Filsoniana Kiamae

''Filsoniana kiamae'' is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in Australia. The lichen forms small rosettes with brownish-orange , and it occasionally develops isidia. Its rare apothecia (fruiting bodies) are round, with brownish-orange margins and a reddish .

Taxonomy

The lichen was formally described as a new species in 2007 by the lichenologists Sergey Kondratyuk and Ingvar Kärnefelt. The species epithet refers to Kiama township, its type locality. The type specimen was collected by the first author on rock outcrops along the coast. Initially classified in the genus ''Caloplaca'', it has been proposed for inclusion in the genus ''Squamulea'' in 2013, and later transferred by Kondratyuk and colleagues to ''Filsoniana'' in 2013.

Description

''Filsoniana kiamae'' typically forms rosettes ranging in size from 3 to 15 mm in diameter. The thallus is often discernible, especially in the peripheral zone, which is usually about 2–3 mm wide and has a brownish-orange hue. The or of this species measure 0.7–1.8 mm in length, 0.5–1.2 mm in width, and are 0.3–0.4 mm thick, occasionally reaching up to 1 mm. Terminal portions of these areoles can be dissected into smaller sections, measuring 0.2–0.5 mm in width and up to 0.7 mm in length, with lateral dissected portions typically overlapping and measuring 0.3–0.4 mm in width. These areoles are flat to somewhat convex and tightly adhered to the , with their upper surface having a brownish-orange to greenish-brownish orange colour.

In cross-section, the thallus of ''Filsoniana kiamae'' is about 150–350 μm thick. It has a cortex approximately 20–30 μm thick, with cells measuring 4–9 μm in width. The can be up to 200 μm thick but is not continuous. The blastidious mass, slightly brighter in colour, ranges from yellow to dull yellow. are typically about 25–30 μm in diameter, originating from the underside along laterally dissected portions and sometimes on terminal portions, occasionally evolving into isidia up to 100 μm in diameter. In larger rosettes, the blastidious mass is confined to the central part, with a peripheral zone of 1–2 mm typically lacking blastidia.

The apothecia of ''Filsoniana kiamae'' are relatively rare, measuring 0.3–0.7 mm in diameter. They are sessile, round, flat, and can be either or in type, with brownish-orange thalline and , and a reddish to reddish-brown . The is approximately 80 μm thick, while the is 70–100 μm thick at its uppermost lateral portion, reducing to 15–20 μm in the lower lateral and basal portions. The exciple is scleroplectenchymatous with a matrix and cell of 1–1.5 μm in diameter. The hymenium is 75–80 μm high, and the , which can contain oil droplets up to 3 μm in diameter, is about 50 μm thick. Paraphyses are slightly expanded towards their tips, reaching up to 7 μm in diameter, often containing oil droplets in the upper cells. The spores of ''Filsoniana kiamae'' are characteristically wide with slightly expanded septa, measuring 10–16 by 6–8 μm, with a septum of 1–4 μm.

Chemically, the thallus and apothecia are K+ (red), C−, and I−. The species contains parietin as its major lichen product, along with minor amounts of fallacinal, traces of parietinic acid, and teloschistin.

Habitat and distribution

''Filsoniana kiamae'' is typically found in natural indentations and fissures of granite rock outcrops, as well as on sandy limestone surfaces. The species is known to inhabit various regions across southern Australia. Its presence has been recorded in a number of dispersed locations, including Western Australia, South Australia, and New South Wales.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q105492882 , from2=Q21253169 , from3=Q25916831

Teloschistales
Lichen species
Lichens described in 2007
Lichens of Australia
Taxa named by Sergey Kondratyuk
Taxa named by Ingvar Kärnefelt