Description
Calogaya pusilla is a small but visually striking lichen that forms neat, rosette-shaped growths measuring 1–3 centimetres in diameter. The thallus (main body of the lichen) appears yellow to orange, occasionally with a pinkish tint, and grows closely attached to its substrate. Around the edge, the lichen forms short, broad, flattened lobes about 2 mm long and 1.5 mm wide. These lobes are typically convex and swollen, giving them a plump appearance, and may be divided by small furrows. A distinctive feature of this species is the frequent presence of a white, powdery coating ( pruina ) on the surface of the lobes. [5]
The central area of the lichen consists of convex granules that are often obscured by numerous apothecia (fruiting bodies). These disc -shaped apothecia can reach up to 1.0 mm in diameter and are typically densely crowded in the central portion of the lichen. When young, each apothecium has a flat, orange to brownish-orange disc surrounded by a noticeable yellow to orange rim ( exciple ). As the apothecium matures, the disc becomes convex and the rim becomes less prominent. [5]
Under the microscope, the spore-producing structures reveal further identifying features. The tips of the sterile filaments (paraphyses) within the apothecia are swollen, measuring 6–8 micrometres (μm) in diameter. The spores ( ascospores ) are ellipsoidal, measuring 10–15 μm long by 5–7 (occasionally 8) μm wide, with a cross-wall (septum) that is 2–4 μm thick, occupying approximately one-fourth to one-fifth of the spore's length. [5]
When tested with potassium hydroxide solution (K), both the thallus and apothecia turn purple, which is a key chemical characteristic for identifying this species. [5]
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