Vermilacinia tigrina

Last updated

Vermilacinia tigrina
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Ramalinaceae
Genus: Vermilacinia
Species:
V. tigrina
Binomial name
Vermilacinia tigrina
(Follmann) Spjut & Hale (1995)
Synonyms
  • Ramalina tigrinaFollmann (1966)
  • Niebla tigrina(Follmann) Rundel & Bowler (1978)

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. [1] The epithet is in reference to the irregular black spots or bands on the thallus branches.

Contents

Distinguishing features

Vermilacinia tigrina is classified in the subgenus Cylindricaria in which it is distinguished from related species by a much-branched thallus 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) in length and in width, by the narrow tubular branches, 1–2 mm wide, by the development of apothecia instead of soredia, and by having lichen substances of one or more depsidones (hypoprotocetraric acid, salazinic acid, norstictic acid, psoromic acid), in addition to terpenoid compounds that characterize the genus. The terpenoid compounds are zeorin, (-)-16-hydroxykaurane, and an unknown (T3); bourgeanic acid is also probably present. [1] In Baja California, the species often hangs in mats with species of Ramalina from branches of Fouquieria diguetii .

Taxonomic History

Vermilacinia tigrina was first described by Gerhard Follmann in the genus Ramalina, based on a thallus growing on the ground among cacti in the Atacama Desert at 600 m (2,000 ft) elevation on Cerro Moreno in northern Chile. He distinguished the species by its lichen substance of psoromic acid, and by its habit of growing on earth (terricolous). This was in contrast to other species of Ramalina he recognized in a “Ceruchis” group, [2] largely defined by the presence of (-)-16-hydroxykaurane (“ceruchinol”). Included were Ramalina “homalea” (data probably combined from Niebla homalea and Vermilacinia laevigata ), Ramalina “ceruchis” (= Vermilacinia ceruchis ), Ramalina “combeoides” (= Vermilacinia combeoides ), Ramalina “tumidula” (included under V. ceruchis [1] ), Ramalina flaccescens (= Vermilacinia flaccescens ), and unpublished name Ramalina “ceruchoides”. Follmann incorporated chemical data from other studies [3] not based on type specimens; for example, Ramalina tumidula was indicated to have methyl 3,5 dichlorolecanorate (tumidulin), which is not present in the type specimen. [1] Nevertheless, none of these species had psoromic acid (except for V. tigrina).

This “Ceruchis” group of species was subsequently included in the genus Desmazieria in 1969, based in part on a misconception that Niebla homalea included two chemotypes, one with the divaricatic acid and another without the depside but with (-)-16-hydroxykaurane. [4] as previously indicated in 1965 by Gerd Bendz, Johan Santesson and Carl Axel Wachtmeister. [3] The genus Desmazieria was previously recognized to have only one species, D. homalea. [5] Follmann reported its nomenclatural conflict with a genus of grasses (Poaceae), Desmazeria [6] that led Phillip Rundel and Peter Bowler to create a new genus name, Niebla . [7]

In a 1981 study of the cortical structure of the Ramalinaceae, [8] Bowler recognized that: “Within Niebla two major evolutionary directions have influenced the anatomy of the cortex. The compressed species have strongly palisade outer cortices overlying mechanical tissue, while the terete species have tended to lose or have depauperate formations of mechanical tissue.” In 1995, Richard Spjut further recognized significant differences in their medulla (chondroid strands vs. no chondroid strands) and in their lichen substances (zeorin and (-)-16-hydroxykaurane vs. their absence). The two evolutionary lines thus became Niebla and Vermilacinia. Niebla tigrina, consequently, was transferred to Vermilacinia tigrina. [9]

Follmann had distinguished Ramalina tumidula (basionym: Usnea tumidula) from his R. tigrina (= Vermilacinia tigrina) by having hypoprotocetraric acid instead of psoromic acid; [2] however, Spjut broadened the species concept of Vermilacinia tigrina to include not only that chemotype but also other chemotypes, salazinic acid and norstictic acid chemotypes, which occur in central and southern Baja California and in the Channel Islands, while on the northern peninsula of Baja California, this is replaced by the acid deficient V. leopardina. [1] The type specimen of Usnea tumidula was found to have the same chemistry as the type specimen for Vermilacinia ceruchis, and its cortical characteristics compared favorably with subgenus Vermilacinia but not with subgenus Cylindricaria. [1] Vermilacinia tigrina was not mentioned in the Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert. [10]

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 ceruchis is a fruticose lichen found on sand and rock in coastal fog areas of Peru and Chile.

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 rigida is a dark green, rare fruticose lichen that occurs in fog areas along the Pacific Coast of Baja California, known only from two locations about 100 km north of Guerrero Negro. The epithet, rigida, is in regard to its stiff thallus branches.

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 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 cerebra 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 mainland California near Los Angeles to southern Baja California, also occurring in South America in the Antofagasta Province of northern Chile. The epithet is in reference to the apical swollen lobes that resemble the cerebrum of the brain.

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 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 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 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 Spjut, R. W. 1996. Niebla and Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae) from California and Baja California. Sida
  2. 1 2 Follmann, G. 1966. Eine neue Ramalina-Art uas der Ceruches-Gruppe. Willdenowia 4(2): 225–233.
  3. 1 2 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.
  4. ↑ Follmann, G.and S. Huneck. 1969. Mitteilunge uber Flechteninhaltsstoffe. LXI. Zur Chemotaxonomie der Flechtenfamilie Ramalinaceae. Willdenowia 5:181-216.
  5. ↑ Montagne, D.M. 1852. Diagnoses phycologicae. Ann. Sci. Nat. Sr. 3, 18, 302–319.
  6. ↑ Follmann, G. 1976. Zur Nomenklatur der Lichenen. III. Uber Desmazieria Mont. (Ramalinaceae) und andere kritische Verwandtschaftskreise. Philippia 3: 85–89.
  7. ↑ Rundel, P. and P. Bowler. 1978. Niebla, a new generic name for the lichen genus Desmazieria (Ramalinaceae). Mycotaxon 6: 497–499.
  8. ↑ Bowler, P.A. 1981. Cortical diversity in the Ramalinaceae. Can. J. Bot. 59: 437–453.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Bowler, P. and J. Marsh. 2004. Niebla. ‘Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert 2’: 368–380.

World Botanical Associates, Vermilacinia subgenus Vermilacinia, retrieved 5 Dec 2014, http://www.worldbotanical.com/vermilacinia_subgenus_vermilacin.htm

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.