| Nyungwea pycnidiata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Arthoniomycetes |
| Order: | Arthoniales |
| Family: | Opegraphaceae |
| Genus: | Nyungwea |
| Species: | N. pycnidiata |
| Binomial name | |
| Nyungwea pycnidiata Aptroot & M.Cáceres (2017) | |
Nyungwea pycnidiata is a rare species of lichen in the family Opegraphaceae. [1] Found in the North Region of Brazil, it was described as a new species in 2017. It is unique for its adaptation to living on termite nests.
The species was first scientifically described by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres in 2015, from a specimen they collected from the Ecotel garden in Fazendinha, (municipality of Macapá, state of Amapá, Brazil). The lichen was found on a termite nest on a tree in the garden. Aptroot and Cáceres named the species pycnidiata, referring to the distinctive pycnidia (asexual reproductive structures) of the lichen. This species belongs to the genus Nyungwea , and its identification was aided by DNA sequencing, which showed a close association with the type species, Nyungwea pallida , found in Africa. [2]
Nyungwea pycnidiata has a greyish-green thallus that is thin and dull, resembling clay. Unlike some other lichens, its medulla (the layer beneath the upper cortex of the thallus) does not have a distinct colour, nor does it contain calcium oxalate crystals. The lichen's hyphae (threadlike fungal cells) are hyaline, somewhat brittle, and 2–3 μm wide, giving them a rough texture due to superficial lecanoric acid crystals. The algal partner in the symbiosis is trentepohlioid , mostly solitary, and forms a dense photobiont layer . [2]
A striking feature of this species is its abundance of pycnidia, which are whitish, papillate (having a textured, bumpy surface), and smooth. These structures measure about 0.1–0.2 mm in diameter and 0.2–0.4 mm in height. The pycnidia are covered at the base by the thallus. The species produces hyaline, simple, and ellipsoid conidia (asexual spores), measuring between 2.5 and 4.0 by 1.5–2.0 μm. [2]
As of the time of its original publication, Nyungwea pycnidiata is only known to occur at the type locality, on termite nests on trees in a garden in Brazil. It is fairly abundant at this location. [2]
Acanthothecis saxicola is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2022 by André Aptroot, Robert Lücking, and Marcela Eugenia da Silva M.Cáceres. The type specimen was collected near Poço Azul at an altitude of 450 m (1,480 ft); here, in a cerrado forest, it was found growing on an overhanging sandstone. The lichen has an ochraceous white thallus lacking a cortex and a prothallus. Its asci contains eight spores, and the ascospores are hyaline, measuring 22–30 by 5 μm with 6 to 8 transverse septa. Acanthothecis saxicola contains stictic acid, a lichen product detectable using thin-layer chromatography.
Astrothelium aeneoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Puerto Rico, where it grows on the smooth bark of rainforest trees.
Astrothelium stromatofluorescens is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is only known to occur in a few locations in Brazil and Bolivia.
Astrothelium duplicatum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres. The type specimen was collected by the authors in the Parque Natural Municipal de Porto Velho, where it was found growing on the smooth bark of a tree in a park near a rainforest, and on tree twigs in the forest. The lichen has a smooth and somewhat shiny, olive-green thallus surrounded by a black prothallus and covers areas of up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. The presence of the lichen does not induce the formation of galls in its host. The ascomata are roughly spherical and typically aggregate in groups of about five to fifty, usually immersed in the bark tissue as pseudostromata. Its ascospores are hyaline, spindle-shaped and measure 45–55 by 11–15 μm. The use of thin-layer chromatography on collected lichen samples revealed the presence of an anthraquinone compound, possibly parietin. The characteristics that distinguish Astrothelium duplicatum from other members of Astrothelium include the internal, yellow pigment of its ascomata; and the dimensions of its ascospores, which are about 3–4 times as long as they are broad. Astrothelium mesoduplex is similar in appearance, but that species lacks yellow to orange pseudostromata and has shorter ascospores.
Astrothelium flavomurisporum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres. The type specimen was collected by the authors from the Estação Ecológica de Cuniã, in a low-altitude primary rainforest. The lichen has a smooth and somewhat shiny, olive-green thallus that lacks a prothallus and covers areas of up to 7 cm (2.8 in) in diameter. The ascomata are pear-shaped (pyriform), measuring 0.5–0.7 mm in diameter, and typically aggregate in groups of two to five, usually quite immersed in the bark tissue. Ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid, and muriform ; they measure 165–200 by 28–35 μm and have a thickened central septum. The presence of the lichen does not induce the formation of galls in the host. Thin-layer chromatography did not reveal the presence of any lichen products in the collected lichen samples. The characteristics that distinguish Astrothelium flavomurisporum from other members of Astrothelium include the dispersed groups of fused, immersed ascomata; and the median thickening of the ascospores.
Anisomeridium lateriticum is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Monoblastiaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2013 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres. The type specimen was collected by the authors in Fazenda São Francisco north of Porto Velho (Rondônia), where it was found growing on lateritic rock in a primary rainforest.
Porina linearispora is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trichotheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2013 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres. The type specimen was collected by the authors from the Parque Natural Municipal de Porto Velho, where it was found growing on bark in a primary rainforest. The lichen is distinguished from other members of genus Porina by its long and thin ascospores, for which the species is named.
Astrothelium mesoduplex is a species of lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is similar to A. flavoduplex but has larger ascospores and lacks lichexanthone. This lichen species has been found only in Brazil, particularly in primary forests.
Astrothelium nigrum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is characterized by its conical black pseudostromata, which contrast sharply with the thallus. This lichen species has been found only in Brazil and is unique in its appearance, superficially resembling a Pyrenula species.
Astrothelium ochroleucoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in Brazil and Guyana.
Astrothelium solitarium is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres. The species is closely related to Astrothelium ceratinum but differs in its ascospore size.
Astrothelium supraclandestinum is a species of lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. This lichen species is closely related to Astrothelium subclandestinum, but differs in its hamathecium, which is not inspersed. The species is widespread and has been observed in several countries across different continents.
Astrothelium testudineum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in Brazil.
Astrothelium xanthosuperbum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in Rondônia, Brazil. The species is characterized by its large muriform ascospores and is similar in appearance to Astrothelium disjunctum.
Fissurina amyloidea is a little-known species of script lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is found in the primary rainforests of Rondônia, Brazil. It is characterized by its weakly carbonizedlirellae and thick-walled, strongly amyloid ascospores. Despite its superficial similarity to Fissurina subfurfuracea, F. amyloidea exhibits unique anatomical features that set it apart from other species within the genus.
Neosergipea is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae. It has four species, all of which are corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens that are found in the tropical forests of Brazil. This genus is related to the genera Dichosporidium, Enterographa, and Erythrodecton. It distinguishes itself through unique morphological characteristics and certain chemical constituents, in particular, its non-carbonised ascomata and the presence of a vivid orange anthraquinone compound.
Neosergipea bicolor is a rare species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. Found only in Brazil and described as a new species in 2017, Neosergipea bicolor is characterised its dual-coloured appearance.
Neosergipea hyphosa is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Roccellaceae. This lichen species is uniquely characterised by its olive-green thallus—a type of vegetative tissue—and spherical ascomata, or fungal reproductive structures. It is most commonly found on tree bark in Brazil. The name hyphosa alludes to the distinct hyphose surface of the thallus.
Neosergipea septoconidiata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is a unique species of lichen that grows on the bark of trees in the primary forests of Brazil with its bluish-grey thallus and bright orange pycnidia that have a fluffy hyphal surface.
Opegrapha ramisorediata is a rare species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Opegraphaceae. Known to occur only in northeastern Brazil, it was described as a new species in 2017. It is characterised by a thin, pale greenish-mauve thallus.