| Malmidea leucopiperis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Malmideaceae |
| Genus: | Malmidea |
| Species: | M. leucopiperis |
| Binomial name | |
| Malmidea leucopiperis Kalb (2021) | |
 | |
| Holotype site: Itatiaia National Park, Brazil [1] | |
Malmidea leucopiperis is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. [2] It is found in Brazil.
The lichen was formally described as a new species in 2021 by the German lichenologist Klaus Kalb. The type specimen was collected from Itatiaia National Park (Rio de Janeiro) at an altitude of 850 m (2,790 ft). The species epithet alludes to its resemblance to Malmidea piperis , with a key difference in the hypothecium 's colour—light greyish to beige compared to the dark brown in M. piperis. [1]
Malmidea leucopiperis is a crustose lichen with a continuous thallus measuring 50–80 µm in thickness. Its surface is smooth and dull, appearing grey or greenish grey, and can turn orange-red when abraded. Neither isidia nor soralia (reproductive propagules) are present on this species. The medulla of the thallus is orange-red and has a K+ (purple) chemical spot test reaction. [1]
The photobiont of this species is chlorococcoid , with cell dimensions of 6–8 µm in diameter. The apothecia of Malmidea leucopiperis are sessile and rounded, ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 mm in diameter and 0.15 to 0.2 mm in height. The apothecial disc is initially flat, becoming slightly convex, with colours ranging from light beige to brown-grey or brown. Its margin is thin, about 0.1 mm, slightly raised, and varies in colour from whitish grey to dark brownish grey or black. [1]
The excipulum is of the piperis-type and mostly hyaline (translucent), though it can appear brownish or blackish at the upper periphery, and lacks hydrophobic granules. The subhymenium is about 10 µm high and hyaline, while the centrally located hypothecium is light greyish to beige, measuring 40–50 µm in height and is K−. The epihymenium of Malmidea leucopiperis is either indistinct or slightly granular , and the hymenium stands 60–70 µm high and is hyaline. [1]
Asci within this species measure 40–50 by 8–10 µm, each containing 6–8 ascospores . These spores are broadly ellipsoid to fusiform , non-septate, and have a uniformly thickened wall with a halo of approximately 1 µm. Their size ranges from 9–12 by 4–6 µm. [1]
Chemically, this species is characterized by a major presence of norsolorinic acid and the absence of atranorin, as determined through thin-layer chromatography. [1]
Malmidea leucopiperis occurs in the Atlantic rainforest in southern Brazil. It has been recorded from Rio de Janeiro, [1] Pernambuco, and Sergipe. [3]
Malmidea is a genus of crustose lichens and the type genus of the family Malmideaceae. It was established in 2011 to contain a phylogenetically distinct group of species formerly placed in the genus Malcolmiella. The crust-like thallus of Malmidea lichens has a surface that varies from smooth to rough, featuring textures such as verrucose (wart-like), granulose (grainy), or pustulate (pimpled). These textures are often formed by goniocysts, which are spherical clusters of green algal cells from the family Chlorococcaceae, encased in fungal hyphae. Malmidea comprises nearly 70 mostly tropical species that grow on bark, although a few grow on leaves.
Pertusaria albineoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Pertusariaceae. Found on the Galápagos Islands, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Frank Bungartz, A.W.Archer, Alba Yánez-Ayabaca, and John Elix. The type specimen was collected on Alcedo Volcano at an altitude of 1,089 m (3,573 ft), where it was found growing on a partially shaded, rain- and wind-exposed trunk of Scalesia microcephala. The species epithet refers to the similarity to the species Pertusaria albinea, from which it differs by having thin-walled ellipsoid-shaped ascospores that are longer and narrower.
Glyphis frischiana is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) script lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is distinguished by its large ascospores, single-spored asci, and the presence of stictic acid as a major metabolite. Found on the trunk of Eucalyptus trees in Cameroon, it is similar in appearance to Glyphis atrofusca but can be distinguished by these key characteristics.
Maronora is a monotypic fungal genus in the family Fuscideaceae. It contains the single species Maronora cyanosora, a corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen. It is characterised by its distinctive bluish-grey circular soralia on the thallus, Lecanora-like apothecia, and simple, hyaline ascospores.
Caloplaca filsonii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It has a crust-like thallus that is uneven and warty around the edges and more distinctly wart-like in the centre, coloured in shades of grey and brownish-grey near its reproductive structures (apothecia), but lacking a developed prothallus.
Malmidea cineracea is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Nicaragua.
Lecanactis malmideoides is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. First described in 2018, it is found in Brazil. Characteristics of the lichen include its pruinosediscs, thin and glossy black margins, and ascospore structure.
Rinodina densisidiata is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Physciaceae, first described in 2018. Found in Brazil, it is characterised its dense layer of cylindrical isidia and unique ascospore characteristics.
Rinodina maronisidiata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Physciaceae, first described in 2018. Found at high altitudes in the Venezuelan Andes, it is characterised by its unique isidia-covered thallus and specific ascospore morphology.
Malmidea albomarginata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Venezuela.
Malmidea allobakeri is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Venezuela.
Malmidea allopapillosa is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Venezuela.
Malmidea atlanticoides is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Brazil.
Malmidea hechicerae is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Venezuela.
Malmidea hernandeziana is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Venezuela. The distinctive features of this species include a thallus with coralloid-like outgrowths, light-coloured fruiting bodies (ascomata) with a specialised structural layer, relatively large spores that tend to have slightly thickened walls at their ends, and the absence of specific lichen products typically found in other species of the genus. This combination of characteristics sets Malmidea hernandeziana apart from other species in the genus Malmidea.
Malmidea isidiifera is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Brazil and Venezuela.
Malmidea rhodopisoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Brazil.
Malmidea subcinerea is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Venezuela. The lichen has a smooth, dull thallus varying in colour from grey to olive, with a white internal medulla. It has sessile, rounded apothecia with light beige to greyish-brown discs.
Malmidea volcaniana is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Venezuela. A major characteristic of the species is the coralloid (coral-shaped) clumps of isidia-like outgrowths on the thallus surface.
Byssoloma xanthonicum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Pilocarpaceae. It is found in New Caledonia.