| Umbilicaria semitensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Umbilicariales |
| Family: | Umbilicariaceae |
| Genus: | Umbilicaria |
| Species: | U. semitensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Umbilicaria semitensis Tuck. (1872) | |
Umbilicaria semitensis, commonly known as Yosemite rock tripe, is a species of foliose lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It occurs in the western regions of northern North America, from southern California to southern Oregon.
Umbilicaria semitensis was first described by Edward Tuckerman in 1872 from a specimen collected at Yosemite National Park. [1] Initially recognized as a distinct species, it was later synonymized under Umbilicaria angulata due to their similar thallus appearances and overlapping geographical ranges. However, analyses of the ITS and LSU regions of nrDNA have supported the re-establishment of U. semitensis as a distinct species, primarily distinguished by its muriform spores, in contrast to the simple spores of U. angulata. [2]
The type specimen of Umbilicaria angulata was collected in California, specifically in Monterey, by Archibald Menzies. Although the specimen is labeled as collected in Monterey, the exact locality remains uncertain due to the extensive travels of Menzies along the north Pacific coast, where U. angulata is commonly found. This has led to speculation that the type locality might be mislabeled. Historical attempts to relocate Menzies' collecting sites near Monterey to find Umbilicaria angulata have been unsuccessful, suggesting that further investigation using Menzies' journals might be necessary to clarify the original collecting location. [2]
The lichen's epithet semitensis is derived from the Latinized form of "Yosemite", referring to its type locality in Yosemite Valley. Molecular studies have further confirmed the distinct genetic identity of Umbilicaria semitensis, separating it from U. angulata and other related species within its range. [2]
Umbilicaria semitensis is characterized by its large, rounded, and often overlapping lobes . The thallus of the lichen is adnate to loosely adnate, typically ranging from 7–15 cm (2.8–5.9 in) in diameter. Its lobes are contiguous to overlapping and imbricate , with a surface texture that is pale greenish-grey to whitish-grey and shiny. As the lichen ages, its surface becomes finely foveolate and can develop reticulate cracks. [2]
This lichen has numerous laminal pseudocyphellae, which are mainly linear to irregularly shaped. The older parts of the thallus densely develop cylindrical, simple to branched isidia, which are reproductive propagules. The rhizines on the lower surface are moderately abundant, ranging from simple to furcately branched, and are not squarrose . [2]
Apothecia are quite common in Umbilicaria semitensis, appearing more or less pedicellate with a disc that is concave and thalline exciple that is often sparsely isidiate . The ascospores are broadly ellipsoid, measuring between 17–18 by 12–13 µm. [2]
Umbilicaria semitensis is found growing on rocky substrates , particularly in montane and subalpine regions. It ranges from southern California through to southern Oregon, growing at elevations from approximately 7,000 to 8,000 ft (2,100 to 2,400 m). The lichen prefers exposed, somewhat sheltered locations on rock surfaces, often above the Yosemite Valley. [2]
Umbilicaria hyperborea, commonly known as blistered rock tripe, is a species of foliose lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It is widely distributed in arctic and alpine regions.
Punctelia graminicola is a species of foliose (leafy) lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It grows on rocks, and, less frequently, on bark in North America, South America, and East Africa. It has a blue-grey thallus measuring up to about 15 cm (6 in), covered with tiny pores called pseudocyphellae. Sometimes the lichen forms small lobes that project out from the surface. Fruiting bodies are uncommon in this species; if present, they resemble small cups with a brown internal disc measuring 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) in diameter. A lookalike species, Punctelia hypoleucites, is not readily distinguishable from Punctelia graminicola by appearance or habitat alone; these species can only be reliably differentiated by examining the length of their conidia.
Umbilicaria virginis, commonly known as the blushing rock tripe, is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) umbilicate lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It occurs in polar and alpine regions.
Umbilicaria maculata is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) umbilicate lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It is found in high-elevation alpine locations in Poland and France.
Umbilicaria muhlenbergii, commonly known as plated rock tripe, is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling, umbilicate lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae.
Dictyonema krogiae is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. It is found in Kenya, where it grows as an epiphyte on trees. It is often found in association with other lichens, such as Parmotrema, and bryophytes, such as Frullania. A main characteristic that distinguishes it from other closely related species is its clearly defined internal layers, including its contrasting dense photobiont layer and a loose lower cortex.
Parmelia squarrosa, commonly known as the bottlebrush shield lichen, is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It occurs in east Asia, Europe, and eastern North America, where it typically grows on tree bark, much less frequently on rocks, and rarely on moss. Because of its abundance, widespread distribution, and stable populations, it has been assessed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Parmelia saxatilis is quite similar in appearance Parmelia squarrosa and the latter was quite often confused with the former, especially in herbarium collections. Molecular phylogenetic analysis proved the genetic distinctness between the two species, which are morphologically distinguished by difference in rhizine structure.
Umbilicaria murihikuana is a rare species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it occurs in mountainous, high-rainfall areas of Otago and Southland. It grows on exposed rocks and boulders at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,500 m, in subalpine to alpine habitats.
Usnea sphacelata is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), fruticose lichen in the large family Parmeliaceae. It is found in both polar regions of Earth, as well as in southern and northern South America and in New Zealand.
Schaereria bullata is a species of lichen in the family Schaereriaceae. It is found in the alpine regions of Tasmania, Australia. This lichen species is characterized by its dark brown to grey-brown thallus, which forms irregular patches over soil or bryophytes, and consists of granules that coalesce to create convex to bullate squamules. The lichen also features distinctive apothecia, which are roundish and typically superficial, and spherical spores.
Placomaronea kaernefeltii is a rare species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Candelariaceae. Found in South America, it was formally described as a new species in 2009 by lichenologists Martin Westberg, Patrik Frödén, and Mats Wedin. The type specimen was collected by the second author from Arica (Chile), between Socoroma and Putre, at an altitude of 3,750 m (12,300 ft), where it was found growing along cracks and pits on a siliceous boulder in a dry mountain slope. The lichen is only known to occur at its type locality, although the authors suggest a wider distribution is likely. The species epithet honours Swedish lichenologist Ingvar Kärnefelt.
Hypotrachyna constictovexans is a little-known species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Known only from a single specimen collected in 1976, it is found in the highlands of Peru. Its thallus can grow over 5 cm wide, featuring long, straight, and separate lobes that are highly convex and tube-like, with a pale grey, slightly shiny upper surface adorned with cylindrical isidia.
Xylopsora canopeorum is a squamulose (scaly), corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen species in the family Umbilicariaceae. Discovered in the canopies of Sequoia sempervirens in California, United States, it was formally described as new to science in 2018. It is endemic to the central coastal region of California, living within the unique ecosystems of Big Basin Redwoods State Park and Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, areas known for their ancient coast redwood forests. The lichen evolves from a crust-like to scale-like form, developing into coral-like crusts as it matures, complemented by distinctive flat, black reproductive discs. This species has varying greyish-green to medium brown coloration and occasionally forms soralia, which release powdery reproductive propagules called soredia. Xylopsora canopeorum is distinguished from closely related species by its smaller, partly coral-like squamules (scales), the occurrence of soralia on its surface, and in some specimens, the presence of both thamnolic and friesiic acids within the thallus.
Umbilicaria torrefacta is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), foliose lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It is an arctic-alpine species with a circumpolar distribution and is widely distributed within the Holarctic realm, specifically within the Palearctic and Neoarctic biogeographical regions. Characteristic features of Umbilicaria torrefacta include the lace-like fringe in its lobes and the plates on the underside of the thallus. One common name, punctured rock-tripe, refers to the distinctive sieve-like perforations on the thallus margins.
Umbilicaria angulata, commonly known as the asterisk rocktripe, is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), foliose lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It is found in northwestern North America and east Eurasia, where it grows on acidic rock.
Xanthoparmelia alligatensis is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae, described by John Elix in 2006. The species is native to South Australia, specifically found in the Mount Remarkable National Park.
Umbilicaria isidiosa is a species of foliose lichen belonging to the family Umbilicariaceae. It is endemic to Bolivia, where it occurs in high-altitude regions of the Bolivian Andes. It is distinguished by its thallus, which has an upper surface ranging from ashy brown to mouse grey, featuring a frosty texture that varies from smooth to slightly rough. This surface is adorned with numerous isidia, ranging from spherical to richly branched, primarily concentrated along the margins. The lower surface is dark, transitioning from smooth to rough in texture, and sparsely covered with dark rhizines.
Umbilicaria aprina is a species of foliose lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It is primarily found on exposed boulders in high alpine and polar regions worldwide.
Umbilicaria nodulospora is a species of foliose lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae, discovered on steep rock faces of old lava flows in California and Oregon, USA. This species is distinguished by the unique shape of its ascospores and its DNA sequence, which does not closely relate to any known species within its family.
Umbilicaria orientalis is a species of foliose lichen belonging to the family Umbilicariaceae. It is recognized by its distinctive morphological features and unique molecular characteristics that distinguish it from closely related species such as Umbilicaria trabeculata. This lichen is primarily found across a range of localities in East Asia, extending from the Russian Far East to South Siberia, Mongolia, and regions in China including Hebei and Tibet.