Biology:Siphulopsis
Siphulopsis is a single-species fungal genus in the family Icmadophilaceae.[1][2] This monotypic genus the contains the fruticose lichen species Siphulopsis queenslandica, found in Australia. This lichen was originally described by Gintaras Kantvilas in 2018.[3] He tentatively classified it in the genus Knightiella due to morphological similarities with Knightiella eucalypti (since transferred to the genus Knightiellastrum), but molecular phylogenetics revealed it to constitute a distinct lineage.[4]
The genus name Siphulopsis combines the name Siphula, referring to a similar genus, with the Greek suffix -opsis, which denotes resemblance. This naming reflects the similarity in thallus morphology between this species and those of Siphula.[4]
Description
The species Siphulopsis queenslandica initiates its growth as small, scale-like patches ([[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]) and soon develops into shrub-like, cushioned clumps ([[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]]), typically presenting a whitish to pale ashen-grey colour. This species lacks rhizines (root-like structures for attachment). Upon examination of a cross-section of the thallus, a [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] can be observed. This outer layer is about 20–30 μm thick and consists of poorly differentiated, short-celled hyphae, each approximately 5 μm wide. This layer also contains sporadically interspersed dead cells of its photosynthetic partner, a unicellular green alga. The algal cells are spherical and measure between 6 and 10 μm in diameter.[4]
Reproductive structures known as ascomata are not observed in this species. However, it possesses pycnidia, which are small, flask-shaped structures embedded within the thallus, producing [[Glossary of lichen terms#{{biology:{1}}}|{{Biology:{1}}}]] (rod-shaped) conidia, which are involved in asexual reproduction.[4]
The chemical composition of Siphulopsis queenslandica includes thamnolic acid, a secondary metabolite common in many lichen species.[4]
The generic description of Siphulopsis references its fruticose thallus that contains thamnolic acid, which is somewhat similar to Siphulaebut lacks rhizines and is not genetically related to this genus.[4]
References
- ↑ "Siphulopsis". Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/B37BK.
- ↑ Wijayawardene, N.N.; Hyde, K.D.; Dai, D.Q.; Sánchez-García, M.; Goto, B.T.; Saxena, R.K. et al. (2022). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa – 2021". Mycosphere 13 (1): 53–453 [163]. doi:10.5943/mycosphere/13/1/2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358798332.
- ↑ Kantvilas, Gintaras (2018). "A new species of Dibaeis from Australia (Tasmania), with notes on the family Icmadophilaceae". Herzogia 31 (p1): 562–570. doi:10.13158/heia.31.1.2018.562. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329454330.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Ludwig, Lars R.; Kantvilas, Gintaras; Nilsen, Andy R.; Orlovich, David A.; Ohmura, Yoshihito; Summerfield, Tina C.; Wilk, Karina; Lord, Janice M. (2020). "A molecular-genetic reassessment of the circumscription of the lichen genus Icmadophila". The Lichenologist 52 (3): 213–220. doi:10.1017/S0024282920000122.
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