Megaspora rimisorediata
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| Megaspora rimisorediata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Pertusariales |
| Family: | Megasporaceae |
| Genus: | Megaspora |
| Species: | M. rimisorediata |
| Binomial name | |
| Megaspora rimisorediata Valadb. & A.Nordin (2011) | |
 | |
Megaspora rimisorediata is a species of crustose lichen in the family Megasporaceae.[1] Found in Iran, it was described as a new species in 2011. It is distinguished by its distinctive network of dark blue-green powdery granules that develop along cracks in the lichen's surface, which gives the species its name meaning 'crack-sorediate'. The lichen grows primarily on oak bark in mountainous steppe regions across northern Iran, where it appears to grow better during wetter winter months than in summer.
Megaspora rimisorediata was described as new to science in 2011 by Tahereh Valadbeigi and Anders Nordin. The genus Megaspora, once treated within Aspicilia, is characterised by relatively large, thick-walled ascospores and apothecia sunken into wart-like swellings of the thallus. Molecular phylogenetics analysis of nuclear rDNA ITS sequences placed M. rimisorediata as the closest known relative of M. verrucosa, while still differing in more than 50 nucleotide positions.[2]
The holotype was collected in western Iran at Tonele Reno, Ilam province, about 2,000 m elevation, on the bark of Persian oak (Quercus brantii), on 12 July 2009 (specimen Valadbeigi 10250; deposited in TARI). The specific epithet, rimisorediata, refers to the species' distinctive production of soredia along cracks in the thallus. In practical terms, it can be told from M. verrucosa by its sorediate thallus and the rarity of fruiting bodies; M. verrucosa typically lacks soralia and bears abundant apothecia.[2]