Niebla juncosa

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Niebla juncosa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Ramalinaceae
Genus: Niebla
Species:
N. juncosa
Binomial name
Niebla juncosa
Spjut (1996)

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. [1] The epithet, juncosa is in reference to the thallus divided into rush-like branches, the stems of the flowering plant genus Juncus .

Contents

Distinguishing features

Niebla juncosa is distinguished by the thallus divided into sublinear [2] subterete branches with a common attachment base (or holdfast); the primary branches generally creeping or ascending to erect, occasionally dividing into equal secondary branches and developing numerous similar branchlets along the upper side of a main branch (var. juncosa) or branchlets spreading in all directions (var. spinulifera), the branch margins not alternating with the cortical ridges; the whole thallus to 10 cm high and 15 cm in diameter. [1] The species (N. juncosa) also recognized by containing divaricatic acid, with triterpenes. [1] The cortex surrounds a fistulose to subfistulose medulla, varying from 55–175 μm thick, generally thinner on the branches where a change in thickness appears related fragmentation branchlets that break off from primary branches. [1]

Two varieties recognized.

Variety juncosa has primary branches with mostly entire margins [3] and usually with secondary (fragmentation) branchlets that develop mostly along the upper side of a primary branch; the secondary branches break off well above the attachment to the primary branch, or nearer the apex as seen in herbarium specimens. Variety juncosa common on rocks but occasionally on sand under Yucca valida in the southern part the Baja peninsula, and on stony ground in the terricolous Niebla communities in the transition zone from chaparral to desert scrub on mesas above Punta Baja. [1]

Variety spinulifera differs by primary branches with mostly wavy (lobed) margins and with spinule-like branchlets that spread in various directions from the primary branch, the spinule branchlets appear to break where attached to the primary branch, appearing to leave a rudimentary lobe; the thallus often appearing less rush-like and more mat-like related to the intricately divided branches. This variety (var. spinulifera) is widely distributed throughout the range of the species. [1]

Taxonomic history

Niebla juncosa was first recognized from thalli growing on a ridge 300–400 meters in elevation south of Punta Negra, between Punta Rocosa and Punta Prieta; the location for the type specimen collected 20 May 1986. Various outcroppings of rock piles along the ridge were discovered to have a rich assemblage of Niebla species, represented by various morphological and chemotypes. The associated species include large bushy thalli of Niebla homaleoides , Niebla infundibula , Niebla josecuervoi , Niebla sorocarpia , Niebla turgida , and other related species with short tufts of branches. [4]

Niebla juncosa has been included under a very broad species concept of Niebla homalea; [5] one that essentially recognizes only three species in the genus Niebla, defined by a two-layered cortex, isolated chondroid strands in the medulla and by lacking key lichen substances such as the triterpene zeorin and the diterpene (-)-16 α-hydroxykaurane that are found in most species of Vermilacinia. [6] Under the broad species concept, the morphological differences are seen as environmentally induced variation, and the chemical differences as chemo-syndromes; [5] however, no data were presented to support this view, other than reference to studies in other genera that appear inapplicable. [7]

Related Research Articles

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 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 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 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 limicola is a fruticose lichen that grows on barren mud flats and on sand among salt scrub along the Pacific Coast of the Vizcaíno Desert, of Baja California from San Vicente Canyon to Scammon’s Lagoon. The epithet, limicola is in reference to the thallus growing on barren (alkali) soil.

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 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 ramosissima is a rare fruticose lichen that grows on soil on San Nicolas Island in the Channel Islands of California. The epithet, ramosissima, is in reference to the very much branched 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 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 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 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spjut, R. W. 1996. Niebla and Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae) from California and Baja California. Sida Bot. Misc. 14
  2. ↑ Linear—having parallel sides for 10 times or more the width, sublinear the margins not perfectly parallel, or the branches occasionally widened slightly, especially where they divide
  3. ↑ Leaf margins. Retrieved 26 Dec 2014, http://cite.nwmissouri.edu/nworc/files/agriculture/leafid_margin/leafid_margin_print.html
  4. ↑ Niebla and Vermilacinia Communities, Boulder Niebla Community, World Botanical Associates, retrieved 26 Dec 2014, http://www.worldbotanical.com/niebla_communities.htm
  5. 1 2 Bowler, P. and J. Marsh. 2004. Niebla. ‘Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert 2’: 368–380.
  6. ↑ Spjut R. W. 1995. Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae, Lecanorales), a new genus of lichens. In: Flechten Follmann; Contr. Lichen in honor of Gerhard Follmann; F. J. A. Daniels, M. Schulz & J. Peine, eds., Koeltz Scientific Books: Koenigstein, pp. 337-351.
  7. ↑ Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert: Book Review, Richard Spjut, web page, http://www.worldbotanical.com/lichen%20flora%20review.htm
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