| Cladonia asahinae | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Cladoniaceae |
| Genus: | Cladonia |
| Species: | C. asahinae |
| Binomial name | |
| Cladonia asahinae J.W.Thomson (1967) | |
Cladonia asahinae, the pixie cup lichen or Asahina's cup lichen,[1] is a species of cup lichen in the family Cladoniaceae. C. asahinae occurs in Europe, North America, southern South America, and the Antarctic. It typically grows on humus on rocks.
Taxonomy
The species was first named and formally described by John Walter Thomson in 1969. The species epithet asahinae honors the Japanese chemist and lichenologist Yasuhiko Asahina, a significant contributor to the study of the genus Cladonia.[2] Cladonia asahinae is a member of the Cladonia chlorophaea species complex.[3] In North America, one vernacular name used for the species is "pixie-cup lichen".[4]
Description
Cladonia asahinae is characterized by its dwarf-fruticose growth form, with primary squamules measuring 1–2 mm in breadth, showing an olive green coloration on the top and a white to blackening hue below. The species can be either sorediate or esorediate. Its podetia are cup-forming, around 0.8–1.0 cm in height, and have a gradual flaring in the upper half. Unlike the squat appearance of C. chlorophaea, this species resembles C. fimbriata in shape. The stalk's base is corticate, with squamules and schizidia being common, while the upper part mixes coarse soredia and schizidia, eventually becoming decorticate and dull, ranging in color from white to brown. Apothecia are seen on short stipes emerging from the cup margins, typically brown in color.[2]
Chemically, Cladonia asahinae contains protolichesterinic acid and fumarprotocetraric acid in all observed specimens. Chemical spot test reactions to tests are K-, C-, and P+ red.[2] This was the original chemotype reported by Thompson in 1976, but two more chemotypes have since been recorded: one with protolichesterinic acid, and another with rangiformic, and norrangiformic, and fumarprotocetraric acid combined. It also make fatty acids as a major secondary metabolite.[5]
Habitat and distribution
In North America, Cladonia asahinae has a Pacific Coastal distribution pattern, with occurrences ranging from Alaska through southern British Columbia to Washington State and an outlier in Idaho. The species appears to prefer environments rich in humus, such as soil, rocks, old logs, and tree bases. The Alaskan specimens were found near heavily populated bird colonies but in areas with thick humus. Common lichen associates include Cladonia deformis, C. cornuta, C. furcata, and C. macilenta.[2] The lichen is also known to occur in Western and Central Europe, South America (including Argentina and Chile), and the Antarctic.[3]
Ecologically, Cladonia asahinae prefers humus-rich soils. This preference is evident in its distribution across various North American regions, particularly in areas with abundant organic material.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ "Standardized Common Names for Wild Species in Canada". National General Status Working Group. 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Thompson, John W. (1969). "Cladonia asahinae sp. nov. from western North America". Journal of Japanese Botany. 51 (12): 360–364. doi:10.51033/jjapbot.51_12_6685.
- 1 2 Ahti, Teuvo; Stenroos, Soili; Moberg, Roland (2013). Nordic Lichen Flora. Cladoniaceae. Vol. 5. Uppsala: Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University. p. 20. ISBN 978-91-85221-29-5.
- ↑ Brodo, Irwin M.; Duran, S.; Sharnoff, S. (2001). Lichens of North America. Yale University. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-300-08249-4.
- ↑ Kowalewska, Agnieszka; Kukwa, Martin (2007). "Cladonia asahinae, a lichen species overlooked in Poland". Polish Botanical Journal. 52 (2): 173–175.
