Gyalolechia fulgens

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Gyalolechia fulgens
Gyalolechia fulgens 261698586.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Teloschistales
Family: Teloschistaceae
Genus: Gyalolechia
Species:
G. fulgens
Binomial name
Gyalolechia fulgens
(Sw.) Søchting, Frödén & Arup (2013)
Synonyms [1]
List
  • Lichen fulgensSw. (1784)
  • Parmelia fulgens(Sw.) Ach. (1803)
  • Placodium fulgens(Sw.) DC. (1805)
  • Lecanora fulgens(Sw.) Ach. (1810)
  • Patellaria fulgens(Sw.) Wallr. (1831)
  • Squamaria fulgens(Sw.) Hook. (1833)
  • Parmelia friabilis var. fulgens(Sw.) Schaer. (1840)
  • Biatora fulgens(Sw.) Fr. (1845)
  • Lecanora friabilis var. fulgens(Sw.) Rabenh. (1845)
  • Zeora fulgens(Sw.) Flot. (1849)
  • Psoroma fulgens(Sw.) A.Massal. (1852)
  • Caloplaca fulgens(Sw.) Zahlbr. (1903)
  • Fulgensia fulgens(Sw.) Elenkin (1907)

Gyalolechia fulgens, the scrambled egg lichen, is a species of terricolous (ground-dwelling), squamulose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. [2] The lichen comprises overlapping, slightly pruinose lemon-yellow scales with a lobed margin. It grows on highly calcareous substrates such as chalk, limestone and shell sand, often in association with the moss species Trichostomum crispulum .

Contents

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by the Swedish taxonomist Olof Swartz in 1784, as Lichen fulgens. [3] In its long taxonomic history, it has been proposed for inclusion in several genera, including Biatora , Caloplaca , Fulgensia , and Lecanora , among others. [1] It was transferred to the genus Gyalolechia in 2013 by Ulrik Søchting and colleagues, as part of a molecular phylogenetics-based restructuring of the Teloschistaceae. [4] Its common name, "scrambled egg lichen'", alludes to its overlapping yellow scales with white margins. The species epithet fulgens is Latin for "shining". Another vernacular name is "yellow ground lichen". [5]

Description

growing on moss Fulgensia fulgens Plouharnel 2010-01-16.jpg
growing on moss

Gyalolechia fulgens has a distinctive appearance and colouration, which makes it readily identifiable. [6] The body of the lichen, known as the thallus, typically spans between 1 and 3 cm in diameter. It has a vibrant orange-yellow to whitish hue and forms a rosette-like shape, though it can also appear irregular and fragmented. The thallus is somewhat placodioid in form, meaning it has a crust-like centre with outwardly radiating lobes . The marginal lobes of the thallus are neatly defined and usually longer than they are broad, often exceeding 1 mm in width. These lobes tend to remain distinct or may overlap, particularly towards the centre. As the lichen ages, the central area often develops a verrucose - bullate texture—characterised by wart-like protrusions—and becomes coarsely dusted with a pale, powdery substance known as pruina . [7]

Schizidia , which are specialised scale-like reproductive propagules, are variably present on the surface of Gyalolechia fulgens. In many populations, part of the thallus surface is dedicated to the production of these structures. When schizidia are shed, they reveal the underlying white medulla, which is the inner layer of the thallus. [7]

Apothecia, the spore-producing structures, are often found on this lichen. They are small, measuring 0.5 to 1.5 mm in diameter. Initially concave with a thalline exciple (a rim-like structure surrounding the apothecia), they become convex over time, with the margin appearing more or less excluded. The deep orange colour of the apothecia contrasts with the paler colour of the thallus. The ascospores of Gyalolechia fulgens measure 9 to 12 by 3.5 to 5  μm and are typically either non-septate (without divisions) or one-septate (with a single division). They come in various shapes: ellipsoid (oval), pyriform (pear-shaped), or clavate (club-shaped). [7]

Chemical spot tests yield specific reactions that are characteristic of this species. A potassium hydroxide (K) test turns the thallus purple, indicating the presence of the secondary metabolites (lichen products) parietin and its precursor, emodin. Under ultraviolet light, the thallus shows a dull, pale orange colour due to the presence of fragilin and caloploicin. The apothecia also turn purple with the K test, indicative of physcion. [7]

Habitat and distribution

The moss Trichostomum crispulum is a frequent associate of Gyalolechia fulgens. Trichostomum crispulum (a, 144642-474722) 1648.JPG
The moss Trichostomum crispulum is a frequent associate of Gyalolechia fulgens.

Gyalolechia fulgens is typically found in environments that are well-lit and offer well-drained, basic substrates . This lichen thrives on stable and firm surfaces such as chalk grasslands and compacted shell-sand. It is frequently found in warm and sheltered locations that are still open to the elements, favouring sites that are close to sea level. These habitats are often adjacent to dunes. A notable aspect of the habitat of Gyalolechia fulgens is its association with certain moss species, particularly Trichostomum crispulum . [7]

Geographically, Gyalolechia fulgens has a wide distribution. It is found across Europe and is widespread in the warmer regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The lichen is also present in Australia and New Zealand, indicating its adaptability to various climatic conditions within these regions. In the United Kingdom, it is considered rare. [7] In Wales, it seems to be restricted to coastal areas. Gyalolechia fulgens belongs to a group of specialised lichens that thrive in highly open environments that typically feature areas of exposed soil and often include small rock outcrops. These settings are characterised by minimal competition from larger, vascular plants, allowing these lichens the space and resources they need to grow. [6] Gyalolechia fulgens is a prominent component of the biological soil crust lichen community of the Negev desert, and is particularly common on north-west facing slopes and interdunes. [8] In North America, it is found in the interior of the continent with a range extending north to the Arctic. [9]

Species interactions

Lichenochora epifulgens is a lichenicolous fungus that parasitises Gyalolechia fulgens. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teloschistaceae</span> Family of lichen-forming fungi

The Teloschistaceae are a large family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, although members occur predominantly in subtropical and temperate regions. Most members are lichens that either live on rock or on bark, but about 40 species are lichenicolous – meaning they are non-lichenised fungi that live on other lichens. Many members of the Teloschistaceae are readily identifiable by their vibrant orange to yellow hue, a result of their frequent anthraquinone content. The presence of these anthraquinone pigments, which confer protection from ultraviolet light, enabled this group to expand from shaded forest habitats to harsher environmental conditions of sunny and arid ecosystems during the Late Cretaceous.

<i>Gyalolechia</i> Genus of lichen-forming fungi

Gyalolechia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi belonging to the family Teloschistaceae. It contains 18 species of crustose lichens.

<i>Athallia</i> Genus of lichens

Athallia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. It was circumscribed in 2013 by Ulf Arup, Patrik Frödén, and Ulrik Søchting, and the type species is Athallia holocarpa. The genus name means "without a thallus".

<i>Flavoplaca</i> Genus of lichen

Flavoplaca is a genus of crust-like or scaly lichens in the family Teloschistaceae. It has 28 species with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution.

<i>Xanthocarpia</i> Genus of lichen

Xanthocarpia is a genus of mostly crustose lichens in the family Teloschistaceae. It has 12 species with a largely Northern Hemisphere distribution.

<i>Wetmoreana</i> Genus of lichens

Wetmoreana is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. It has two crustose, saxicolous (rock-dwelling) species.

<i>Xanthocarpia feracissima</i> Species of lichen

Xanthocarpia feracissima is a species of saxicolous, crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It was first formally described as a new species in 1953 by Swedish lichenologist Adolf Hugo Magnusson, as a member of the genus Caloplaca. The type specimen was collected in 1939 by John Walter Thomson in Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin. In the original description, Magnusson notes a similarity to the lichen now known as Gyalolechia flavovirescens, but distinguishes the new species by its lack of a visible thallus, the sordid-reddish color of its discs, and the "unusually narrow" septa of the spores. Patrik Frödén, Ulf Arup, and Ulrik Søchting transferred the taxon to Xanthocarpia in 2013, following molecular phylogenetic analysis of the family Teloschistaceae.

<i>Stellarangia</i> Genus of lichens

Stellarangia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. It has three species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichens. Species of Stellarangia are found in dry, desert areas in Namibia and South Africa.

<i>Variospora flavescens</i> Species of lichen

Variospora flavescens is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is a common, widely distributed species and has been recorded in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Macaronesia.

Haloplaca is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the subfamily Teloschistaceae of the family Teloschistaceae. It contains three species of crustose lichens. The genus was circumscribed by Ulf Arup and colleagues in 2013, with Haloplaca britannica assigned as the type species. The genus name alludes to the preference of its species for salt-rich environments. All three species occur in the United Kingdom, but H. suaedae also occurs in Greece, Morocco and Turkey. Haloplaca species occur near the sea, either on rocks or on plant debris.

Usnochroma is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae. It has two species of crustose lichens. The genus was circumscribed in 2013 by lichenologists Ulrik Søchting, Ulf Arup, and Patrik Frödén, with Usnochroma carphineum assigned as the type species. The genus name refers to the yellowish-green colour of the thallus, which is caused by the substance usnic acid. Usnochroma species occur in Macaronesia, South Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, and Algeria.

<i>Flavoplaca arcis</i> Species of lichen

Flavoplaca arcis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose to squamulose (scaley) lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. Although widely distributed in Northern, Central, and Western Europe, it is not commonly encountered.

<i>Leproplaca cirrochroa</i> Species of lichen

Leproplaca cirrochroa is a widespread and common species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It grows up to 5 cm across, featuring a placodioid thallus with narrow, finger-like lobes that adhere closely to the surface, showing intricate division and ranging in colour from dirty orange to brownish orange, often with paler, pruinose orange ends.

Cerothallia subluteoalba is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. Found in Australia, it was described as a new species in 2009. This species is distinguished by its numerous bright yellow to soft yellow-orange apothecia, tiny spores with slim dividers (septa), and a barely distinguishable thallus that either fades away or grows inside its host.

Xanthocarpia erichansenii is a species of terricolous (ground-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in southwest Greenland, where it grows on loess among mosses.

<i>Flavoplaca maritima</i> Species of lichen

Flavoplaca maritima is a species of crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in costal areas of Northern, Western, and Southern Europe. It mostly occurs on rocks, but has also been recorded growing on wood.

<i>Polycauliona bolacina</i> Species of lichen

Polycauliona bolacina, the waxy firedot lichen, is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in western North America.

<i>Flavoplaca oasis</i> Species of lichen

Flavoplaca oasis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is widely distributed across Europe, and has been reported in Western Asia, China, and North Africa.

Hanstrassia lenae is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) in the family Teloschistaceae. Described as a new species in 2007, the lichen is found in Russian Far East, Mongolia, and Siberia. It closely resembles Elenkiniana ehrenbergii but distinguished by the presence of soralia on its thallus. This species has a thick, effigurate thallus with weak marginal lobes and developed marginal, labriform (lip-shaped) soralia.

Scutaria is a single-species fungal genus in the family Teloschistaceae. It contains the species Scutaria andina, found in South America. The thallus of this lichen has a form that is intermediate between crustose and foliose.

References

  1. 1 2 "Synonymy. Current Name: Gyalolechia fulgens (Sw.) Søchting, Frödén & Arup, in Arup, Søchting & Frödén, Nordic Jl Bot. 31(1): 70 (2013)". Species Fungorum . Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "Gyalolechia fulgens (Sw.) Søchting, Frödén & Arup". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  3. ↑ Swartz, O. (1784). "Musci in Suecia nunc primum reperti ac descripti". Nova acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis. 4: 239–251.
  4. ↑ Arup, Ulf; Søchting, Ulrik; Frödén, Patrik (2013). "A new taxonomy of the family Teloschistaceae". Nordic Journal of Botany. 31 (1): 16–83. doi:10.1111/j.1756-1051.2013.00062.x.
  5. ↑ Jarvis, Peter (2019). The Pelagic Dictionary of Natural History of the British Isles. Exeter: Pelagic Publishing. ISBN   978-1-78427-194-7.
  6. 1 2 "Fulgensia fulgens". Lichens of Wales. British Lichen Society . Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gilbert, O.L. (2009). "Fulgensia A. Massal. & De Not. (1853)". In Smith, C.W.; Aptroot, A.; Coppins, B.J.; Fletcher, F.; Gilbert, O.L.; James, P.W.; Wolselely, P.A. (eds.). The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ed.). London: The Natural History Museum. p. 406. ISBN   978-0-9540418-8-5.
  8. ↑ Russow, Rolf; Veste, Maik; Böhme, Frank (2005). "A natural 15 N approach to determine the biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by biological soil crusts of the Negev Desert". Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 19 (23): 3451–3456. doi:10.1002/rcm.2214.
  9. ↑ Brodo, Irwin M. (2016). Keys to Lichens of North America: Revised and Expanded. Sylvia Duran Sharnoff, Stephen Sharnoff, Susan Laurie-Bourque (Revised and expanded ed.). New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 47. ISBN   978-0-300-19573-6. OCLC   927391072.
  10. ↑ Diederich, Paul; Lawrey, James D.; Ertz, Damien (2018). "The 2018 classification and checklist of lichenicolous fungi, with 2000 non-lichenized, obligately lichenicolous taxa". The Bryologist. 121 (3): 340–425 [384]. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-121.3.340.
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