Vermilacinia polymorpha

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Vermilacinia polymorpha
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Ramalinaceae
Genus: Vermilacinia
Species:
V. polymorpha
Binomial name
Vermilacinia polymorpha
(Bowler, J.E.Marsh, T.H.Nash & Riefner) Spjut (1996)
Synonyms
  • Niebla polymorphaBowler, J.E.Marsh, T.H.Nash & Riefner (1994)

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, [1] 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; [2] however, specimen data from other sources indicate it does occur as far south as Punta Santa Rosalillita on the main peninsula of Baja California, [3] and also reported from Guadalupe Island. [4]

Contents

Distinguishing features

Vermilacinia polymorpha may be recognized by a thallus divided into partly strap-like branches with irregularly widened parts, somewhat spoon-shaped, as shown in a “representative specimen” in the original publication by Peter Bowler and coauthors [1] reportedly collected by Richard E. Riefner Jr. (87-61a, IRVC) [5] from Aliso Canyon in Orange County, California. The authors had noted that the species “most closely resembles a deformed N. robusta which has smaller spores of 10–12 μm, inflated, rounded branches, and larger urn-shaped apothecia.” Richard Spjut, in his revision of Niebla and Vermilacinia, [6] indicated that V. polymorpha is distinguished by the “oblong branches (less than 10 times longer than wide)”; he commented that some forms were difficult to distinguish from Vermilacinia robusta , while he was only able to briefly glance at the type while visiting Arizona State University in April 1996, [6] and that it is also distinguished by its smaller thallus with irregularly widened branches, compared to Vermilacinia paleoderma . [7]

The type (biology) specimen, which was not shown in the original publication, was reported to have been collected by Janet Marsh on Santa Catalina Island [1] (Marsh 6206, ASU [8] ). It differs in having irregularly widened branch parts near thallus base and narrower tubular segments above. The branches in the type specimen appear as long as 3 cm, [9] and described to be up to 6 mm wide where flattened, especially flattened or inflated near base. [1]

Taxonomic history

The species was originally described in the genus Niebla in 1994 [10] and transferred to Vermilacinia in 1996, [6] but retained in Niebla by Peter Bowler and Janet Marsh in a 2004 lichen flora. Vermilacinia differs from Niebla in its chemistry of terpenes., [11] none of which are found in Niebla, [12] in the structure of its cortex", [13] and in its net-like organization of the hyphae in the medulla. [11]

Besides the controversy of whether Niebla polymorpha is a synonym of Vermilacinia polymorpha, the geographical occurrences of the species itself (V. polymorpha) are also subject to interpretation since many specimens were identified by many different authorities as referenced in this article, and that specimens were not always cited to substantiate the range of the species indicated at the time of publication.

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 cedrosensis is a species of pale fruticose lichen that is endemic to Baja California, Mexico.

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.

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 paleoderma is a pale yellow-green fruticose lichen that occurs commonly along the fog zone of the Pacific Coast of Northern Vizcaíno Desert region of Baja Californica and occasionally in the Chaparral Islands of California.

<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 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 limicola is a fruticose lichen that grows on barren mud flats and on sand among salt scrub along the Pacific Coast of the Vizcaíno Desert, of Baja California from San Vicente Canyon to Scammon’s Lagoon. The epithet, limicola is in reference to the thallus growing on barren (alkali) soil.

Niebla palmeri is a fruticose lichen that infrequently occurs on sandy beaches or gravelly soil along the Pacific Coast from San Diego, California to mesas just north of Punta Baja, about 15 miles southeast of El Rosario, Baja California. The epithet, palmeri is in honor of an Edward Palmer who collected the species in the vicinity of San Diego and on Isla Coronado.

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 Bowler, P. A., R. E. Riefner, Jr., P. W. Rundel, J. Marsh & T.H. Nash, III. 1994. New species of Niebla (Ramalinaceae) from western North America. Phytologia 77: 23–37.
  2. ↑ Bowler, P. and J. Marsh. 2004. Niebla. ‘Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert 2’:368–380.
  3. ↑ "Vermilacinia subgenus Vermilacinia". World Botanical Associates. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  4. ↑ "Vermilacinia polymorpha (Bowler, Marsh, T.H. Nash & Riefner) Spjut". Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria. Retrieved 26 Nov 2014.
  5. ↑ IRCV is a standard acronym for the University of California, Irvine Herbarium, where the specimen collected by Richard Riefner Jr, numbered 87-51a) is deposited, the herbarium also listed in Index Herbariorum
  6. 1 2 3 Spjut, R. W. 1996. Niebla and Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae) from California and Baja California. Sida Miscellany 14
  7. ↑ Spjut, R. 2000. Notes on the lichen Vermilacinia polymorpha (Ramalinaceae) and related species in Baja California, Mexico. IV. Symposium on botany research in Baja California and adjacent areas. Ensenada, B.C. Mexico, Sep. 13–17. Poster presentation
  8. ↑ ASU is a standard acronym for Arizona State University Herbarium, in regard to where the type specimen collected by Janet Marsh was deposited, her collection number 6206
  9. ↑ Schoeninger, Robin. "Image of holotype for Niebla polymorpha (=Vermlacinia polymorpha)". Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  10. ↑ Bowler, P. A., R. E. Riefner, Jr., P. W. Rundel, J. Marsh & T.H. Nash, III. 1994. New species of Niebla (Ramalinaceae) from western North America. Phytologia 77: 23–37.
  11. 1 2 Spjut, R. W. 1995. Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae, Lecanorales), a new genus of lichens. In: Flechten Follmann; Contr. Lichen in honor of Gerhard Follmann; F. J. A. Daniels, M. Schulz & J. Peine, eds., Koeltz Scientific Books: Koenigstein, pp. 337-351.
  12. ↑ Wright, D. 1995. A Simplified TLC Method, Bull. Calif. Lichen Soc.2.
  13. ↑ Bowler, P.A. 1981. Cortical diversity in the Ramalinaceae. Can. J. Bot. 59: 437–453.
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