Vermilacinia procera

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Vermilacinia procera
Antler Seafog Lichen (910650652).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Ramalinaceae
Genus: Vermilacinia
Species:
V. procera
Binomial name
Vermilacinia procera
Spjut (1996)

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 [1] (an isolated region along precipitous ocean cliffs between Punta Canoas and Punta San Carlos on the northern Peninsula of Baja California). The species is also reported to occur further south to the Vizcaíno Peninsula and on Cedros Island, [2] 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 (as Niebla procera); for example, a specimen collected on Guadalupe Island by Weber and MCoy (L-3605, COLO [3] that was cited by Phillip Rundel and Peter Bowler in 1994 as belonging to Niebla procera (=Vermilacinia procera), [2] whereas in a revision of the genus by Richard Spjut in 1996, it was cited as belonging to Vermilacinia paleoderma. [1] Both authorities generally agree to some extent on the description of the species and its geographical range within the California Floristic Province.

Contents

Distinguishing features

Vermilacinia procera is a species in the subgenus Vermilacinia [4] distinguished by the thallus divided into long slender cylindrical branches, irregularly blackened in patches from base to near apex, or only with black transverse band or spots. The cortex often develops transverse cracks with age; the cracked cortex is not the same as the cracked transverse cortical ridges that develop in species of Niebla such as commonly seen in N. homalea. [1] Branches are from 2–6 cm (-8) cm in length and 1–2 mm in diameter. Lichen substances are primarily three terpenoid compounds, T3, zeorin and (-)-16 α-hydroxykaurane; bougeanic acid and salazinic acid occasionally present. [1] [2]

Vermilacinia paleoderma is distinguished from V. procera by the surface of the branches having crater-like depressions in contrast to a relatively even surface of V. procera and by producing abundant fertile blackened pycnidia in contrast to mostly sterile pycnidia in V. procera. [1] The black banding and spot patterns in V. procera may be related to morphogenesis of the pycnidia as reported in subgenus Cylindricaria for sterile pycnidia in V. leopardina, in contrast to abundant fertile pycnidia in V. nylanderi. [1] The brittle thallus of V. procera cracking transversely, appearing to fracture off sections of the thallus, would seem to constitute asexual reproduction by fragmentation.

Vermilacinia pumila is distinguished from V. procera by its relatively small thallus composed of stubby basal branches not more than 1 cm high. [1]

Taxonomic history

The genus Vermilacinia was distinguished from Niebla by the absence of longitudinal organization of hyphal cells within the medulla into chondroid strands, and by the secondary metabolites (lichen substances) primarily terpenes that include the triterpene zeorin, the diterpenes (-)-16 α-hydroxykaurane, an unidentified triterpene, referred to as T3, and the aliphatic depside, bourgeanic acid. None of these lichen substances are present in Niebla. [4]

Peter Bowler with coauthor Janet Marsh in the Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert [1] [5] stated that "there are no generic differences between it [Vermilacinia] and Niebla." In support of their conclusion they stated that "none of the earlier studies [6] proposed separating groups at the generic level within Niebla," and that in a 1976 presentation he (Bowler) concluded that the hyphal aggregation embedded in the medulla of some of the larger rock and sand inhabiting forms of N. homalea and N. josecuervoi were not of generic significance, and noted that medullar hyphae in all species adhered to one degree or another." Reference to the 1976 presentation was not in the Literature Cited. Nevertheless, in their key to the species of Niebla—appeared the following statement: "Within the medulla individual chondroid strands evident in cross section of blades" that was applied to distinguish Niebla josecuervoi, N. homalea and N. isidiaescens" from other North American species treated by Spjut in Vermilacinia. In that same flora are Macaronesian species that were transferred by Bowler and Marsh from Ramalina to Niebla as new name combinations: Niebla bourgaeana, N. crispatula, and N. cupularis. These are species that are distinguished from Ramalina by the presence of chondroid strands in the medulla—isolated from the cortex;" [7] thus, there is a contradiction in the rationale given by the authors for not distinguishing Vermilacinia.

Bowler and Marsh further stated that "chemistry is not a basis for separating Vermilacinia from Niebla, because it seems, as they say, there exists a "diversity of chemical races" without "apothecial, spore or pycnidial, or conidial differences." However, it was also stated under the genus Ramalina in the same flora that "species of Ramalina never produce (-)-16 α-hydroxykaurane that is often found in Niebla, [8] but according to Spjut, [4] that diterpene is found only in Vermilacinia, not in Niebla. Nevertheless, the mention of a chemical difference to distinguish the Ramalinaceae genera is another contradiction.

Richard Spjut, in a manuscript submitted for peer review in 1990, and also in a presentation to the American Bryological and Lichenological Society that same year, [9] indicated that he had recognized 50 species in Niebla and Vermilacinia. This included Vermilacinia procera dating back to 1987 annotations on herbarium specimens at the United States National Herbarium, but under another name. This generic distinction was restated in 1994. [10] Many specimens on loan from herbaria had to annotated a second time as result of the 1994 publication by Bowler and collaborators, [2] specimens from Charis Bratt, now at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, had already been returned with the manuscript name that was not published. [1]

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</i> (lichen) Genus of lichen

Niebla is a genus of yellow-green fruticose lichens that grow on rocks, trees, and shrubs within the fog zone of coastal North America, or more narrowly defined to occur on rocks and soil along the Pacific Coast from Mendocino County in California south to Baja California Sur.

<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.

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 combeoides is a fruticose lichen found on rocks along the Pacific Coast of North America from Sonoma County, California south to San Quintín, Baja California, and also on Santa Catalina Island and Guadalupe 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 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.

Vermilacinia robusta is an olive-green fruticose lichen that occurs on rocks near ocean mist along the foggy Pacific Coast of southern California to northern Baja California and offshore islands. The epithet, robusta, was probably adopted in recognizing a more robust form of V. comboides, originally described as a variety of Ramalina combeoides by Reginald Heber Howe, Jr. in 1913.

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 howei is a fruticose lichen that grows on trees and shrubs in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America in the coastal scrub region of the Channel Islands of California, and around Bahía de San Quintín, Baja California and further south in the Vizcaíno Desert. The epithet honors Reginald Heber Howe, Jr. for his contributions to lichenology, especially acknowledged for providing images of the type (biology) specimens in his revision of the genus Ramalina.

Vermilacinia leonis is a fruticose lichen usually found on branches of shrubs in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America and South America; in North America it is found on the southern half of the main peninsula of Baja California north to the southern coast of the Vizcaíno Peninsula. In South America, it occurs on bushes and rocks in Chile; reported from Colchaqua (Valley) and Santiago The epithet is in regard to absence of the black transverse bands often seen in other species such as V. leopardina, V. tigrina and V. zebrina.

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 nylanderi is a fruticose lichen that grows on branches of shrubs in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America in the Channel Islands and in Baja California from near El Rosario south to the Vizcaíno Peninsula The epithet honors William Nylander who published a monograph on the related genus Ramalina in 1870.

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.

Niebla infundibula is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the Pacific Coast in the Channel Islands of California and in Baja California on Guadalupe Island, and on the main peninsula in the southern region of the Northern Vizcaíno Desert on a ridge south of Punta Negra. The epithet, infundibula, is in reference to the funnel shape of the thallus branches.

Niebla juncosa is a fruticose lichen that grows on rock, stony soil and sand along the Pacific Coast of Baja California from Punta Banda to Morro Santo Dominogo. The epithet, juncosa is in reference to the thallus divided into rush-like branches, the stems of the flowering plant genus Juncus.

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 tesselata is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of in the Northern Vizcaíno Desert of Baja California. The epithet, tesselata, is in reference to the cobblestone pattern on the surface of the thallus branches.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Spjut, R. W. 1996.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 & T.H. Nash, III. 1994. New species of Niebla (Ramalinaceae) from western North America. Phytologia 77: 23–37.
  3. ↑ COLO is a standard acronym for the herbarium at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History at Boulder. L-3605 is the herbarium number given to the specimen
  4. 1 2 3 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.
  5. ↑ Bowler, P. and J. Marsh. 2004. "Niebla". 'Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert 2': 368–380.
  6. ↑ no references were cited for the "earlier studies"
  7. ↑ Krog, H. & H. Østhagen. 1980. The genus Ramalina in the Canary Islands. Norwegian J. Bot. 27(4): 255–296.
  8. ↑ Kashiwadani, H. and T. H. Nash III. 2004. Ramalina. Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region 2:440–456
  9. ↑ Spjut, R. W. 1990. Lichens of Baja California (Mexico) I. The Niebla complex. Am. J. Bot. 77:155-156.
  10. ↑ Spjut, R. W. 1994. What is a species of Niebla? Am. J. Bot. 81:11

World Botanical Associates, Vermilacinia subgenus Vermilacinia, retrieved 27 Nov 2014, http://www.worldbotanical.com/vermilacinia_subgenus_vermilacin.htm

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