Biology:Micarea sublithinella
| Micarea sublithinella | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Pilocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Micarea |
| Species: | M. sublithinella
|
| Binomial name | |
| Micarea sublithinella M.Brand, van den Boom & Sérus. (2014)
| |
Micarea sublithinella is a species of bark-dwelling, lichen-forming fungus in the family Ectolechiaceae.[1] It was described as new to science in 2014 from the tropical island of Réunion (Mascarene archipelago) in the Indian Ocean. The type collection was made north-northwest of Piton de la Fournaise, along the Ravine Savane Cimetière trail, where it grew on bark of Acacia heterophylla in mixed montane forest at about 2,050 m elevation. On Réunion it has also been recorded from other montane localities, at elevations from about 1,370 to 1,720 m, where it occurs on wood of rotting trunks and on tree bark.[2]
The lichen forms a thin green thallus (about 2 cm across) that is continuous or broken into flat, rounded [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] over a slightly shiny film. Its apothecia are very small (usually to about 0.4 mm wide), dull and light brownish, and become convex to almost spherical ([[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]). The ascospores are [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]], usually 0–1-septate, and measure about 12.5–15 × 5–5.8 μm. Pycnidia have not been observed. Chemically, it produces protolichesterinic acid (a fatty acid), with crystals reported mainly in the [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] but also present in the thallus. It can be confused in the field with Micarea lithinella, which differs in being saxicolous (rock-dwelling) and in lacking lichen substances.[2]
References
- ↑ "Micarea sublithinella M. Brand, van den Boom & Sérus.". Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/42LTC.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Brand, A. Maarten; van den Boom, Pieter P.G.; Sérusiaux, Emmanuël (2014). "Unveiling a surprising diversity in the lichen genus Micarea (Pilocarpaceae) in Réunion (Mascarenes archipelago, Indian Ocean)". The Lichenologist 46 (3): 413–439. doi:10.1017/S0024282913000911.
Wikidata ☰ Q80878085 entry
 |  |
