Niebla infundibula
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| Niebla infundibula | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Ramalinaceae |
| Genus: | Niebla |
| Species: | N. infundibula |
| Binomial name | |
| Niebla infundibula Spjut (1996) | |
Niebla infundibula is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the Pacific Coast in the Channel Islands of California (San Nicolas Island) and in Baja California on Guadalupe Island, and on the main peninsula in the southern region of the Northern Vizcaíno Desert on a ridge south of Punta Negra.[1] The epithet, infundibula, is in reference to the funnel shape of the thallus branches.
Niebla infundibula is characterized by a large massive rigid thallus divided into sub[terete] branches spreading from a holdfast, to 10 cm high and 15 cm across above the base, and further recognized by containing divaricatic acid and by the large pycnidia.[1][2][3] that are prominent on the upper parts of branches, appearing larger than other species in the genus; however, comparative measurements were not provided for all species.[1] The cortex is glossy and moderately thick, 75–125 μm thick.[1] The relatively greater mass of the thallus may be due to a thicker glossy layer that is generally absent in many related species (“epicortex”[4]). Similar species are Niebla juncosa, which differs in having a more fragile thallus with branches that break off as evident from the thallus falling apart in the herbarium, including breaking apart at the base, and by its less glossy cortex and less conspicuous pyncidia (due to their smaller size), and Niebla eburnea, also with smaller pycnidia (200–350 μm long), but generally recognized by its pastry-like, or ivory-like, cortex.[1]