lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.Caliciaceae. It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the Gulf Coastal Plain region of the United States. The lichen contains
norstictic acid
Norstictic acid is a depsidone produced as a secondary metabolites in lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.
, and has
ascospore
An ascus (; ) is the sexual spore-bearing cell produced in ascomycete fungi. Each ascus usually contains eight ascospores (or octad), produced by meiosis followed, in most species, by a mitotic cell division. However, asci in some genera or s ...
s that measure 13–17 by 8–9
μm
The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Unit ...
.
Taxonomy
The lichen was originally described as ''Acolium carolinianum'' by American botanist Edward Tuckerman in 1872. He discovered it in
South Carolina
)''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
, after which the species is named.
Leif Tibell
Leif Tibell (born 16 November 1944) is a Swedish lichenologist and Emeritus Professor at the University of Uppsala. He is known for his expertise on calicioid lichens. He was awarded the Acharius Medal in 2012 for lifetime achievements in lich ...
transferred it to the genus ''
Thelomma
''Thelomma'' is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Caliciaceae. The genus is widely distributed and contains seven species. ''Thelomma'' was circumscribed by Italian lichenologist Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo
Abramo Bartolommeo Massalo ...
'' in 1976. In 2016, Maria Prieto and Mats Wedin proposed a transfer to the genus ''
Calicium
''Calicium'' is a genus of leprose lichens. It is in the family Caliciaceae.
The sexual reproduction structures are a mass of loose ascospores that are enclosed by a cup shaped exciple sitting on top of a tiny stalk, having the appearance of ...
'', "until molecular investigations can clarify its position".