Borinquenotrema

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Borinquenotrema
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Graphidales
Family: Graphidaceae
Genus: Borinquenotrema
Merc.-Díaz, Lücking & Parnmen (2014)
Species:
B. soredicarpum
Binomial name
Borinquenotrema soredicarpum
Mercado-Díaz, Lücking & Parnmen (2014)

Borinquenotrema is a single-species fungal genus in the family Graphidaceae. [1] It contains the species Borinquenotrema soredicarpum, a corticolous (bark-dweling) lichen. Found in Puerto Rico, this lichen is characterized by its carbonized (blackened and brittle) ascomata , which develop from within soralia, and its distinctive distoseptate , violet-blue ascospores . Borinquenotrema soredicarpum grows on tree trunks in shaded understory environments of Tabonuco forests in El Yunque National Forest.

Contents

Taxonomy

The genus Borinquenotrema, along with its type species, Borinquenotrema soredicarpum, was described by lichenologists Joel Mercado-Díaz, Robert Lücking, and Sittiporn Parnmen. The type specimen was found by the first author in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, on the trunk of a Dacryodes excelsa tree. The genus name is derived from Borinquen, the indigenous name for Puerto Rico, and the species epithet soredicarpum refers to the unusual development of ascomata beneath soralia. [2]

Initially mistaken for a species of Carbacanthographis , Borinquenotrema soredicarpum was later found to be closely related to the tribe Ocellularieae based on molecular sequence data. The development of ascomata beneath soralia is a strategy that may aid in the dispersal of soredia along with ascospores, ensuring the availability of photobiont cells upon resymbiosis. This lichen contains stictic acid and closely related substances, which is unusual for members of the tribe Ocellularieae. [2]

Description

Borinquenotrema soredicarpum is a corticolous lichen with a smooth to uneven, light greyish-green thallus that grows up to 2 cm (0.8 in) in diameter. Its soralia are white, granular , and maculiform to capitate , with diameters between 0.2 and 0.6 mm. The lichen's photobiont is Trentepohlia (a green algal genus), with densely packed, olive-green cells measuring 7–12 by 6–10  μm. [2]

A remarkable feature of Borinquenotrema soredicarpum is the development of its ascomata beneath soralia, which remain covered by a layer of granular soredia even in mature condition, completely hiding the ascoma. The lichen's ascospores are hyaline, oblong-oval, muriform , and measure 40–50 by 12–15 μm. They are distoseptate with lens-shaped to rounded lumina and turn violet-blue when treated with iodine (I+). [2]

Habitat and distribution

Borinquenotrema soredicarpum is found exclusively in Puerto Rico, growing on the trunks of unidentified trees in the shaded understory of Tabonuco forests within El Yunque National Forest. [2]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graphidaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Graphidaceae are a family of lichen-forming fungi in the order Graphidales. The family contains nearly a hundred genera and more than 2000 species. Although the family has a cosmopolitan distribution, most Graphidaceae species occur in tropical regions, and typically grow on bark.

<i>Nadvornikia</i> Genus of lichen-forming fungi

Nadvornikia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. Species in the genus are corticolous (bark-dwelling) and crustose.

<i>Astrochapsa</i> Genus of lichens

Astrochapsa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the subfamily Graphidoideae of the family Graphidaceae. It has 28 species. The genus was circumscribed by Sittiporn Parnmen, Robert Lücking, and H. Thorsten Lumbsch in 2012, with Astrochapsa astroidea assigned as the type species. It was segregated from the genus Chapsa, from which it differs in having a more frequently densely corticate thallus, an apothecial margin that is mostly recurved, and the almost exclusively subdistoseptate, non-amyloid ascospores.

Acanthothecis aurantiacodiscus is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Sri Lanka, it was formally described as a new species in 2014 by lichenologists Gothamie Weerakoon, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch. The type specimen was collected from the Kabaragala Tea Estate in Central Province at an altitude of 1,160 m (3,810 ft); here it was growing in semi-exposed, disturbed vegetation. It is only known to occur at the type locality. The specific epithet aurantiacodiscus refers to the orange-coloured disc of the ascomata. Acanthothecis aurantiacodiscus contains the secondary compound norstictic acid. It has relatively large muriform ascospores, measuring 45–50 by 12–15 μm. These last two features distinguish it from most other Acanthothecis species.

Rhabdodiscus isidiatus is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Sri Lanka, it was formally described as a new species in 2014 by lichenologists Gothamie Weerakoon, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch. The type specimen was collected from the Elkaduwa Plantation in Matale at an altitude of 915 m (3,002 ft). The lichen is only known to occur at the type locality, which is a patch of mid-elevation, disturbed montane forest. The specific epithet isidiatus refers to the presence of isidia on the thallus. Rhabdodiscus isidiatus has a cream-colored to white, smooth to uneven thallus up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. The ascomata are rounded and prominent, measuring 0.7–1.0 mm in diameter with a 0.3–0.5 mm wide pore and a light brown rim. Its ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid in shape, contain three thick septa, and measure 12–15 by 5–6 μm. Secondary chemicals present in the lichen include psoromic acid, subpsoromic acid, and 2'-O-demethylpsoromic acid.

Leucodecton coppinsii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is found in lowland forests of Sarawak, Malaysia.

Haematomma nicoyense is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Haematommataceae. Found in Costa Rica, it was formally described as a new species in 2006 by Matthew Nelsen, Robert Lücking, and José Luis Chaves. The type specimen was collected from the Monte Alto Forest Reserve in the Nicoya Peninsula at an elevation between 750 and 900 m. Here, in lowland to lower montane moist forests, the species was found growing on the lower trunks of exposed trees and on fence posts. The specific epithet refers to the type locality.

Pseudochapsa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has 19 species. It was circumscribed in 2012 by Sittiporn Parnmen, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch, with Pseudochapsa dilatata as the type species. Pseudochapsa differs from Chapsa it that its excipulum is typically brown. Additionally, its ascospores are mostly discoseptate and amyloid. The generic name combines the Greek pseudo ("false") with the genus name Chapsa.

Inoderma sorediatum is a species of crustose lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. It is only known to occur on the bark of trees in Poland's Białowieża National Park. It is differentiated from other species in genus Inoderma by the form of its thallus, which is entirely made of powdery, granular soredia, as well as by the presence of a unique combination of lichen products.

Cruentotrema is a genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichens in the family Graphidaceae. It has seven species.

Fissurina duplomarginata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Singapore, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Gothamie Weerakoon and Robert Lücking. The type specimen was collected by the first author from a low-elevation primary forest in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. It is only known to occur at the type locality. The greenish-grey thallus of the lichen is 25–75 μm thick, and covers an area of up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. It lacks a prothallus, soredia, and isidia. The photobiont partner is a member of the green algal genus Trentepohlia with yellowish-green cells measuring 8–14 by 6–9 μm; they occur in the lichen as a layer that is 20–60 μm thick. The species epithet refers to the double margin of the lirellae.

Aggregatorygma is a small genus of lichenized fungi in the family Graphidaceae.

Schistophoron aurantiacum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Costa Rica, it was formally described as a new species in 2007 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Harrie Sipman. The type specimen was collected by the second author from Carara National Park, where it was found along a stream in a partly disturbed primary forest dominated by an understory of the shrub Erythrochiton gymnanthus.

Pseudochapsa lueckingii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is known only from a single collection in São Paulo, Brazil.

Clandestinotrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has 17 species. They typically inhabit montane and cloud forest at higher elevations in the tropics.

Asteristion is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has seven species. Previously considered a synonym of either Phaeotrema or Thelotrema, molecular evidence led to its resurrection as a distinct genus. Asteristion lichens are corticolous (bark-dwelling), featuring a continuous thallus with a loose to hardened cortex and a photobiont layer containing calcium oxalate crystals. The ascomata, or fruiting bodies, are characterized by their large, often chroodiscoid appearance and the presence of distinct periphysoids. The secondary chemistry of these lichens includes major concentrations of stictic acid and minor to trace amounts of associated substances.

Xalocoa is a single-species fungal genus in the family Graphidaceae. The genus was circumscribed in 2013 by lichenologists Ekaphan Kraichak, Robert Lücking, and H. Thorsten Lumbsch. It contains Xalocoa ocellata, a corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen that was originally described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1831.

Sanguinotrema is a single-species fungal genus in the family Graphidaceae, and subfamily Graphidoideae. It contains the species Sanguinotrema wightii, a mostly corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen. This species has a pantropical distribution.

Gintarasia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has seven species, all of which are found in Australia. Gintarasia species are corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens with a thelotremoid form.

Chiodecton xanthonosorediatum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is native to Brazil, where it occurs in the Atlantic Forest. The lichen was formally described as a new species in 2020 by Dutch lichenologist André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected by the author from Serra da Bodoquena at an altitude of 460 m (1,510 ft).

References

  1. "Borinquenotrema". Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Mercado-Díaz, Joel A.; Lücking, Robert; Parnmen, Sittiporn (2014). "Two new genera and twelve new species of Graphidaceae from Puerto Rico: a case for higher endemism of lichenized fungi in islands of the Caribbean?". Phytotaxa. 189 (1): 186–203. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.189.1.14.