Niebla disrupta

Last updated

Niebla disrupta
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Ramalinaceae
Genus: Niebla
Species:
N. disrupta
Binomial name
Niebla disrupta
(Nyl.) Spjut (1996)
Synonyms [1]
  • Ramalina homalea var. disruptaNyl. (1870)

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. [2]

Contents

Distinguishing features

Niebla disrupta is generally recognized by the thallus divided into many narrow subterete branches, to 7 cm high, arising from a well-defined holdfast, blackened around the base to a short distance above, often with long terminal vine-like branchlets; the branchlets often with undeveloped apothecia, the more mature apothecia commonly seen below—in the mid to lower part of the thallus. [2]

The thallus branches are similar to those of the related Niebla homalea in their linear shape and in the margins twisting 90° at frequent intervals, and by transverse cracks occurring at frequent but irregular intervals, and in the texture of the cortex, which is slightly thinner in N. disrupta, 75–110 μm thick, compared to 75–150 μm thick in N. homalea. Black dot-like pycnidia are common along branch margins—at least to the mid region, and often to near base, and mostly absent between margins. [2]

Niebla disrupta is further distinguished by the lichen substance sekikaic acid, with accessory triterpenes, in contrast to divaricatic acid in N. homalea. [2] These depsides are related compounds [3] but nevertheless warrant species distinction as seen in other lichen genera. For example, Dirinaria sekikaica differs from D. picta by containing sekikaic acid instead of divaricatic acid; both species contain triterpenoids as accessory substances; [4] Fuscidea maccarthyl contains sekikaic acid (UV−) in contrast to divaricatic acid (UV+) in several related species. [5]

Niebla disrupta appears to intergrade with N. dissecta in the Channel Islands by development of tubular prismatic branches, and with N. cornea in southern California (San Luis Obispo County) by the flattened strap-like branches. They appear to be hybrids but referred to N. disrupta by the thallus being taller than wide with numerous branches arising from the base.

Taxonomic history

Niebla disrupta was first recognized by Nylander in 1870 as a variety of N. homalea. [6] Upon study of the type (biology) specimen, it was given species status due to the finding of sekikaic acid employing thin-layer chromatography. [2]

Niebla disrupta and N. homalea, among many other species in the genus, have all been included under N. homalea; [7] however, in regard to the comparison of the two species they cannot be considered sibling species since their morphological features vary independently, while their reproductive isolation is unknown [8] Apothecia in Niebla homalea appear less frequent and develop more towards the apex of branches, often on short side branchlets, and are compressed to where they attach to the branch, the branch itself also flattened at the junction. Additionally, these short side branchlets often appear without apothecia. In N. disrupta, apothecia often develop on young branches from which one or more additional branchlets form, and it would seem that the continued growth of the vine-like branchlets positions the apothecia lower on the thallus.

It is not so much a question of whether N. disrupta is a species but whether or not it should be recognized because it hybridizes with other species. Although hybridization has yet to be substantiated in Niebla, the species concept in the genus may likely be debated for some time due to the extreme morphological and chemical variation in the genus.

Related Research Articles

<i>Niebla homalea</i> Species of lichen

Niebla homalea is a species of fruticose lichen that grows on rocks in foggy areas along the Pacific Coast of North America, from Mendocino County, California south to Bahía de San Quintín on the main peninsula of Baja California, with an isolated occurrence further south on vertical rock faces above Punta Camachos, and other occurrences in the Channel Islands and on Guadalupe Island. The epithet homalea, given by Acharius, suggests it was in regard to the branches appearing flattened.

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 dissecta is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the Pacific coast of California, in San Mateo County and in the Channel Islands. The epithet dissecta is in reference to the thallus repeatedly divided into branches.

Niebla eburnea is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of North America, from Mendocino County in California south to near Punta Santa Rosalillita in Baja California, and also in the Channel Islands. The epithet, eburnea is in reference to the ivory like appearance of the cortex.

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 flagelliforma is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of Baja California mostly in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert. The epithet, flagelliforma is in reference to the individual branches of the thallus shaped like a flagellum.

Niebla juncosa is a fruticose lichen that grows on rock, stony soil and sand along the Pacific Coast of Baja California from Punta Banda to Morro Santo Dominogo. The epithet, juncosa is in reference to the thallus divided into rush-like branches, the stems of the flowering plant genus Juncus.

Niebla laminaria is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the Pacific Coast of North America within the California Floristic Province, from Marin County, California south to Misión San Vicente Ferrer in Baja California, and in the Baja Channel Islands. The epithet, laminaria is in reference to the thallus divided into blade-like branches similar to a genus of brown algae, Laminaria.

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 rugosa is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of Baja California in the Vizcaíno Desert. The epithet, rugosa is in reference to the wrinkled reticulated surface of the thallus.

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 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 tesselata is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert of Baja California. The epithet, tesselata, is in reference to the cobblestone pattern on the surface of the thallus branches.

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.

Niebla usneoides is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks in the fog zone along the Pacific Coast of Baja California in the Vizcaíno Desert and Magadalena Desert regions, and reported also from the Channel Islands and mainland of southern California. The epithet, usneoides is in reference to the similarity to the lichen genus Usnea.

Niebla versiforma is a rare fruticose lichen that grows on gravelly soil along the foggy Pacific Coast of Baja California on a mesa above San Antonio del Mar just north of Punta Colonet. The epithet, versiforma is in reference to the various shapes of a thallus branch.

References

  1. ↑ "Synonymy. Current Name: Niebla disrupta (Nyl.) Spjut, Sida, Bot. Misc. 14: 75 (1996)". Species Fungorum . Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Spjut, R. W. 1996. Niebla and Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae) from California and Baja California. Sida Bot. Misc. 14
  3. ↑ Kalb, K. and J. A. Elix. 1995. The lichen genus Physcidio. In: Studies in lichenology with emphasis on chemotaxonomy, geography and phytochemistry Festschrift Ch. Leuckert Eds: Knoph, J.-G., Schriifer, K. & Sipman, H. J. M. - Bibliotheca Lichenologica 57:265 -296. J. Cramer in der Gebriider Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung, Berlin-Stuttgd
  4. ↑ Schumm, F. and J. A. Elix. 2014 (1982–1994). Images from Lichenes Australasici Exsiccati and of other characteristic Australasian Lichens. Volume One Issued by J. A. Elix. Books on Demand. Vol. 1
  5. ↑ Kantvilas, G. 2004. Fuscideaceae. Flora of Australia. 4 (Lichens): p. 175
  6. ↑ Nylander W. 1870. Recognitio monographica Ramalinarum. Bull. Soc. Linn. Normandie, Sr. 2, 4:101–181.
  7. ↑ Bowler, P. and J. Marsh. 2004. Niebla. ‘Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert 2’: 368–380.
  8. ↑ Culberson, W. L. 1986. Chemistry and sibling speciation in the lichen-forming fungi: Ecological and biological considerations. The Bryologist 89:123-131.

World Botanical Associates, Niebla disrupta, retrieved 19 Dec 2014, http://www.worldbotanical.com/niebla_ disrupta.htm# disrupta

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.