| Niebla dilatata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Ramalinaceae |
| Genus: | Niebla |
| Species: | N. dilatata |
| Binomial name | |
| Niebla dilatata Spjut (1996) | |
Niebla dilatata is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks on Guadalupe Island and the foggy coast of the Baja California peninsula. The epithet, dilatata, is in reference to the broadly expanded (dilated) lobes of the thallus. [1]
Niebla dilatata is recognized by the thallus divided into flattened twisted branches that broadly expand above the base, the branches thickened and wavy (undulate) along margins, often with abundant pycnidia and/or apothecia, and by the thallus containing the lichen substance divaricatic acid. The cortex is 75–125 μm thick, in contrast to that of Niebla caespitosa, (25-)45–75 μm thick, a similar species that further differs by the jagged thallus margins. Pigmentation is weak near base of thallus. [1]
Niebla dilatata was recognized as a result of undertaking a taxonomic revision of the genus in regard to developing a lichen flora of Baja California. It was indicated to be endemic to Guadalupe Island on the basis of the yellow color and flattened branch morphology of the type, a pressed specimen that makes it difficult to assess its original three dimensional twisted form. Later it was discovered that collections identified as N. caespitosa from near Puerta Catarina and from Puna Cono also belonged to this species. Their thalli were dark green, instead of yellow green, and upon further review, it was realized that the twisted broadly flattened branches were similar to the pressed specimens at the Smithsonian Institution. [2]
Vermilacinia pumila is a whitish-green fruticose lichen that occurs in fog areas along the Pacific Coast and offshore islands of North America. The species epithet pumila refers to the dwarf form of the thallus, in contrast to V. combeoides.
Vermilacinia rosei is a fruticose lichen known from two islands off the Pacific Coast of central Baja California, San Roque Island and Cedros Island. The epithet, rosei, is in honor of Joseph Nelson Rose who collected the lichen on San Roque Island, 15 March 1911, during the Albatross Expedition. His lichen specimens had been kept separate from the mounted and filed lichen collections in the herbarium at the Smithsonian Institution, Department of Botany, US) loose in brown standard herbarium paper, and were made available to Richard Spjut sometime after 1986 while he was undertaking a revision of the genus Niebla. The epithet was proposed by Albert William Herre who considered the lichen to be a new species but did not describe the species or publish the name. .
Niebla caespitosa is a fruticose lichen that grows along the fog regions of the Pacific Coast of North America from southern California, including the Channel Islands, to the Vizcaíno Peninsula of Baja California. The epithet, caespitosa, is in regard to the clustered thallus branches spreading widely from a central attachment or holdfast
Niebla contorta is a fruticose lichen that grows along the fog regions of the Pacific Coast of North America on the Vizcaíno Peninsula and on the Isla Santa Margarita of Baja California. The epithet, contorta, is in regard to the twisted branches of the thallus.
Niebla cornea is a fruticose lichen that grows along the fog regions of the Pacific Coast of North America from near Morro Bay, California to near Punta Santa Rosalillita in Baja California. The epithet, cornea, is in reference to the cortex appearing hard and close textured.
Niebla dactylifera is a fruticose lichen that grows only on San Nicolas Island in the Channel Islands of California. The epithet, dactylifera, is in reference to the terminal finger-like branches.
Niebla disrupta is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of California, from Marin County to San Luis Obispo County, in the Channel Islands, and on Guadalupe Island in Baja California. The epithet, disrupta was given by William Nylander possibly in reference to the terminal vine-like branchlets exhibiting a disruption or slight change in the direction of growth where apothecia develop, or possibly to the branchlets that appear to break off.
Niebla fimbriata is a fruticose lichen that grows on volcanic rocks in the Channel Islands of California and along the foggy Pacific Coast of Baja California from near San Antonio del Mar south to Arroyo Sauces, which is located south of Punta Canoas. The epithet, fimbriata is in reference to the fringed branches of the thallus.
Niebla flabellata is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of Baja California in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert, from San Fernando Canyon to the northern shore of the Vizcaíno Peninsula west to Cedros Island. The epithet, flabellata is in reference to the flattened branches of the thallus.
Niebla infundibula is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the Pacific Coast in the Channel Islands of California and in Baja California on Guadalupe Island, and on the main peninsula in the southern region of the Northern Vizcaíno Desert on a ridge south of Punta Negra. The epithet, infundibula, is in reference to the funnel shape of the thallus branches.
Niebla isidiosa is a fruticose lichen known only from Guadalupe Island. The epithet, isidiosa is in reference to isidia (isidium) on the thallus.
Niebla lobulata is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of Baja California, from Bahía de San Quintín to Vizcaíno Peninsula and offshore islands, Isla San Martín, and Guadalupe Island. The epithet, lobulata is in reference to the lobed margins of the thallus branches.
Niebla podetiaforma is a fruticose lichen that grows frequently on small stones in fog regions along the Pacific Coast of Baja California from San Vicente Canyon to Morro Santo Domingo. The epithet, podetiaforma is in reference to a primary inflated branch of the thallus that resembles a podetium, a common feature in the lichen genus Cladonia.
Niebla siphonoloba is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of North America, in the Channel Islands, and from Bahía de San Quintín, Baja California to the Vizcaíno Peninsula. The epithet, siphonoloba is in reference to the pipe-like shape of the thallus branches.
Niebla sorocarpia is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of California in the Channel Islands and in Baja California in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert. The epithet, sorocarpia, is in reference to the terminal aggregate apothecia.
Niebla spatulata is a fruticose lichen that grows on small rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of central Baja California in the Vizcaíno Desert. The epithet, spatulata is in reference to the flattened branches of the thallus, in contrast to another similar species, Niebla flabellata.
Niebla suffnessii is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of North America within the Vizcaíno Desert region of Baja California. The epithet, suffnessii, is in honor of Matthew Suffness who was Chief of the Natural Products Branch in the National Cancer Institute during the late 1970s to mid 1980s, and later a coordinator of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) contracts for the drug discovery groups, and who also encouraged the screening of lichens and bryophytes in the search for new anticancer drugs.
Niebla testudinaria is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of North America, from Marin County, California to just south of Tijuana in Baja California, in the Channel Islands in California, and Isla San Martín and Guadalupe Island in Baja California The epithet, testudinaria given by William Nylander in 1870, is probably in reference to the dilated branch with a reticulated surface, similar to a tortoise shell.
Niebla turgida is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks in the fog zone along the Pacific Coast of Baja California in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert The epithet, turgida is in reference to the swollen branches of the thallus.
Niebla undulata is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks in the fog zone along the Pacific Coast of Baja California in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert, and also in the Channel Islands. The epithet, undulata, is in reference to the wavy margins of the thallus.