| Tetramelas flindersianus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Caliciales |
| Family: | Caliciaceae |
| Genus: | Tetramelas |
| Species: | T. flindersianus |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetramelas flindersianus Elix (2020) | |
Tetramelas flindersianus is a saxicolous (rock-dwelling) crustose lichen species in the family Physciaceae. [1] First described scientifically in 2020, it is found in Australia.
The type specimen of the lichen was collected on Tasmania's Flinders Island. It was found approximately 5.8 km (3.6 mi) southeast of West Point, either on or near a siliceous rock outcrop. Tetramelas flindersianus, is named after its type locality, Flinders Island in Tasmania. It is similar to Tetramelas filsonii , but is distinct in having a non-amyloid medulla , narrower ascospores , and containing only atranorin. [2]
The thallus of Tetramelas flindersianus is crustose and areolate , growing up to 60 mm wide and 1 mm thick. The areoles , ranging from 1–2.5 mm wide, can be scattered or contiguous, sometimes aggregating to form a secondary somewhat squamulose (scaly) crust that occasionally lifts off the substrate . The upper surface of the thallus is off-white to grey-white, dull, and granular in parts, with no visible prothallus . The photobiont cells measure 8–23 µm wide, and the medulla is white, lacking crystals of calcium oxalate. [2]
The apothecia are 0.3–1 mm wide, lecideine in type, and can be separate or in small groups, broadly adnate to sessile , with a black, non-powdery ( epruinose ), flat to weakly convex disc . The proper exciple is prominent, entire , and shiny, measuring 40–50 µm thick. The epihymenium is dark brown to dark olive-brown, while the hypothecium beneath is brown to brown-black, forming a central plug. The hymenium is 65–90 µm thick, colourless, and the subhymenium beneath it is pale brown, 20–35 µm thick. Paraphyses are 1.5–2.0 µm wide, sparsely branched, with dark brown capped tips. The asci are of the Bacidia type, containing eight spores. The ascospores are initially of the Callispora- or Physconia-types, then of the Buellia-type, brown, ellipsoid to broadly fusiform or bottle-shaped, measuring 13–20 by 5–7 µm, and the outer spore-wall is microrugulate . Pycnidia are immersed, punctiform , with bacilliform conidia measuring 5–7 by 0.7–1 µm. Chemically, the thallus contains atranorin as a major lichen product. [2]
Tetramelas flindersianus has been found on hard, siliceous rocks such as quartzite at two locations on Flinders Island, Tasmania, and one in Victoria. It is associated with typical nearshore lichen species like Buellia stellulata , Caloplaca cribrosa , Catillaria austrolittoralis , Lecanora subcoarctata , Pertusaria xanthoplaca , Rinodina blastidiata , and Tylothallia verrucosa . [2]
Acarospora pseudofuscata is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Acarosporaceae. It occurs on a few islands in the Aegean Sea and in Turkey.
Pertusaria pseudoparotica is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Pertusariaceae. It is known from a few localities in Greece's Aegean Islands.
Pertusaria albineoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Pertusariaceae. Found on the Galápagos Islands, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Frank Bungartz, A.W.Archer, Alba Yánez-Ayabaca, and John Elix. The type specimen was collected on Alcedo Volcano at an altitude of 1,089 m (3,573 ft), where it was found growing on a partially shaded, rain- and wind-exposed trunk of Scalesia microcephala. The species epithet refers to the similarity to the species Pertusaria albinea, from which it differs by having thin-walled ellipsoid-shaped ascospores that are longer and narrower.
Filsoniana rexfilsonii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. Found in Australia, it was formally described as a new species in 2007. The thallus of Filsoniana rexfilsonii comprises brownish-orange squamules each hosting one to four reproductive structures.
Sirenophila cliffwetmorei is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Australia. Its thallus can reach up to 1 centimetre in width, has a whitish to whitish-grey colour, and is very thin, sometimes almost merging with the substrate, and has paler edges with a darker grey centre. Its numerous tiny apothecia give the thallus a yellow-orange appearance.
Lecidea lygommella is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Lecideaceae. It spreads up to 7 cm wide with a thin thallus varying in colour from whitish and pale grey to rusty red-brown, featuring areolate surfaces with irregularly shaped areoles. Its fruiting bodies range from slightly embedded to sitting atop the thallus and black, flat to slightly convex apothecial discs. Unlike its lookalike Lecidea lygomma, L. lygommella does not produce any secondary chemicals. It is found in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia, where it grows on rocks in alpine areas.
Placolecis kunmingensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Catillariaceae. It is found in Yunnan, China. The lichen is characterised by a thallus that is areolate to squamulose in its centre, forming irregular patches or clumps 10–50 mm wide, as well as its ellipsoid or spherical ascospores with slightly thickened wall.
Tetramelas gariwerdensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Physciaceae, described in 2020. It is found in the Grampian Mountains in western Victoria, Australia.
Malmidea allopapillosa is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Venezuela.
Malmidea isidiifera is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Brazil and Venezuela.
Malmidea rhodopisoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae. It is found in Brazil.
Buellia arida is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It occurs in Australia. Buellia arida grows up to 4 cm wide, either concealed within or visible on rock surfaces, forming small, fragmented patches. It features an off-white, dull thallus, numerous black apothecia that become convex over time, and spores that evolve from pale to dark brown, characterized by their ellipsoid shape and finely decorated surface.
Buellia cravenii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It is found in Australia. The lichen spreads up to 3.5 cm wide thick, forming a continuous, grey-white cracked pattern of areoles.
Buellia eldridgei is a rare species of terricolous (ground-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae, known to occur only in Queensland, Australia.
Buellia kowenensis is a rare species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It is only known to occur at its original collection site in the Australian Capital Territory of Australia.
Buellia lordhowensis is a little-known saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen species in the family Caliciaceae, first described in 2020. It is only known to occur on Lord Howe Island, Australia.
Buellia phillipensis is a little-known species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae, described in 2020. It is only known to occur on Phillip Island in the Southwest Pacific.
Baculifera confusa is a species of lignicolous (wood-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Caliciaceae. It is found in Australia.
Amandinea pilbarensis is a little-known species of crustose lichen in the family Physciaceae, First described in 2020, it is found in Australia. It is similar to Amandinea polyxanthonica, but can be distinguished by its smaller ascospores and the presence of calcium oxalate and thiophanic acid in the medulla.
Kaernefia kaernefeltii is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is widely distributed in Australia.
