''Ocellularia wolseleyana'' is a species of

lichen A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.Graphidaceae The Graphidaceae are a family of lichens in the order Ostropales. Distribution and ecology The vast majority of Graphidaceae species are restricted to the tropics. Most Graphidaceae species are epiphytic (i.e. they grow only on plants). Gener ...

. Found in Eastern Thailand, it was formally described as a new species in 2002 by lichenologists Natsurang Homchantara and

Brian J. Coppins Brian John Coppins (born 1949) is a botanist and lichenologist, considered a world authority on crustose lichens and a leading expert on the genus ''Micarea''. Education Coppins' interest in lichens was sparked during a field trip to the Scott ...

. The type specimen was collected by the first author in Khao Yai National Park ( Nakhon Ratchasima Province) at an elevation of . Here, in a

mixed deciduous forest Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (TSMF), also known as tropical moist forest, is a subtropical and tropical forest habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Description TSMF is generally found in large, discon ...

, the lichen was found growing on rock and on bark. It has a smooth and shiny, irregularly cracked thallus that ranges in colour from whitish mineral grey to olivaceous grey. It has a dense cortex and a white to creamy buff medulla. It contains

psoromic acid Psoromic acid is a β-orcinol depsidone with the molecular formula C18H14O8. Psoromic acid inhibits herpes simplex viruses type 1 and type 2. Furthermore, it inhibits the RabGGTase. Psoromic acid occurs in antarctic lichens A lichen ( , ) ...

, a

secondary compound Secondary metabolites, also called specialised metabolites, toxins, secondary products, or natural products, are organic compounds produced by any lifeform, e.g. bacteria, fungi, animals, or plants, which are not directly involved in the norma ...

. '' Ocellularia neomasonhalei'' is similar in appearance to ''O. wolseleyana''.

References

wolseleyana Lichen species Lichens described in 2002 Lichens of Thailand Taxa named by Brian John Coppins Taxa named by Natsurang Homchantara {{Ostropales-stub