Anzia colpota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Anzia colpota | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Parmeliaceae |
| Genus: | Anzia |
| Species: | A. colpota |
| Binomial name | |
| Anzia colpota Vain. (1921) | |
Anzia colpota is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. In Japanese, it is known as アンチゴケモドキ (anchi-goke-modoki).[1] It occurs in East Asia, generally at elevations between 2,000 and 3,500 metres.
The species was formally described as new to science in 1921 by the Finnish lichenologist Edvard August Vainio. The type specimen was collected by Atsushi Yasuda from Gamō, in Rikuzen Province, Japan. In his original description, Vainio characterised the species by its thallus, which is frequently divided into dichotomous segments measuring 0.7 to 2 mm wide. He noted that these segments are flat at their tips but otherwise convex, with a whitish-glaucescent colouration that becomes paler toward the tips. Vainio documented that the upper surface produces a yellowish reaction when treated with potassium hydroxide solution (i.e., the K test), while showing no internal reaction. He described the lower surface as blackish with very sparse rhizines of the same colour. In establishing this new species, Vainio distinguished it from Parmelia colpode (now Anzia colpodes, the type of genus Anzia) based on its distinctive K+ reaction on the upper surface.[2]
Anzia colpota closely resembles the North American species A. colpodes, which is also the type species. However, they can be distinguished chemically, as A. colpodes lacks sekikaic acid.[3] In 1961, William Culberson proposed that they should be considered the same species.[4] However, molecular analysis indicates that they are distinct, as they belong to separate clades within the genus Anzia.[3]
