Igneoplaca | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
Order: | Teloschistales |
Family: | Teloschistaceae |
Genus: | Igneoplaca S.Y.Kondr., Kärnefelt, Elix, A.Thell & Hur (2014) |
Species: | I. ignea |
Binomial name | |
Igneoplaca ignea (Arup) S.Y.Kondr., Kärnefelt, Elix, A.Thell, Jung Kim, M.H.Jeong, N.N.Yu, A.S.Kondr. & Hur (2014) | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Igneoplaca is a genus in the subfamily Xanthorioideae of the family Teloschistaceae. It contains a single species, the crustose lichen Igneoplaca ignea.
This species was first formally described in 1995 by Swedish lichenologist Ulf Arup, who included it in the genus Caloplaca . The type specimen was collected from Cape Punta Banda in Baja California, where it was found growing on rock pavement on a south-facing slope. The specific epithet ignea (meaning "fire-red") refers to the color of the lobes, which are often orange-red at the base with paler tips – somewhat resembling flames. [2] In 2013, Arup transferred the taxon to the new genus Polycauliona in a molecular phylogenetic-based reorganization of the Teloschistaceae. [3] A year later, Kondratyuk and colleagues reorganized Teloschistaceae subfamily Caloplacoideae, and circumscribed genus Igneoplaca to contain the taxon. The genus is named after its species. [4]
Genus Igneoplaca is characterized by a crustose thallus, composed of red to orange lobes. Its cortical layer is paraplectenchymatous (fungal tissue with a cellular structure superficially like parenchyma of vascular plants), while its medulla is prosoplectenchymatous (fungal tissue with a structure superficially like collenchyma of vascular plants). Apothecia are lecanorine with a paraplectenchymatous true exciple. The lichen contains anthraquinones of the parietin chemosyndrome. [4]
Igneoplaca is similar to Calogaya , but that genus does not have a prosoplectenchymatous medulla. [4]
Igneoplaca ignea occurs in Baja Mexico and in southern California. It grows on rock in sunny areas, preferentially on acidic rock such as volcanic rock, schist, pebble, shale, and granite. [4]