospore mostly 3-septate, 14.5–21.0 µm×2.0–5.0 µm················································ B. carneoalbida

4. Thallus smooth, disc pale yellow, ascospore always simple, 16–22.5 µm×2.5–3.2 µm················································B. longispora

4. Thallus granular or weakly splitting, disc pale to red brown································································································5

5. Ascospore mostly 3-septate, 18–27.5(–30) µm×4.8–5.0(–6.2) µm················································B. alaskana

5. Ascospore mostly 2-septate, (10–)12.5–15 µm×(2–)2.5–3 µm················································B. alborufidula