Parmelia discordans

Parmelia discordans
scale bar = 200 micrometres
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Lecanoromycetes
Order:	Lecanorales
Family:	Parmeliaceae
Genus:	Parmelia
Species:	P. discordans
Binomial name
Parmelia discordans Nyl. (1886)
Synonyms [1]
Parmelia omphalodes var. discordans(Nyl.) H.Magn. (1929) Parmelia omphalodes subsp. discordans(Nyl.) Skult (1984) [2]

Parmelia discordans is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. ^[3] Found in Europe, it is closely related and similar in appearance to the more widespread Parmelia omphalodes .

Taxonomy

Parmelia discordans was introduced to science by the Finnish lichenologist William Nylander in 1886. In his description, he compared it to Parmelia prolixa var. pannariiformis, noting that it differed in having a medulla with a pale yellowish tint when treated with potassium hydroxide (the K test), rather than the rusty-yellow reaction seen in the latter taxon. Nylander reported the species from porphyry outcrops in southern Finland, including sites such as Kotikallio, Mustjyrkänvuori, and Välikallio, often occurring alongside Parmelia saxatilis and frequently bearing patches of the lichenicolous fungus species Dothidea homostegia . ^[4]

Parmelia discordans is closely related to P. omphalodes , and some have suggested that they are the same species. ^[5] Molecular phylogenetics confirms their close relations, as they have a sister taxon relationship. ^[6]

Chemistry

Parmelia discordans contains the secondary metabolites (lichen products) protocetraric acid and lobaric acid. ^[7]

Habitat and distribution

Parmelia discordans grows on siliceous rock. It is most frequent in the lowlands of northern Europe; in central Europe it is often not separated from related taxa in the field or herbarium, so records there are probably under-reported. An Austrian record has been judged doubtful. ^[8]

Within Europe it has been reported from Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Finland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Turkey. ^[9]

References

1. "GSD Species Synonymy. Current Name: Parmelia discordans Nyl., Meddn Soc. Fauna Flora fenn. 13: 40 (1886)". Species Fungorum . Retrieved 18 September 2025.
2. Skult, Henrik (1984). "The Parmelia omphalodes (Ascomycetes) complex in Eastern Fennoscandia: Chemical and morphological variation". Annales Botanici Fennici. 21 (2): 117–142. JSTOR   23725302.
3. "Parmelia discordans Nyl". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
4. Brenner, M. (1886). "Bidrag till kännedom af Finska vikens övegetation. IV. Hoglands lafvar" [Contributions to the knowledge of the island vegetation of the Gulf of Finland. IV. The lichens of Hogland]. Meddelanden Af Societas Pro Fauna et Flora Fennica (in Swedish). 13:1–143 [40].
5. Divakar, Pradeep K.; Molina, M. Carmen; Lumbsch, H. Thorsten; Crespo, Ana (2005). "Parmelia barrenoae, a new lichen species related to Parmelia sulcata (Parmeliaceae) based on molecular and morphological data". The Lichenologist. 37 (1): 37–46. Bibcode:2005ThLic..37...37D. doi:10.1017/s0024282904014641.
6. Molina, M. Carmen; Divakar, Pradeep K.; Goward, Trevor; Millanes, Ana M.; Lumbsch, H. Thorsten; Crespo, Ana (2017). "Neogene diversification in the temperate lichen-forming fungal genus Parmelia (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota)". Systematics and Biodiversity. 15 (2): 166–181. Bibcode:2017SyBio..15..166M. doi:10.1080/14772000.2016.1226977.
7. Culberson, W.L. (1970). "Parmelia discordans, lichen peu connu d'Europe". Revue Bryologique et Lichénologique (in French). 37: 183–186.
8. Nimis, Pier Luigi; Hafellner, Josef; Roux, Claude; Clerc, Philippe; Mayrhofer, Helmut; Martellos, Stefano; Bilovitz, Peter O. (2018). "The lichens of the Alps – an annotated checklist". MycoKeys (31): 1–634 [627]. doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.31.23568 . PMC   5914158 . PMID   29706791.
9. Hawksworth, David L.; Blanco, Oscar; Divakar, Pradeep K.; Ahti, Teuvo; Crespo, Ana (2008). "A first checklist of parmelioid and similar lichens in Europe and some adjacent territories, adopting revised generic circumscriptions and with indications of species distributions". The Lichenologist. 40 (1): 1–21. Bibcode:2008ThLic..40....1H. doi:10.1017/S0024282908007329.