Lepraria torii
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lepraria torii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Stereocaulaceae |
| Genus: | Lepraria |
| Species: | L. torii |
| Binomial name | |
| Lepraria torii Pérez-Ortega & T.Sprib. (2009) | |
 | |
Lepraria torii is a species of corticolous and lignicolous (bark- and wood-dwelling), leprose lichen in the family Stereocaulaceae.[2] It is found in northwestern North America.
The lichen was first scientifically described in 2009 by the lichenologists Sergio Pérez-Ortega and Toby Spribille. The type specimen of Lepraria torii was collected by the authors on July 28, 2008, along the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska. It was found between Canyon City and Pleasant Camp at an elevation of 230 m (750 ft). The lichen was growing on detritus at the base of a western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). The species epithet honours the Norwegian lichenologist Tor Tønsberg, "in honour of his 20 years of work on Lepraria in North America (and Europe)".[1]
Description
Lepraria torii is a crustose and leprose lichen, meaning it forms a crust-like thallus layer on the surface it grows on (episubstratal) with a powdery texture and a well-defined border. It does not have lobes and is usually green to yellowish-green in color, often showing scattered areas of light orange pigment.[1]
This species lacks a true medulla, the inner layer found in many lichens. However, the soredia (powdery reproductive structures) beneath the cortical area can form a whitish layer in the thickest parts of the thallus. The hypothallus, the layer beneath the thallus, is composed of a network of whitish tangled hyphae, which are about 2.5 μm wide. These hyphae are usually visible at the border of the thallus and are often tinged with a dark pigment.[1]
The soredia of Lepraria torii are powdery and measure up to 45 μm in diameter. Sometimes, short projecting hyphae are present among the soredia, and inter-soredial hyphae are easily visible under a microscope. Each soredium contains up to seven chlorococcoid photobiont cells, which are the green algal cells that engage in photosynthesis. These cells are rounded and can be up to 12 μm in diameter, usually having a thick cell wall up to 3 μm.[1]
Neither ascomata (sexual fruiting bodies) nor pycnidia (asexual fruiting bodies) have been observed to occur in this species.[1]