Compositrema isidiofarinosum

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Compositrema isidiofarinosum
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Graphidales
Family: Graphidaceae
Genus: Compositrema
Species:
C. isidiofarinosum
Binomial name
Compositrema isidiofarinosum
Mercado-Díaz, Lücking & Parnmen (2014)

Compositrema isidiofarinosum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. [1] This lichen was discovered in Puerto Rico. It flourishes in the shaded understory of the palo Colorado forest in El Yunque National Forest, clinging to the trunks of unidentified trees.

Contents

Taxonomy

Compositrema isidiofarinosum was first scientifically described in 2014 by lichenologists Joel Mercado-Díaz, Robert Lücking, and Sittiporn Parnmen. The species name, isidiofarinosum, hints at one of its unique characteristics: a powder-like, isidiate thallus. The type specimen was discovered by the first author on a tree trunk in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, specifically in Barrio Cubuy, on the trail leading to Pico del Toro. [2]

Description

Compositrema isidiofarinosum is a lichen species with a powdery, continuous thallus that measures up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter. Its surface is light greenish white, adorned with sparse, scattered, corticate isidia, which are tiny, outgrowth-like propagules that aid in reproduction. The presence of these isidia, along with the relatively small ascomata (fruiting bodies of the lichen) and an inconspicuous columella (a central pillar-like structure within the ascomata), set it apart from other species in Compositrema . [2]

The lichen's photobiont (the alga in the symbiotic relationship) is Trentepohlia , a genus known for its distinctive yellow-green cells. The asci (spore-producing cells) are spindle-shaped to club-shaped, and each typically contains eight ascospores . These spores are hyaline (translucent), ellipsoid, and three times longer than wide with dimensions of 12–15 by 5–6  μm. [2]

In terms of secondary metabolites (lichen products), Compositrema isidiofarinosum produces psoromic acid and the related substances subpsoromic acid and 2'-O-demethylpsoromic acid. [2]

Similar species

Superficially, Compositrema isidiofarinosum is reminiscent of Melanotrema or Redingeria species because of its ecorticate thallus and ascomata featuring an irregular columella. However, molecular data has firmly placed it within Compositrema. This species has a striking degree of morphological convergence with unrelated species, and its unique characteristics have been confirmed by the discovery of similar specimens in Venezuela, notably within Henri Pittier National Park. [2]

Habitat and distribution

The lichen was initially discovered in the understory of the palo Colorado forest within El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico. It was observed growing on the trunk of an unidentified tree, demonstrating a preference for shaded environments. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graphidaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Graphidaceae are a family of lichen-forming fungi in the order Graphidales. The family contains nearly a hundred genera and more than 2000 species. Although the family has a cosmopolitan distribution, most Graphidaceae species occur in tropical regions, and typically grow on bark.

Clandestinotrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has 17 species. They typically inhabit montane and cloud forest at higher elevations in the tropics.

Gintarasia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has seven species, all of which are found in Australia. Gintarasia species are corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens with a thelotremoid form.

Borinquenotrema is a single-species fungal genus in the family Graphidaceae. It contains the species Borinquenotrema soredicarpum, a corticolous (bark-dweling) lichen. Found in Puerto Rico, this lichen is characterized by its carbonizedascomata, which develop from within soralia, and its distinctive distoseptate, violet-blue ascospores. Borinquenotrema soredicarpum grows on tree trunks in shaded understory environments of Tabonuco forests in El Yunque National Forest.

Cruentotrema amazonum is a little-known species of script lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is found in Brazil, Thailand, and Vietnam, where it grows in the understory of primary rainforests.

Fissurina amyloidea is a little-known species of script lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is found in the primary rainforests of Rondônia, Brazil. It is characterized by its weakly carbonizedlirellae and thick-walled, strongly amyloid ascospores. Despite its superficial similarity to Fissurina subfurfuracea, F. amyloidea exhibits unique anatomical features that set it apart from other species within the genus.

<i>Acanthotrema alboisidiatum</i> Species of lichen

Acanthotrema alboisidiatum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Described as a new species in 2014, it is primarily distinguished by its striking white isidia that contrast with its light olive-green thallus. The lichen was recognized as a new species despite the absence of ascomata and ascospores, usually crucial for taxonomic identification. Its DNA sequence data confirms its place in the Acanthotrema genus but distinguishes it from other known members of this genus. The species grows up to a diameter of 5 cm (2 in) and bears short, white isidiate outgrowths that resemble insect eggs. The lichen appears to favour the shaded understory of Tabonuco forests in El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico, particularly towards the base of Dacryodes excelsa trees.

Acanthotrema kalbii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. First classified as a new species in 2012, the lichen is found in Costa Rica, where it grows in partially shaded areas of disturbed primary forest within the montane rainforest zone. This lichen stands out from its close relative, A. brasilianum, primarily due to the internal structure of its larger ascospores. The inaugural specimen of A. kalbii used for the species' formal description, was located on tree bark in a montane rainforest in the Las Tablas Protected Zone. The lichen is recognisable by its grey-green thallus, which varies from smooth to uneven and produces slender isidia, tiny outgrowths, up to 2 mm in length.

Clandestinotrema portoricense is a rare species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Puerto Rico, it was described as a new species in 2014. It is characterised by its white, slightly shiny thallus that can span several centimetres in diameter, and its rounded ascomata that are immersed in the thallus. Unlike most of its genus counterparts, C. portoricense possesses septated (partitioned) spores and a carbonised (blackened) excipulum and columella, effectively distinguishing it from similar species.

Compositrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has four species. The genus was circumscribed in 2012 by lichenologists Eimy Rivas Plata, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch, with C. cerebriforme assigned as the type species. The genus is distinguished by its unique, composite pseudostromatic ascomata, which sets it apart from the otherwise similar genus Stegobolus.

Compositrema borinquense is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is found in northeastern Puerto Rico, where it grows on the trunks of trees in the palo Colorado forest of El Yunque National Forest. This lichen differs from others in the genus Compositrema, most notably from its closest relative, C. thailandicum, due to its distinctive, irregularly radiating columella–a central shaft of fungal hyphae in the ascoma.

Fissurina chrysocarpa is a little-known species of script lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found primarily in the rainforests of Rondônia, Brazil, it is distinguished by its bright orange lirellae.

Fissurina duplicans is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) script lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is found in primary rainforests of Brazil. The lichen has an endoperidermal thallus and a double margin of lirellae, setting it apart from similar species.

Ocellularia portoricensis is a rare species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It was discovered in Puerto Rico, where it grows on tree trunks within shadowy understories of specific forests. This organism is distinct from other related lichens by its unique characteristics such as a white medulla and relatively larger, brown-tinted ascospores.

Ocellularia vulcanisorediata is a rare species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Described as a new species in 2014, it is only known to occur in Puerto Rico.

Paratopeliopsis is a single-species fungal genus in the family Graphidaceae. It contains the species Paratopeliopsis caraibica, a corticolous (bark-dwelling), leprose lichen found in Puerto Rico's forests, where it cohabits with mosses on tree trunks. This lichen sets itself apart from other species in the tribe Thelotremateae, particularly those within the genus Topeliopsis, primarily due to its flour-like thallus and its comparatively small, brown spores.

Thalloloma rubromarginatum is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) script lichen in the family Graphidaceae. This lichen stands out from its counterparts within its genus, most notably Thalloloma haemographum, due to its corticate thallus and the presence of norstictic acid. Thalloloma rubromarginatum is found in the Sierra palm forests of Puerto Rico.

<i>Mangoldia</i> Genus of lichens

Mangoldia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the subfamily Graphidoideae of the family Graphidaceae. It contains four species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) script lichens.

Byssotrema is a monotypic fungal genus in the subfamily Graphidoideae of the family Graphidaceae. It contains the single species Byssotrema mirabile, a little-known corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen found only in Brazil.

Corticorygma is a monotypic fungal genus in the subfamily Graphidoideae of the family Graphidaceae. It contains a single species, the corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen Corticorygma stellatum. This script lichen is found in the shaded understory of rainforests in the Brazilian states of Rondônia and Paraná.

References

  1. "Compositrema isidiofarinosum Merc.-Díaz, Lücking & Parnmen". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mercado-Díaz, Joel A.; Lücking, Robert; Parnmen, Sittiporn (2014). "Two new genera and twelve new species of Graphidaceae from Puerto Rico: a case for higher endemism of lichenized fungi in islands of the Caribbean?". Phytotaxa. 189 (1): 186–203. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.189.1.14.