Biology:Micarea farinosa
| Micarea farinosa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Pilocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Micarea |
| Species: | M. farinosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Micarea farinosa Coppins & Aptroot (2008)
| |
Micarea farinosa is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Pilocarpaceae.[1] It forms light green, powdery patches on rocks and soil in sheltered woodland spots like tree bases and dry rock overhangs. Originally discovered in Welsh woodland in 2008, it has since been found across western Europe and as far away as South Korea.
Taxonomy
Micarea farinosa was described as new to science by Brian J. Coppins and André Aptroot in 2008. The holotype was collected in Wales (Ceredigion) from sheltered shale fragments at the base of a tree in old woodland. It was distinguished from the similar M. lithinella by its powdery ([[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]) thallus, smaller apothecia, and smaller, simple spores; pale-fruited Micarea myriocarpa can look similar in the field, but has a more scurfy granular thallus, typically narrower and often 1-septate spores, and a reddish to orange-brown [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]].[2]
Description
The thallus is light green and distinctly [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], i.e., made of tiny mealy granules. Microscopically these granules are [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], small spherical packets of the alga and fungal hyphae, 12–18 micrometres (μm) in diameter (sometimes merging into [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] up to about 35 μm). The outer hyphae are colourless and the algal cells are 4–7 μm across.[2]
Apothecia (disc-like fruiting bodies) are very small, usually 0.15–0.3 mm across, pale orange to orange-brown, and convex to nearly spherical; they are [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] (lacking a distinct rim). The apothecial rim tissue ([[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]) is poorly developed and colourless; the ascospore-bearing layer (hymenium) is 24–30 μm high, with a colourless upper surface ([[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]) and a clear lower layer ([[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]). The supporting threads (paraphyses) are scanty, branched, 1–1.5 μm wide (to 2 μm at the tips), with a few stouter threads up to 3 μm. Asci measure 27–30 × 7–10 μm and contain simple (non-septate), colourless spores that are ovoid to oblong-ellipsoid, 5–7.5 × 2–3.4 μm. No asexual fruiting bodies (pycnidia) have been seen, and thin-layer chromatography detected no lichen products.[2]
Habitat and distribution
Micarea farinosa grows on acidic rock or consolidated soil, and sometimes over dying mosses, in sheltered microhabitats such as dry overhangs, recesses at tree bases, and the soil of upended root plates. Confirmed records are from south-west England (Cornwall), Wales (Ceredigion and Radnorshire), and western Scotland (Wigtownshire and Argyll).[2] It is also found in France,[3] Sweden,[4] and the Netherlands.[5] Its known distribution was increased considerably in 2016 when it was recorded from Jangseong County in South Korea.[6]
References
- ↑ "Micarea farinosa Coppins & Aptroot". Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/42LQM.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Coppins, Brian J.; Aptroot, André (2008). "New species and combinations in The Lichens of the British Isles". The Lichenologist 40 (5): 363–374. doi:10.1017/S0024282908008165.
- ↑ Mies, Bruno A. (2015). "New or interesting lichens from the Limousin region (Western Massif Central, France)". Herzogia 28 (1): 473–483. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314549824.
- ↑ Westberg, Martin; Svensson, Måns (2012). "Additions to the lichen flora of Fennoscandia II". Graphis Scripta 24 (1): 1–5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276917537.
- ↑ van den Boom, P.; van den Boom, B. (2009). "Diversity of lichens and lichenicolous fungi in a primeval heathland and adjacent managed forest in southern Netherlands (Groote Heide and 't Leenderbos)". Österreichische Zeitschrift für Pilzkunde (18): 25–45.
- ↑ Kondratyuk, S.Y.; Lőkös, L.; Halda, J.P.; Upreti, D.K.; Mishra, G.K.; Haji Moniri, M.; Farkas, E.; Park, J.S. et al. (2016). "New and noteworthy lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi 5". Acta Botanica Hungarica 58 (3–4): 319–396. doi:10.1556/ABot.58.2016.3-4.7.
Wikidata ☰ Q21317138 entry
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