| Malmidea rhodopisoides | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Malmideaceae |
| Genus: | Malmidea |
| Species: | M. rhodopisoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Malmidea rhodopisoides Kalb (2021) | |
 | |
| Holotype site: Grande Anel Rodoviário, Brazil [1] | |
Malmidea rhodopisoides 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 by the author from Grande Anel Rodoviário (São Paulo) at an elevation of 670 m (2,200 ft). The species epithet alludes to its resemblance to Malmidea rhodopis . [1]
Malmidea rhodopisoides is a crustose lichen with a thallus thickness of 20–40 µm. It is composed of isidia-like granules forming clumps that densely cover an orange-red prothallus. The thallus surface is dull, showing shades of grey to greenish grey, which turns orange-red when the cortex is abraded. Its medulla is also orange-red and has a K+ (red) chemical spot test reaction. [1]
The species' photobiont is chlorococcoid , with cells measuring 6–8 µm in diameter. Apothecia are sessile and rounded, measuring 0.7–1.5 mm in diameter and 0.4–0.5 mm in height. The apothecial disc is initially flat but becomes slightly convex, ranging in colour from beige to dark brown. The margin around the disc is about 0.1 mm thick, bulging, and elevated above the disc, typically orange-red and occasionally partly blackish. [1]
The excipulum of Malmidea rhodopisoides is of the piperis-type, hyaline (translucent) at the periphery, with the inner part containing hydrophobic granules of norsolorinic acid. The subhymenium is approximately 20 µm high and varies from hyaline to light brown. The hypothecium is relatively tall, ranging from 200 to 400 µm, reddish to dark brown in colour, and does not react to potassium hydroxide (K−). The epihymenium of the species is either indistinct or slightly granular, while the hymenium is hyaline and stands 70–80 µm high. [1]
Asci within this species measure 60–70 by 20–25 µm, each containing 6–8 ascospores. These spores are broadly ellipsoid to fusiform , lack septa (internal partitions), with a uniformly thickened wall and a halo approximately 1 µm thick. The size of the spores ranges between 15 and 20 by 9–12 µm. [1]
Chemically, Malmidea rhodopisoides is characterized by a major presence of norsolorinic acid and a lack of atranorin. [1]
Malmidea rhodopisoides has characteristics that position it between Malmidea rhodopis and Malmidea isidiifera . M. rhodopis consistently has a smooth and often corticate thallus and is further distinguished by smaller spores measuring 9–15 by 5–8 µm. In contrast to M. isidiifera, which lacks norsolorinic acid in the inner layer of its structural excipulum and features a thallus covered with elongated, non-granular outgrowths (isidia), Malmidea rhodopisoides has traits that are intermediate between these two species. [1]
Diorygma microsporum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It was described as new to science in 2011. It has a neotropical distribution, and has been collected in Florida, Colombia, Brazil, and India. Notable for its small ascospores, this lichen thrives in undisturbed rainforests and serves as an indicator of forest health.
Malmidea attenboroughii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is known to occur from a single location in the Amazon rainforest of Bolivia.
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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 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 leucopiperis 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.
Enterographa aldabrensis is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is only known to occur in Aldabra in the Seychelles.
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.