Caloplaca astonii

Caloplaca astonii
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Lecanoromycetes
Order:	Teloschistales
Family:	Teloschistaceae
Genus:	Caloplaca
Species:	C. astonii
Binomial name
	Caloplaca astonii; S.Y.Kondr. & Kärnefelt (2007)

Last updated April 26, 2024

Caloplaca astonii is a rare species of crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae.^[1] Described in 2007, is known for its distinct appearance and very limited distribution in Australia. The lichen has a thin thallus measuring 3–8 mm wide, with confluent spots that are thicker and cracked in the centre, showing a dull rose-orange or dull brown-orange colour, and lecanorine apothecia that transition from being immersed in the thallus to raised above it, revealing a bright reddish-brown disc .

Taxonomy

The lichen was first formally described in 2007 by lichenologists Sergey Kondratyuk and Ingvar Kärnefelt. The type material was found in Northwest New South Wales about 8 miles (13 km) south-southwest of Kayrunners and roughly 30 miles (48 km) west of White Cliffs. In this location, a glaring white quartz stone plain, it is common on stones.^[2]

This species is akin to Caloplaca montisfracti , but is distinguished by its lecanorine apothecia with a very thin hymenium and small ascospores with attenuated tips. Among Australian Caloplaca species, Caloplaca astonii is unique due to its thin hypothallus, a dull pink thallus, and lecanorine apothecia with a bright red or pink-red disc . It is further characterised by a large thalline margin , a lax palisade paraplectenchymatous cortex, and a loose medulla. The species is named in honour of Helen Aston, who collected the type material in 1966.^[2]

Description

Caloplaca astonii features a thallus with a width of 3–8 mm, consisting of confluent spots. It is crustose, very thin, and closely adheres to the substrate, especially at the periphery. The thallus is thicker and cracked in the central part and has a dull rose-orange or dull brown-orange colour. The lecanorine apothecia are initially immersed in the thallus and become raised as they mature, revealing a bright reddish-brown disc.^[2]

The hypothallus is extremely thin in the peripheral zone, expanding to 0.5–1.5 mm wide and up to 100 μm thick. The central part of the thallus features areoles measuring 0.6–1.3 mm wide and 0.3–0.4 mm thick, with cracks that are not the naked rock surface, ranging from 25 to 50 (up to 75) μm wide. In section, areoles are 220–350 μm thick, with numerous vertical, lax bundles of hyphae. The cortex is 30–35 μm thick, composed of large, rounded cells, and the algal layer is dispersed and discontinuous. The medulla, consisting of loose short hyphae, reaches a thickness of 70–100 μm.^[2]

Apothecia are 0.3–1.0 mm in diameter, initially immersed and then raised as they mature, with a flat, epruinose , and bright reddish-brown disc . Each areole typically contains 1–5 apothecia. The thalline margin is quite thick, and the disc has an uneven surface. The true exciple is 30–35 μm thick, with elongated hyphae. The hymenium is 40–45 μm high, and the subhymenium is 60–100 μm thick. Ascospores are very small, distinctly widened at the septum, and attenuated towards the tips, typically measuring 8–9 by 4.5–6 μm with a septum thickness of 2.5–3 μm.^[2]

Habitat and distribution

Caloplaca astonii occurs on quartzite rocks and is considered a very rare inland species. At the time of its original publication, it had only been recorded from the type collection in New South Wales, Australia.^[2]

Related Research Articles

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Lazarenkoiopsis is a single-species fungal genus in the family Teloschistaceae. It contains Lazarenkoiopsis ussuriensis, a corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen species found in the Russian Far East.

Elixjohnia jackelixii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Australia and New Zealand. The lichen is characterised by its unique multilayered appearance with outer sterile rings that are brownish or greenish-yellow and inner areoles that are whitish, yellowish, or greyish, often cracked to reveal the medulla underneath. Its fruiting bodies, or apothecia, are typically attached directly to the thallus and vary in colour and shape.

Nevilleiella marchantii is a species of terricolous (ground-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. Found in Australia, it was formally described as a new species in 2007. The thallus of Nevilleiella marchantii spreads 1–3 cm wide, with distinctive, almost spherical, pustule-like formations that give it an appearance resembling a bunch of grapes. These formations vary in shape and colour from yellow-brown to orange-brown.

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References

↑ "Caloplaca astonii S.Y. Kondr. & Kärnefelt". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kondratyuk, Sergij Y.; Kärnefelt, Ingvar; Elix, John A.; Thell, Arne (2007). "New species of the genus Caloplaca in Australia". In Kärnefelt, Ingvar; Thell, Arne (eds.). Lichenological Contributions in Honour of David Galloway. Bibliotheca Lichenologica. Vol. 95. J. Cramer. pp. 341–386. ISBN 978-3-443-58074-2.

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[CoL-1] "Caloplaca astonii S.Y. Kondr. & Kärnefelt". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 22 December 2023.

[Kondratyuk_et_al._2007-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kondratyuk, Sergij Y.; Kärnefelt, Ingvar; Elix, John A.; Thell, Arne (2007). "New species of the genus Caloplaca in Australia". In Kärnefelt, Ingvar; Thell, Arne (eds.). Lichenological Contributions in Honour of David Galloway. Bibliotheca Lichenologica. Vol. 95. J. Cramer. pp. 341–386. ISBN 978-3-443-58074-2.

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