| Niebla dissecta | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Ramalinaceae |
| Genus: | Niebla |
| Species: | N. dissecta |
| Binomial name | |
| Niebla dissecta Spjut (1996) | |
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. [1]
Niebla dissecta is recognized by the thallus broader than tall—not more than 4 cm high, divided into many narrow partly subterete but mostly irregular 3-angled branches that arise from a common attachment area, blackened slightly around the base to a short distance above, the 3 longitudinal ridges spirally twisted 90° at frequent but irregular intervals, the primary branches often more compressed and broader where they divide more or less equally into secondary branches that ultimately divide again and spread as much as 180°. [2] Lichen substances are sekikaic acid, with accessory triterpenes, in contrast to divaricatic acid in Niebla testudinaria . Determination of the secondary metabolites helps distinguish these species in the Channel Islands (Santa Cruz Island) and in the Santa Ynez Mountains where they appear morphologically intermediate. [3] [4] The branches of the intermediate or putative hybrid is not as clearly 3-ridged, twist more frequently, and have smaller and more frequent crater-like depressions between the longitudinal ridges (see also Photo 38.6 in Spjut 1996). [1]
The type (biology) specimen of Niebla dissecta also appears to be a hybrid or intermediate form to Niebla disrupta . It has the relatively broad thallus, the 3-angled branches, the dilated branching node-like areas (plant stem), and the wide spreading terminal branches that characterizes the species, but unlike the Channel Island specimens, its longitudinal ridges are more sharply angled, and the subterminal apothecia have extended branches as seen in N. disrupta. [1]
As in most species of Niebla, there is a common set of morphological traits shared throughout the range of a species, while one or more of the individual character features may vary from one location to another; as a result the individual species have been referred to as shape shifters. [5] The variation appears related to the associated species. Niebla dissecta is just one example that also includes a morph [6] similar to Niebla cornea (Photo 9.4 in Spjut 1996). [1]
The association of Niebla species at each geographical location might be viewed as the Niebla collective in that each appears to have a unique set of morphological and chemical features not seen at other locations, the exceptions being the isidiate species and those that appear to be recent colonizers or occur at the extreme range of the genus (see p. 20–24 in Spjut, 1996). [1] For example, there are two distinct species of Niebla on San Nicolas Island without intermediate morphological forms, Niebla ramosissima and Niebla dactylifera . Both contain depsides; one has sekikaic acid, the other divaricatic acid. [1]
However, the morphological variation in Niebla is also viewed has highly “plastic.” [7] The 42 species recognized in the genus [1] are treated as just three species. Two of the species, Niebla homalea and Niebla josecuervoi , are distinguished by chemistry, depsidones ( Niebla josecuervoi ) and depsides ( Niebla homalea ), [7] which also includes the acid deficient Niebla homaleoides considered to be more related to species with depsidones; [8] N. dissecta is included in the depside group. This view implies that there are no geographical patterns to the morphological variation; i.e., the morphological variation is purely random due to genetic and environmental factors. But it is not random; the California Nieblas with sekikaic acid, which are more common in the Channel Islands than on the mainland, exhibit an evolutionary pattern in the Channel Islands from sparingly branched thalli with prismatic branch forms ( Niebla siphonoloba ), to uniformly dissected thalli (N. dissecta), to thalli more densely branched near apex (N. dactylifera). [9]
Niebla dissecta was recognized as a result of a taxonomic revision of the genus Niebla undertaken for producing a lichen flora of Baja California that began in 1986. A peer review of a manuscript in 1990-1991 led to further study of material in California. [1] Of particular importance was the collection by Charis Bratt from the Channel Islands that are deposited at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. [1] The type (biology) specimen was chosen from the specimens of Niebla at the United States National Herbarium (Smithsonian Institution); [10] it was collected from the mainland in San Mateo County. As indicated above N. dissecta is also included under an extremely variable species concept, Niebla homalea . [7]
Niebla is a genus of yellow-green fruticose lichens that grow on rocks, trees, and shrubs within the fog zone of coastal North America, or more narrowly defined to occur on rocks and soil along the Pacific Coast from Mendocino County in California south to Baja California Sur.
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 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 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 isidiosa is a fruticose lichen known only from Guadalupe Island. The epithet, isidiosa is in reference to isidia (isidium) on the thallus.
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 marinii is a fruticose lichen that grows on lava along the Pacific Coast of Baja California from near San Fernando Canyon south to Morro Santo Domingo. The epithet, marinii, is in honor of a field assistant, Richard Marin, who accompanied the author on lichen-collecting expeditions to Baja California during 1985–1996, while he also assisted in the gathering of samples of flowering plants for cancer research.
Niebla palmeri is a fruticose lichen that infrequently occurs on sandy beaches or gravelly soil along the Pacific Coast from San Diego, California to mesas just north of Punta Baja, about 15 miles southeast of El Rosario, Baja California. The epithet, palmeri is in honor of an Edward Palmer who collected the species in the vicinity of San Diego and on Isla Coronado.
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 pulchribarbara is a rare fruticose lichen that occurs on sandy beaches or gravelly soil along the Pacific Coast, at San Antonio del Mar and at Bahía de San Quintín, Baja California. The species epithet, pulchribarbara, is in reference to the strikingly beautiful lichen mat formed by the thallus.
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 sorediata is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of North America, in the Channel Islands of California and on Guadalupe Island of Baja California. The epithet, sorediata, is in reference to the development of soredia (soredium).
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 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.