Biology:Caloplaca himalayana
| Caloplaca himalayana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Teloschistales |
| Family: | Teloschistaceae |
| Genus: | Caloplaca |
| Species: | C. himalayana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Caloplaca himalayana Y.Joshi & Upreti (2009)
| |
Caloplaca himalayana is a species of lignicolous (wood-dwelling) crustose lichen belonging to the family Teloschistaceae.[1] Found in the Himalayas of India, it was described as new to science in 2009. The lichen has a yellowish thallus with rusty red apothecial (fruiting body) [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]].
Taxonomy
This species was first named and formally described by the lichenologists Yogesh Joshi and Dalip Kumar Upreti. The type specimen was collected in May 2002 from Rohru, Sungri, in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, India, at an elevation of 2,600 m (8,500 ft) meters, where it was found growing on dead wood.[2]
Description
Caloplaca himalayana features a crust-like (crustose), thin, and continuous growth, which forms an irregular shape with a diameter ranging from 0.4 to 3 cm and a thickness of about 25–30 µm. The lichen's colour is predominantly yellowish. The outer layer (cortex) of the lichen is thin and consists of thin-walled cells arranged in a compact manner ([[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]). Its [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] is even and continuous. The medulla, which is the innermost layer, is white and made of loosely arranged, translucent (hyaline) fungal hyphae, organised in a less compact manner ([[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]). The lichen lacks a bordering growth (prothallus).[2]
The reproductive structures (apothecia) are [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] in form, typically numerous, and can be scattered or somewhat clustered. They are [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], meaning they are directly attached without a stalk, and vary from round to angular in shape due to compression. Their size ranges from 0.2 to 1.2 mm in diameter. The apothecia are characterised by a ferruginous red to reddish-brown, glossy [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], surrounded by a smooth, [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], and thin [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] that is flush with the disc and either the same colour or paler. The lichen lacks a [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]. Microscopically, the [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] (outermost layer of the apothecium) is golden brown, while the hymenium (spore-producing layer) and [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] (layer below the hymenium) are hyaline. The [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] (layer surrounding the apothecium) consists of elongated cells, and the [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] (outer layer of the apothecium) is similar in structure but lacks algae or has them restricted at the base.[2]
The lichen's spores number eight per ascus. They are [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] (divided into two components, or [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], separated by a central septum with a perforation, or [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]), and range in shape from ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid to ovoid, measuring 9–11 by 4–7 µm. The connecting isthmus between the spore compartments is 2–4 µm.[2]
Chemistry
Chemical spot tests reveal that the thallus, apothecial disc, and epihymenium turn purple when treated with a solution of potassium hydroxide (K+), and do not react to calcium hypochlorite (C−) or paraphenylenediamine (Pd−). The medulla shows no reaction to these tests (K−, C−, Pd−). Thin-layer chromatography identifies the presence of 7-chloroemodin (a major secondary metabolite) and traces of parietinic acid.[2]
Similar species
Caloplaca himalayana is distinct for its thin, continuous yellowish thallus and ferruginous coloured apothecia. It lacks both a thalline margin and algae in the amphithecium and typically inhabits dead wood. This species could be mistaken for Caloplaca herbidella which differs by being [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] (having outgrowths). Another species, Opeltia flavorubescens, with deep reddish-brown to brown apothecia, can be challenging to distinguish from C. himalayana but can be distinguished by its thalline margin, presence of algae in the amphithecium, and larger spores.[2]
Several other species share similar habitats and apothecial disc colours but can be differentiated from C. himalayana. These include Blastenia ammiospila, Blastenia ferruginea, Blastenia subathallina, Caloplaca caesiorufella, C. ferrugineofusca, C. jenisejensis, C. spitsbergensis, all of which have [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] (growing in wood), poorly to well-developed grey thalli and larger spores. Marchantiana asserigena differs in its grey thallus and small lecanorine to [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] apothecia, while Opeltia juniperina is distinguished by its [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] thalli and pale yellow-margined concave apothecia.[2]
Habitat and distribution
Caloplaca himalayana has been found in a few locations within Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir in India. This species typically grows on dead wood at elevations between 2,150 and 2,800 m (7,050 and 9,190 ft) in the temperate regions of the Western Himalayas.[2] It was reported from the Haat Kali sacred grove, Central Himalaya, Uttarakhand, in 2010.[3] The localities where Caloplaca himalayana is found share similar lichen compositions, typically including species from the genera Lecanora and Rinodina, as well as a dense coverage of cyanobacterial species.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ "Caloplaca himalayana Y. Joshi & Upreti". Species 2000: Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/68V9F.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Joshi, Yogesh; Upreti, Dalip K.; Sati, Suresh C. (2009). "Caloplaca himalayana, a new epiphytic lichen from the Indian subcontinent". The Lichenologist 41 (3): 249–255. doi:10.1017/S0024282909008214.
- ↑ Singh, Harsh; Husain, Tariq; Agnihotri, Priyanka (2010). "Haat Kali sacred grove, Central Himalaya, Uttarakhand". Current Science 98 (3): 290. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/215083948.
Wikidata ☰ Q17387553 entry
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