Vermilacinia ceruchoides

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Vermilacinia ceruchoides
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Ramalinaceae
Genus: Vermilacinia
Species:
V. ceruchoides
Binomial name
Vermilacinia ceruchoides
(Rundel & Bowler) Spjut (1996)
Synonyms
  • Niebla ceruchoidesRundel & Bowler (1994)

Vermilacinia ceruchoides is a fruticose lichen found on rock faces of cliffs or boulders, sometimes growing among mosses, usually near the ocean, ranging in distribution from Marin County, California to San Vicente on the northern peninsula of Baja California, and in the Channel Islands. [1]

Contents

General features

The species is recognized by a thallus round in outline divided into filiform branches tightly compacted together, each branch generally round in cross section (terete), 0.1 to 0.7 mm in diameter, and shortly bifurcate near apex, and tipped with a black dot (sterile pycnidia). The thallus lacks a well-defined basal attachment such as a holdfast and is blackened where attached to substrate across a broad area. [1] The overall appearance of the thallus is much like that of the reindeer lichen, Cladonia rangiferina. Lichen substances usually present are bourgeanic acid, unknown (T3), zeorin, and (-)-16 α-hydroxykaurane, with or without usnic acid and salazinic acid.

Taxonomic history

Vermilacinia ceruchoides was described by Phillip Rundel and Peter Bowler in 1994 in the genus Niebla, [2] based on a type collected by R. E. Riefner, Jr. (exposed outcrops along W. Portero road near Lewis Road, about 5 km from the ocean, Reifner 89-588, ASU [3] ), presumably in 1989 according to his collection number style (also date of collection questioned n Harvard University Herbaria database); however, it had been previously described by Richard Spjut in a manuscript under another name, V. pulvinata, dating from 1986, that was in press at the time Rundel and Bowler’s name was published. Spjut first collected the species on 30 April 1985 on a rock outcrop along a beach in northern Baja California near Cerro Solo as a voucher specimen (Spjut & Marin 9045, US [4] ) for a sample weighing 175 grams (WBA-113 [5] ) for anti-HIV screening being conducted by the National Cancer Institute.

Richard Spjut was able to change his manuscript name before publication; however, lichen specimens curated by Charis Bratt—now at The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden—that were on loan to the Smithsonian Institution—had not been changed upon return to her; they had remained annotated by the unpublished name. [1] Spjut also had adopted the epithet 'ceruchoides' for a species of Vermilacinia distinguished by having isidia or isidia-like branch segments; he designated a type that had been collected on San Clemente Island by Rolf Santesson, published under the name V. acicularis . [1] Spjut recognized two species, whereas Rundel or Bowler recognized only one.

Prior to Rundel and Bowler’s description of the species, the epithet 'ceruchoides' apparently had been applied by Rolf Santesson to a specimen he had collected from Chile in 1940 (“RSant 2660”, “R(amalina) ceruchoides”) as noted in a report on lichen substances. [6] This specimen, which may be Vermilacinia ceruchis or V. tigrina, was not studied by Spjut. [1] The epithet had also been applied in later publications to specimens in California without a valid description and proper citation according to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, regarded as a nomen nudum. [2]

Vermilacinia ceruchoides was also reported by Rundel and Bowler to occur on Guadalupe Island based on a specimen collected by William Weber and C. J. McCoy (L-36641). [2] The morphology falls outside the circumscription of the species as given by Rundel and Bowler. [2] The basal branches are undivided or unequally parted once, short and stubby, more than 1–2 mm in diameter, and inflated above middle to a bluntly rounded apex; the whole thallus similar to V. robusta but smaller. This specimen is the type for Vermilacinia pumila, a species recognized to occur also in California, including the Channel Islands. [1] In 2004, Peter Bowler and Janet Marsh included V. pumila as a synonym of Niebla ceruchoides, but did not emend the original circumscription, nor did they give any scientific data or explanation as to why it should be included in synonymy.

Vermilacinia ceruchoides has also been reported on the northern end of Cedros Island, but the specimens cited were not studied by Spjut. [1]

Vermilacinia tuberculata is most similar to V. ceruchoides, the latter distinguished by its larger size in diameter of branches, greater than 1 mm. [7]

Related Research Articles

Vermilacinia, a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Ramalinaceae, is a yellow-green fruticose type of lichen with about 30 species that grow on rocks, trees, and soil within the fog zone along the Pacific Coast of North America and South America. The genus name refers to the thallus being divided into narrow worm-like (vermis) branches (lacinia);the latter part of the name (lacinia) generally applied in descriptions and taxonomic keys such as exemplified in a key to Sonoran Desert species of Ramalina.

<i>Niebla homalea</i> Species of lichen

Niebla homalea is a species of fruticose lichen that grows on rocks in foggy areas along the Pacific Coast of North America, from Mendocino County, California south to Bahía de San Quintín on the main peninsula of Baja California, with an isolated occurrence further south on vertical rock faces above Punta Camachos, and other occurrences in the Channel Islands and on Guadalupe Island. The epithet homalea, given by Acharius, suggests it was in regard to the branches appearing flattened.

<i>Niebla isidiaescens</i> Species of lichen

Niebla isidiaescens is a species of fruticose lichen in the family Ramalinaceae. It was originally described in 1994 from specimens collected in Baja California. The lichen grows on rocky outcrops in open maritime scrub habitats.

Vermilacinia acicularis is a fruticose lichen that occurs in the Channel Islands of California. The type specimen was collected from San Clemente Island. Other specimens have been collected from Santa Barbara Island and Anacapa Island.

Vermilacinia laevigata is a fruticose lichen that occurs in the fog zone along the Pacific Coast of the California Floristic Province from Marin County, California to 15 miles south of Misión San Vicente Ferrer in Baja California

Vermilacinia polymorpha is a fruticose lichen infrequently found on Santa Catalina Island in the Channel Islands of California and along the mainland coast in Ventura and Orange counties. It has also been indicated to occur south into northwestern Baja California without reference to specimens to support its range extension, and shown to occur on the Vizcaíno Peninsula in central Baja California on a distribution map in a lichen flora, without reference to specimen data; however, specimen data from other sources indicate it does occur as far south as Punta Santa Rosalillita on the main peninsula of Baja California, and also reported from Guadalupe Island.

<i>Vermilacinia procera</i> Species of lichen

Vermilacinia procera is a fruticose lichen of local occurrences on rocks near the sea along the Pacific Coast from San Francisco California to the Channel Islands, and to Punta Escarpada in Baja California. The species is also reported to occur further south to the Vizcaíno Peninsula and on Cedros Island, but these reports are controversial in view of different interpretations of the species that include V. pumila and V. paleoderma that were not recognized at the time V. procera was described ; for example, a specimen collected on Guadalupe Island by Weber and MCoy (L-3605, COLO that was cited by Phillip Rundel and Peter Bowler in 1994 as belonging to Niebla procera, whereas in a revision of the genus by Richard Spjut in 1996, it was cited as belonging to Vermilacinia paleoderma. Both authorities generally agree to some extent on the description of the species and its geographical range within the California Floristic Province.

Vermilacinia pumila is a whitish-green fruticose lichen that occurs in fog areas along the Pacific Coast and offshore islands of North America. The species epithet pumila refers to the dwarf form of the thallus, in contrast to V. combeoides.

Vermilacinia tuberculata is a fruticose lichen known only from Morro Bay along the Pacific Coast of California The epithet tuberculata is a reference to the tuberculate surface of the lichen.

Vermilacinia cephalota is a fruticose lichen usually found on trees, shrubs and wooden fences in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America from southeastern Alaska to the Vizcaíno Peninsula of Baja California.

Vermilacinia corrugata is a fruticose lichen that grows on trees and shrubs in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America from the Channel Islands and San Diego in California to southern Baja California. The epithet is in reference to corrugated cortex of the species.

Vermilacinia flaccescens is a fruticose lichen that grows on cacti and shrubs in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of South America, Peru, Chile and in the Juan Fernandez Islands The epithet is in reference to the flaccid thallus but some specimens have been interpreted to have rigid branches.

Vermilacinia leopardina is a fruticose lichen usually that grows abundantly on the branches of shrubs in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America, in the Channel Islands and on the mainland of California from Santa Barbara County south to the Vizcaíno Peninsula of Baja California. The species is also reported to occur in Chile, based on a single specimen mounted on a large index card off to one corner with the type (biology) of Usnea tumidula in the center and bottom ; it is possible that the specimen of V. leopardina was from North America and placed on the card for the purpose of making a comparison to the type for Usnea tumidula, which was annotated Ramalina ceruchis var. gracilior Muell.Arg., a name of uncertain status. The epithet, leopardina, is in reference to the black transverse bands and irregularly shaped black spots commonly seen on the thallus branches that obviously imply a similarity to the leopard animal, while also making comparative distinctions to other black banded species: V. tigrina and V. zebrina, obviously to a tiger and zebra, and to V. leonis, obviously a lion, which has no black stripes.

Vermilacinia tigrina is a fruticose lichen that grows on branches of shrubs and on earth among cactus and shrubs in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America and South America; in North America found in the Channel Islands and near San Diego, California, and in central and southern Baja California; and in South America from Peru to Chile. The epithet is in reference to the irregular black spots or bands on the thallus branches.

Vermilacinia zebrina is a fruticose lichen that grows on bark of trees and shrubs, occasionally on rocks, in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America, from Puget Sound in northern Washington to near El Rosario in Baja California. The epithet, zebrina, is in reference to the black transverse bands on the thallus branches; however, the species is interpreted to include thalli without black bands.

Niebla isidiosa is a fruticose lichen known only from Guadalupe Island. The epithet, isidiosa is in reference to isidia (isidium) on the thallus.

Niebla sorediata is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of North America, in the Channel Islands of California and on Guadalupe Island of Baja California. The epithet, sorediata, is in reference to the development of soredia (soredium).

Niebla sorocarpia is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of California in the Channel Islands and in Baja California in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert. The epithet, sorocarpia, is in reference to the terminal aggregate apothecia.

Niebla testudinaria is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of North America, from Marin County, California to just south of Tijuana in Baja California, in the Channel Islands in California, and Isla San Martín and Guadalupe Island in Baja California The epithet, testudinaria given by William Nylander in 1870, is probably in reference to the dilated branch with a reticulated surface, similar to a tortoise shell.

Niebla usneoides is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks in the fog zone along the Pacific Coast of Baja California in the Vizcaíno Desert and Magadalena Desert regions, and reported also from the Channel Islands and mainland of southern California. The epithet, usneoides is in reference to the similarity to the lichen genus Usnea.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Spjut, R. W. Niebla and Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae) from California and Baja California. Sida Miscellany 14
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bowler, P. A., R. E. Riefner, Jr., P. W. Rundel, J. Marsh and T. H., Nash, III. 1994. New species of Niebla (Ramalinaceae) from western North America. Phytologia 77: 23–37.
  3. ↑ ASU, standard acronym for the herbarium at Arizona State University according to Index Herbariorum
  4. ↑ US is a standard acronym for the United States National Herbarium, Smithsonian Institution, Department of Botany
  5. ↑ This is an accession number assigned by World Botanical Associates
  6. ↑ , Bendz, G., J. Santesson and C. W. Wachtmeister. 1965. Studies on the chemistry of lichens. 20. The chemistry of the Ramalina ceruchis group. Acta Chem. Scand. 19:1185–1187.
  7. ↑ Spjut, Richard W. "Vermilacina" . Retrieved 2014-11-24.
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