Niebla podetiaforma

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

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. [1] The epithet, podetiaforma is in reference to a primary inflated branch of the thallus that resembles a podetium, [2] a common feature in the lichen genus Cladonia .

Contents

Distinguishing features

Niebla podetiaforma is distinguished by the thallus divided into small tufts of yellowish-green, tubular-inflated, branches not more than 5 cm high, the branches usually less than 20 in number, erect to spreading and curved, occasionally divided into similar branches, or more often fringed along the upper side with shorter branches or lobes that bear apothecia, and by containing the lichen substance divaricatic acid, with triterpenes, and with yellow pigments concentrated at the base. The cortex is relatively thin, 25–50 μm thick, covering a fistulose (hollow) medulla. [1] Similar species are Niebla turgida , which differs by the bushy growth (larger thallus with more than 20 branches) with long tapered branches, Niebla undulata , distinguished by the recessed cortical surface between the cortical ridges, Niebla rugosa that differs by the ladder-like transverse cortical ridges between branch margins, and Niebla contorta that is recognized by the terminal rounded lobes thickened along margins, usually with submarginal apothecia; all contain divaricatic acid and less inflated branches. [1] A sekikaic acid-containing species, Niebla siphonoloba , often recognized by the simple branches with a closely reticulate cortex similar to a honeycomb, occasionally has less conspicuous reticulate ridging that may be confused with N. podetiaforma; this form is more easily distinguished by its secondary lichen metabolite (sekikaic acid). [1]

Niebla podetiaforma is a common lichen of coastal pebble lichen communities in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert of Baja California. [3] It often occurs on leeward slopes, and on mesas more inland from the coast than other species of Niebla. [1] This adaptation undoubtedly is related to the thin cortex and hollow medulla, which probably account for bloated appearance of the branches. Rare thalli have a flattened appearance as if someone had stepped on them, but can be identified N. podetiaforma by the fine reticulate pattern of cortical ridges. [1] Divaricatic-acid species of Niebla are generally distinguished by cortical features, in contrast to branching patterns in salazinic acid-containing species, and apothecial developmental patterns in sekikaic acid-containing species, with exceptions that require application of other morphological characters. [1]

Taxonomic history

Niebla podetiaforma was recognized by Richard Spjut as a distinct species from Niebla homalea based on samples that he and Richard Marin had collected for anti-HIV screening in Baja California, 29 April 1985,(Spjut & Marin 9077), [4] about 35 miles north Guerrero Negro on ridges and leeward slopes above San Andrés Ranch. On the day before they collected samples of Niebla homalea on Punta Banda and Niebla flagelliforma (initially identified as Niebla sp. undescribed) near Rosarito just north of Guerrero Negro. [1] A sample of approximately 100 grams of N. podetiaforma was to be sent to the National Cancer Institute, Natural Products Branch for their drug screening program in the search for new compounds to treat HIV and cancer; but instead the collected thalli were used as exsiccati that were distributed 11 years later to other institutions through the ABLS Lichen Exchange [5] The species was described in 1996. [1] Niebla podetiaforma has also been included under an extremely broad interpretation of N. homalea [6] based on the assumptions that morphological variation in Niebla is environmentally induced and that chemical variation represents chemo-syndrome variation; [7] [8] however, this broad interpretation of Niebla homalea and other related species has inconsistencies in the taxonomic treatment of the genus. [9]

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.

Vermilacinia tigrina is a fruticose lichen that grows on branches of shrubs and on earth among cactus and shrubs in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America and South America; in North America found in the Channel Islands and near San Diego, California, and in central and southern Baja California; and in South America from Peru to Chile. The epithet is in reference to the irregular black spots or bands on the thallus branches.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Spjut, R. W. 1996. Niebla and Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae) from California and Baja California. Sida Bot. Misc. 14
  2. ↑ Podetium: “Lichenized stem-like portion (stipe, or discopodium) bearing the hymenial discs and sometimes conidiomata in a fruticose apothecium” (with reference to Ahti, Lichenologist 14: 105, 1982), especially in Cladonia. Hawksworth, D. L.., P. M. Kirk, B.C. Sutton and D. N. Porter. 1995. Ainsworth & Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi. 8th ed. University Press, Cambridge.
  3. ↑ Niebla and Vermilacinia Communities, Richard W. Spjut, World Botanical Associates, retrieved 30 Dec 2014; http://www.worldbotanical.com/niebla_communities.htm
  4. ↑ Samples of lichens were collected from the eastern and western regions of the United States and Baja California, Mexico during 1985 for anti-HIV screening. Lichens were considered a potential novel source for new anti-HIV drugs since they had rarely been collected for the NCI antitumor screening program. Richard Spjut, the Senior Partner of WBA, proposed that the NCI reduce their 1 kg quantity to 25 grams in order to obtain a broad diversity of lichen samples. The NCI group maintains an inventory of natural product extracts with details on the collection data. Voucher specimens are deposited at the United States National Herbarium (Smithsonian Institution) and cited in Spjut's 1996 revision of the genus.
  5. ↑ ABLS Lichen Exchange, retrieved 21 Dec 2014, http://mlbean.byu.edu/lichenexchange/Home.aspx
  6. ↑ Bowler, P. and J. Marsh. 2004. Niebla. ‘Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert 2’: 368–380.
  7. ↑ Culberson, W. L. 1967. Analysis of chemical and morphological variation in the Ramalina siliquosa species complex. Brittonia 19:333–352.
  8. ↑ Culberson W. L. 1986. Chemistry and sibling speciation in the lichen-forming fungi: Ecological and biological considerations. The Bryologist 89:123–131.
  9. ↑ Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert: Book Review, Richard Spjut, web page, retrieved 22 Dec 2014, http://www.worldbotanical.com/lichen%20flora%20review.htm
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