Biology:Astrothelium testudineum
| Astrothelium testudineum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Dothideomycetes |
| Order: | Trypetheliales |
| Family: | Trypetheliaceae |
| Genus: | Astrothelium |
| Species: | A. testudineum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Astrothelium testudineum Aptroot & M.Cáceres (2016)
| |
Astrothelium testudineum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae.[1] It is found in Brazil.
Taxonomy
The lichen was fornally described as a new species in 2016 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres. Astrothelium testudineum is most similar to A. leioplacum, but it can be distinguished by its [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] and larger [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]].[2]
Description
The thallus of Astrothelium testudineum is thickly [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], smooth, somewhat shiny, continuous, and ochraceous, covering areas up to [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|cm]] in diameter. It is approximately 0.2 mm thick and surrounded by a black prothallus line, about 0.1 mm wide. The lichen does not induce gall formation on the host bark.[2]
Ascomata are [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], measuring 0.5–0.9 mm in diameter, and are mostly aggregated in groups of 2–6, immersed in the thallus, without [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]. The wall is [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] all around, up to about 70 μm thick. Ostioles are eccentric, fused, and flat, with a brown colour. [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] is densely inspersed with hyaline oil globules. Asci contain 8 ascospores, which are hyaline, densely [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], broadly ellipsoid, and measure 50–65 by 23–27 μm.[2]
In terms of standard chemical spot tests, the thallus surface of Astrothelium testudineum is UV−, and the thallus medulla is K−. Thin-layer chromatography shows no secondary substances detected.[2]
Habitat and distribution
Astrothelium testudineum is found on Hevea brasiliensis bark in plantations. The species is currently known only from Brazil.[2]
References
- ↑ "Astrothelium testudineum Aptroot & M. Cáceres". Species 2000: Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/J5KH.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Aptroot, André; Cáceres, Marcela Eugenia da Silva (2016). "New Trypetheliaceae from the Amazon basin in Rondônia (Brazil), the centre of diversity of the genus Astrothelium". The Lichenologist 48 (6): 693–712. doi:10.1017/s0024282915000584. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311503074.
Wikidata ☰ Q107504099 entry
 |  |
