Psoroglaena spinosa

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Psoroglaena spinosa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Verrucariales
Family: Verrucariaceae
Genus: Psoroglaena
Species:
P. spinosa
Binomial name
Psoroglaena spinosa
Weerakoon & Aptroot (2016)

Psoroglaena spinosa is a species of lichen in the family Verrucariaceae, [1] first described in 2016. It is characterized by its small fruticose (bushy) thallus , which is corticate , smooth, dull, and bright green, covering small areas and consisting of tiny squamules that branch into somewhat moniliform threads.

Contents

Taxonomy

Psoroglaena spinosa was formally described by the lichenologists Gothamie Weerakoon and André Aptroot in 2016. The type specimen was collected in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka on 15 February 2015. [2]

Description

The thallus of Psoroglaena spinosa is microfruticose , consisting of tiny squamules dissected into branched, somewhat moniliform threads that are almost equally wide along their entire length, about 20–25  μm in width. These threads, for the most part, lie in one plane, with some parts emerging in other directions. The branching is dichotomous anisotomic . The cortex is hyaline (translucent), papillose , with dense and high papillae, approximately 1 μm wide and 2 μm high. The algae are chlorococcoid , measuring about 4–6 μm in diameter, 2–3- seriate (arranged in rows), but unordered. Ascomata and pycnidia were not observed to occur in this species. [2]

The chemical composition of Psoroglaena spinosa was not evaluated in the study. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This species is found on trees in wet lowland tropical rainforests and at the time of its publication was known only to occur in Sri Lanka. [2]

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Leucodecton fuscomarginatum is a species of lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Sri Lanka, it was formally described as a new species in 2014 by lichenologists Gothamie Weerakoon, Robert Lücking and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch. The type specimen was collected from the Kikiliyamana Tea Estate at an altitude of 1,280 m (4,200 ft). The lichen, which is known to occur only at the type locality, grows in disturbed vegetation. The specific epithet fuscomarginatum refers to the rims of the ascomata pores, which are typically brown in colour. Leucodecton fuscomarginatum has a shiny, smooth, light greenish to yellowish brown thallus measuring 50–100 μm thick with a thin cortex. The ascospores are muriform, ellipsoid in shape, and measure 30–40 by 10–12 μm. Secondary chemicals present in the lichen include stictic acid, constictic acid, acetylconstictic acid, and hypostictic acid.

Ocellularia aptrootiana is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Sri Lanka, it was formally described as a new species in 2014 by lichenologists Gothamie Weerakoon, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch. The type specimen was collected from Mahailluppallama at an altitude of 170 m (560 ft). Here, in a low-altitude, dry, semi-evergreen forest, it was found growing around a water tank. The specific epithet aptrootiana honours Dutch lichenologist André Aptroot, "for his important contributions to tropical lichenology and his help with the research by the first author". Ocellularia aptrootiana has a grey, smooth to uneven or cracked thallus up to convert 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. The ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid in shape, contain seven septa, and measure 20–25 by 6–7 μm. Secondary chemicals present in the lichen include psoromic acid, subpsoromic acid, and 2’-O-demethylpsoromic acids.

Ocellularia cloonanii is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Sri Lanka, it was formally described as a new species in 2014 by lichenologists Gothamie Weerakoon, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch. The type specimen was collected from a high-elevation montane forest in the Fishing Hut Tea Estate at an altitude of 1,870 m (6,140 ft). The lichen is only known to occur at the type locality in the Horton Plains. The specific epithet cloonanii honours Colman Patrick Cloonan, "for his immense help in carrying out the research studies". Ocellularia cloonanii has an olive-grey thallus up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, with continuous but uneven surface. Its ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid in shape, contain seven to nine septa, and measure 35–40 by 7–10 μm. Secondary chemicals present in the lichen include psoromic acid, subpsoromic acid, and 2’-O-demethylpsoromic acid.

Ocellularia raveniana is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Sri Lanka, it was formally described as a new species in 2014 by lichenologists Gothamie Weerakoon, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch. The type specimen was collected from a high-elevation tea estate in Matale at an altitude of 1,360 m (4,460 ft). The lichen is only known to occur at the type locality and in the Sabaragamuwa Mountain Range. The specific epithet raveniana honours botanist and environmentalist Peter H. Raven, longtime director and now President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Ocellularia raveniana has a cream-colored to white thallus up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter, with an uneven to somewhat verrucose (warty) surface. Its ascospores are hyaline, oblong to ellipsoid in shape, contain seven to nine septa, and measure 25–35 by 8–10 μm. Secondary chemicals present in the lichen include protocetraric acid, and virensic acid.

Rhabdodiscus isidiatus is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Sri Lanka, it was formally described as a new species in 2014 by lichenologists Gothamie Weerakoon, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch. The type specimen was collected from the Elkaduwa Plantation in Matale at an altitude of 915 m (3,002 ft). The lichen is only known to occur at the type locality, which is a patch of mid-elevation, disturbed montane forest. The specific epithet isidiatus refers to the presence of isidia on the thallus. Rhabdodiscus isidiatus has a cream-colored to white, smooth to uneven thallus up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. The ascomata are rounded and prominent, measuring 0.7–1.0 mm in diameter with a 0.3–0.5 mm wide pore and a light brown rim. Its ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid in shape, contain three thick septa, and measure 12–15 by 5–6 μm. Secondary chemicals present in the lichen include psoromic acid, subpsoromic acid, and 2'-O-demethylpsoromic acid.

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Heterodermia fragmentata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) foliose lichen in the family Physciaceae. It occurs in Sri Lanka.

Lecanactis minutissima is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. Found in Sri Lanka, the lichen is characterised by its pale ochraceous thallus and sessile apothecia with dark brown discs, covered with thick white granular pruina.

Megalotremis cylindrica is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), lichen in the family Monoblastiaceae. It was described as a new species in 2016 based on a specimen collected from the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka. The species is characterized by its unique pycnidia and absence of ascomata.

Schistophoron muriforme is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae, first described in 2016. Found in Sri Lanka, it is characterised by its pale yellowish-white thallus and muriformascospores.

Pyrenula multicolorata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Pyrenulaceae, first described in 2016. It is distinguished by its almost superficial ascomata with a hamathecium inspersed with orange crystals, and ascospores that contain three internal partitions (septa).

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Porina microtriseptata is a species of corticolous, crustose lichen in the family Trichotheliaceae, first described in 2016. This species is distinguished by its shiny, olive-green thallus and hemispherical ascomata with pointed ascospores that are consistently hyaline, fusiform, and have three internal partitions (septa).

References

  1. "Psoroglaena spinosa Weerakoon & Aptroot". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Weerakoon, Gothamie; Aptroot, André (2016). "Nine new lichen species and 64 new records from Sri Lanka". Phytotaxa. 280 (2): 152–162. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.280.2.5.