New Kudratovia S.Y.Kondr., Lőkös & Hur species and Anaptychia Körb. records from Pakistan (lichenized Ascomycota, Physciaceae Zahlbr.)

This study contributes to the understanding of Physciaceae Zahlbr. lichens in Pakistan by analyzing specimens collected from various regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As a result of this investigation, Kudratovia pakistanica U.F. Ahmad, Afshan & Khalid, sp. nov., is described here as a new species, while Anaptychia crinalis (Schleich.) Vězda ex J. Nowak and A. roemerioides Hollinger, Noell & S.D. Leav. are reported as new records for Pakistan. Kudratovia pakistanica U.F. Ahmad, Afshan & Khalid, sp. nov., is morphologically similar to the closely related K. luridata but is characterized by its thick, indeterminate thallus, plane to concave apothecial discs, a thick hypothecium forming a stipe in mature apothecia (up to 200 µm deep), larger asci (68-92 × 12-24 μm), and larger ascospores (16-19 × 10-12 μm). Furthermore, recent collections – corroborated by detailed morphological examination, molecular data, and evaluation of prior taxonomic literature – confirm Anaptychia setifera (Mereschk.) Räsänen as the currently accepted name for A. kaspica Gyeln., thereby clarifying its taxonomic status and contributing to a better understanding of its distribution within the country. A detailed taxonomic treatment, including morphological descriptions and molecular phylogenetic analysis, is provided to support these findings.