Teloschistes peruensis
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| Teloschistes peruensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Teloschistales |
| Family: | Teloschistaceae |
| Genus: | Teloschistes |
| Species: | T. peruensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Teloschistes peruensis (Ach.) J.W.Thomson (1968) | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
Teloschistes peruensis is a species of terricolous (ground-dwelling) fruticose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found only in a few small areas in Peru and Chile. It has been assessed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to its small population, limited geographic range, and various threats.
The lichen was first scientifically described in 1814 by the Swedish lichenologist Erik Acharius, who named it Borrera pubera var. peruensis.[4] In 1858, William Nylander considered it a subspecies of what is today known as Teloschistes flavicans, while in 1883, Johannes Müller Argoviensis treated it as a variety of T. flavicans.[5] John Walter Thomson thought it was sufficiently unique from these other species to elevate it to distinct species status in 1968.[3]
Description
Teloschistes peruensis is distinguished by its ability to form extensive, rounded colonies, reaching dimensions of 30–40 cm (12–16 in) in diameter and approximately 8 cm (3+1⁄8 in) in height. In its natural habitat, the lobes of this species show a vivid deep orange hue, though they tend to become brown once preserved in a herbarium. The lobes are intricately interwoven, with a dichotomous branching pattern, and measure between 0.2 and 0.5 mm in width and 2–4 cm (13⁄16–1+9⁄16 in) in height. This species is adorned with long, tapering cilia that form irregularly along the edges and at the tips of the lobes, which are either cylindrical or partly flattened and occasionally display channel-like depressions with fissures that open unpredictably along the thallus.[3]
The surface of Teloschistes peruensis is smooth and matte, with varying concentrations of short, transparent fibrils that become apparent under 20x magnification. This species does not produce soredia and is devoid of isidia, which are vegetative structures (propagules) that aid in reproduction and dispersion. Additionally, both apothecia and pycnidia, which are structures associated with sexual and asexual reproduction, respectively, have not been observed in this species.[3]
Parietin is the only lichen substance that has been associated with this species.[3]