Psammina tropica
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| Psammina tropica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | incertae sedis |
| Order: | incertae sedis |
| Family: | incertae sedis |
| Genus: | Psammina |
| Species: | P. tropica |
| Binomial name | |
| Psammina tropica Aptroot & M.Cáceres (2016) | |
 Holotype: Amapá National Forest, Brazil | |
Psammina tropica is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen of uncertain classification in the Ascomycota.[1] This lichen was discovered in 2016 growing on tree bark in disturbed forests of the Brazilian Amazon, with specimens found in both Amapá and Rondônia states. It is distinguished by its unique star-shaped reproductive structures that have 3–6 arms, each made up of several cells, which help identify it from related species.
Psammina tropica was described as new to science in 2016 by André Aptroot and Marcela da Silva Cáceres from material collected in the Amapá National Forest (Brazilian Amazon). The holotype was gathered on tree bark in disturbed forest near the field station at about 30 m elevation; paratypes came from Rondônia (primary rainforest near Fazenda São Francisco off BR-319, and a forest remnant on the Federal University of Rondônia campus near Porto Velho, both around 100 m). The specific epithet refers to its occurrence in the tropics. Species of Psammina can be lichenicolous or lichen-forming; P. tropica differs from the other lichenized species, P. palmata, by having septate, palmate conidia (3–6 arms, each with 4–7 cells) and a comparatively large, corticate thallus with a sterile zone around its edges.[2]