Biology:Malmidea leucopiperis
| Malmidea leucopiperis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Malmideaceae |
| Genus: | Malmidea |
| Species: | M. leucopiperis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Malmidea leucopiperis Kalb (2021)
| |
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| Holotype site: Itatiaia National Park, Brazil[1] | |
Malmidea leucopiperis is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Malmideaceae.[2] It is found in Brazil.
Taxonomy
The lichen was formally described as a new species in 2021 by the German lichenologist Klaus Kalb. The type specimen was collected from Itatiaia National Park (Rio de Janeiro) at an altitude of 850 m (2,790 ft). The species epithet alludes to its resemblance to Malmidea piperis, with a key difference in the [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]'s colour—light greyish to beige compared to the dark brown in M. piperis.[1]
Description
Malmidea leucopiperis is a crustose lichen with a continuous thallus measuring 50–80 µm in thickness. Its surface is smooth and dull, appearing grey or greenish grey, and can turn orange-red when abraded. Neither isidia nor soralia (reproductive propagules) are present on this species. The medulla of the thallus is orange-red and has a K+ (purple) chemical spot test reaction.[1]
The [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] of this species is [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], with cell dimensions of 6–8 µm in diameter. The apothecia of Malmidea leucopiperis are sessile and rounded, ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 mm in diameter and 0.15 to 0.2 mm in height. The apothecial [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] is initially flat, becoming slightly convex, with colours ranging from light beige to brown-grey or brown. Its margin is thin, about 0.1 mm, slightly raised, and varies in colour from whitish grey to dark brownish grey or black.[1]
The [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] is of the piperis-type and mostly hyaline (translucent), though it can appear brownish or blackish at the upper periphery, and lacks hydrophobic granules. The [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] is about 10 µm high and hyaline, while the centrally located [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] is light greyish to beige, measuring 40–50 µm in height and is K−. The [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] of Malmidea leucopiperis is either indistinct or slightly [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], and the hymenium stands 60–70 µm high and is hyaline.[1]
Asci within this species measure 40–50 by 8–10 µm, each containing 6–8 [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]. These spores are broadly ellipsoid to [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], non-septate, and have a uniformly thickened wall with a [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] of approximately 1 µm. Their size ranges from 9–12 by 4–6 µm.[1]
Chemically, this species is characterized by a major presence of norsolorinic acid and the absence of atranorin, as determined through thin-layer chromatography.[1]
Habitat and distribution
Malmidea leucopiperis occurs in the Atlantic rainforest in southern Brazil. It has been recorded from Rio de Janeiro,[1] Pernambuco, and Sergipe.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Kalb, Klaus (2021). "New or otherwise interesting lichens mainly from Brazil and Venezuela with special reference to the genus Malmidea". Archive for Lichenology 27: 1–41 [23]. http://www.fschumm.de/Archive/Vol%2027_Kalb_%20Brazil%20and%20Venezuela.pdf.
- ↑ "Malmidea leucopiperis Kalb". Species 2000: Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/B37XV.
- ↑ Aptroot, André; de Souza, Maria Fernanda; Cáceres, Marcela Eugenia da Silva; dos Santos, Lidiane Alves; Spielmann, Adriano Afonso (2022). "New lichen records from Brazil". Archive for Lichenology 31: 28. http://fschumm.de/Archive/Vol%2031_Aptroot_new%20records.pdf.
Wikidata ☰ Q123983845 entry
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