Aspiciliella | |
---|---|
Aspiciliella intermutans | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
Order: | Pertusariales |
Family: | Megasporaceae |
Genus: | Aspiciliella M.Choisy (1932) |
Type species | |
Aspiciliella intermutans (Nyl.) M.Choisy (1932) | |
Species | |
A. cupreoglauca Contents |
Aspiciliella is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Megasporaceae. [1] It has four species. The genus is characterised by its crustose, rimose-areolate thallus that is partially continuous and has a K+ (red) reaction. The epihymenium is typically green to olive-green and turns light green when treated with N (N+ light green). Aspiciliella has eight-spored asci of the Aspicilia -type, containing ellipsoid, colourless, and simple ascospores.
The genus Aspiciliella was originally proposed by Maurice Choisy in 1932, with Aspiciliella intermutans assigned as the type species. [2] However, it was not widely recognised as a distinct genus for many years. In 2017, based on comprehensive molecular phylogenetics studies, Aspiciliella was resurrected as a separate genus within the family Megasporaceae. Phylogenetic analyses using three genetic markers (ITS, nuLSU, and mtSSU) have confirmed Aspiciliella's position as a distinct clade within Megasporaceae. It forms a sister group to other established genera in the family. This molecular evidence strongly supports Aspiciliella as a genus separate from Aspicilia , with which it was previously grouped based on morphological similarities. [3]
The genus Aspiciliella consists of crustose lichens, which form crust-like growths that adhere closely to the substrate. The thallus, or body of the lichen, is typically cracked and divided into small, irregular sections (rimose-areolate), and is partially continuous across the surface it grows on. The lichen's photosynthetic partner, or photobiont , is a type of chlorococcoid green alga.
The reproductive structures of Aspiciliella, the apothecia, range in colour from pale brown to dark grey or black. These apothecia have a true exciple , which is a distinct outer rim surrounding the spore-producing area. In some cases, the exciple may be further enclosed by an additional margin made from the thallus itself, though this is rare. [4]
The upper layer of the apothecium, called the epithecium , can vary in colour from green to olive green or greenish-brown. When treated with certain chemical tests, the epithecium turns light green (N+). Beneath the epithecium, the hypothecium and subhymenium layers are colourless, but they react to iodine (I+) by turning blue to rusty red, as does the hymenium, the layer where the spores develop. [4]
The asci, which are the structures that produce the spores, typically contain eight spores and are of the Aspicilia-type, meaning they share certain structural characteristics with those found in the genus Aspicilia. The ascospores themselves are ellipsoidal, colourless, and lack internal divisions (aseptate). The lichen also produces conidia, which are asexual spores that are straight and measure 7–11 μm in length. [4]
Chemically, the thallus of Aspiciliella reacts positively to potassium hydroxide solution (K+ red), but does not react to chlorine (C–) or ultraviolet light (UV–). Thin-layer chromatography tests have identified norstictic acid as the primary chemical compound in the thallus, with some species also containing connorstictic and stictic acids. [4]
Aspiciliella can be distinguished from its close relative Aspicilia by several key characteristics. The most notable differences are its smaller conidia, measuring 7–11 μm in length, compared to the larger conidia (11–40 μm) found in Aspicilia. Additionally, Aspiciliella consistently produces ellipsoid ascospores, while Aspicilia may have ellipsoid or occasionally globose ascospores. Another distinguishing feature is the consistent presence of norstictic acid in Aspiciliella, which is only occasionally found in some Aspicilia species. [3]
The Pertusariales are an order of fungi in the class Lecanoromycetes, comprising 8 families, 31 genera, and over 600 species, many of which form lichens. This diverse group is characterized by complex taxonomic history and ongoing phylogenetic revisions. Originally proposed by Maurice Choisy in 1949 and later formally published by the lichenologists David L. Hawksworth and Ove Eriksson in 1986, Pertusariales has undergone significant reclassification due to molecular phylogenetics studies. The order includes well-known genera such as Pertusaria and Ochrolechia, as well as families like Megasporaceae and Icmadophilaceae.
Menegazzia is a genus of lichenized fungi containing roughly 70 accepted species. The group is sometimes referred to as the tree flutes, honeycombed lichens, or hole-punch lichens. The most obvious morphological feature of the genus is the distinctive perforations spread across the upper side of the thallus. This makes the group easy to recognise, even for those not particularly familiar with lichen identification.
Megaspora is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Megasporaceae. It contains four species of crustose lichens that typically grow on soil, bryophytes, or plant litter on chalky substrates.
Aspicilia cinerea is a gray to almost white, 1.5–15 cm (0.59–5.91 in) wide, crustose areolate lichen with large apothecia that mostly grows on rock in the mountains. It grows in variable forms, from having a continuous surface to being areolate. It grows in Eurasia, and North America on siliceous rock, schist or igneous rock in habitats exposed to sunlight, also rarely on calciferous rock. It is common in Arizona, and rare in California and Baja California at elevations of 1,700 to 3,300 metres.
Teuvoa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Megasporaceae. It was first classified by lichenologists Mohammad Sohrabi and Steven Leavitt in 2013, with Teuvoa uxoris assigned as the type species. This genus was delineated from the larger genus, Aspicilia, following a molecular phylogenetic analysis which revealed that the Aspicilia uxoris species group constituted a distinct lineage in the Megasporaceae. Initially containing three species, two additional species native to China were added in 2018. Teuvoa is characterised by its small ascospores and conidia, and the absence of secondary metabolites.
Pertusaria albineoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Pertusariaceae. Found on the Galápagos Islands, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Frank Bungartz, A.W.Archer, Alba Yánez-Ayabaca, and John Elix. The type specimen was collected on Alcedo Volcano at an altitude of 1,089 m (3,573 ft), where it was found growing on a partially shaded, rain- and wind-exposed trunk of Scalesia microcephala. The species epithet refers to the similarity to the species Pertusaria albinea, from which it differs by having thin-walled ellipsoid-shaped ascospores that are longer and narrower.
Pertusaria cerroazulensis is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Pertusariaceae. Found on the Galápagos Islands, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Frank Bungartz, Alan W. Archer, Alba Yánez-Ayabaca, and John Elix. The type specimen was collected from the Cerro Azul volcano at an altitude of 1,038 m (3,406 ft), where in a small, shaded woodland, it was growing on twigs of Psidium galapageium. The species epithet refers to the type locality.
Protothelenella is a genus of fungi in the family Protothelenellaceae. It contains 11 species, some of which form lichens. Protothelenella species have a crustose thallus with spherical to pear-shaped, dark brown to blackish perithecia. Microscopic characteristics of the genus include bitunicate asci with an amyloid tholus, and ascospores that are colourless and contain multiple internal partitions. Some species grow on acidic substrates including rocks, soil, bryophytes, plant detritus or rotten wood. Other species are lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling), growing on species of Solorina, Peltigera, Pseudocyphellaria, or Cladonia.
Filsoniana lhasanensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Tibet, where it grows on rocks at altitudes between 4,200 and 4,432 m. This species is defined by its reduced, vivid orange appearance and unique, aggregated reproductive structures.
Lecidea lygommella is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Lecideaceae. It spreads up to 7 cm wide with a thin thallus varying in colour from whitish and pale grey to rusty red-brown, featuring areolate surfaces with irregularly shaped areoles. Its fruiting bodies range from slightly embedded to sitting atop the thallus and black, flat to slightly convex apothecial discs. Unlike its lookalike Lecidea lygomma, L. lygommella does not produce any secondary chemicals. It is found in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia, where it grows on rocks in alpine areas.
Tetramelas gariwerdensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Physciaceae, described in 2020. It is found in the Grampian Mountains in western Victoria, Australia.
Buellia cravenii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It is found in Australia. The lichen spreads up to 3.5 cm wide thick, forming a continuous, grey-white cracked pattern of areoles.
Buellia kowenensis is a rare species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It is only known to occur at its original collection site in the Australian Capital Territory of Australia.
Buellia lordhowensis is a little-known saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen species in the family Caliciaceae, first described in 2020. It is only known to occur on Lord Howe Island, Australia.
Amandinea pilbarensis is a little-known species of crustose lichen in the family Physciaceae, First described in 2020, it is found in Australia. It is similar to Amandinea polyxanthonica, but can be distinguished by its smaller ascospores and the presence of calcium oxalate and thiophanic acid in the medulla.
Enterographa aldabrensis is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is only known to occur in Aldabra in the Seychelles.
Fellhanera ivoriensis is a species of foliicolous (leaf-dwelling) lichen. First described in 2001, this species is distinguished from its relatives in the Fellhanera by its soredia-covered thallus and the characteristics of its apothecia. It is native to the Ivory Coast in West Africa.
Glaucomaria is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Lecanoraceae. It has seven species. The genus was circumscribed by Maurice Choisy in 1929. It contains crustose lichens formerly placed in the Lecanora rupicola species complex as defined by several previous authors.
Baeomyces heteromorphus is a species of terricolous (ground-dwelling) lichen in the family Baeomycetaceae. It has an Australasian distribution. Characteristics of the lichen include its greenish-grey thallus, the pink to brownish discs of its apothecia, translucent spores lacking internal partitions (septa), and the presence of the secondary metabolites norstictic acid and connorstictic acid.
Aspilidea is a fungal genus of uncertain familial placement in the subclass Ostropomycetidae. It contains the single species Aspilidea myrinii, a saxicolous (rock-dwelling) crustose lichen with a circumpolar distribution.