''Pannaria phyllidiata'' 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.Pannariaceae The Pannariaceae are a family of lichens in the order Peltigerales (suborder Collematineae). Species from this family have a widespread distribution, but are especially prevalent in southern temperate regions. Genera According to a recent (202 ...

. Known from Australia, it was described as new to science in 2011. It is characterised by its unique (small leaf-like or scale-like

propagule In biology, a propagule is any material that functions in propagating an organism to the next stage in its life cycle, such as by dispersal. The propagule is usually distinct in form from the parent organism. Propagules are produced by organisms ...

s) and distinct distribution.

Taxonomy

''Pannaria phyllidiata'' was first formally described by Arve Elvebakk as a new species in 2011. The

type specimen In biology, a type is a particular wiktionary:en:specimen, specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to a ...

was found by the author in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia, specifically at Brown Mountain at an elevation of ; there it was found growing on

southern Sassafras ''Atherosperma moschatum'', the southern sassafras or blackheart sassafras, is an evergreen tree native to the cool temperate rainforests of Tasmania, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, and New South Wales in Australia. It is common in the rainfores ...

(''Atherosperma moschatum''). The species name, ''phyllidiata'', is derived from the numerous large that characterise the lichen.

Description

''Pannaria phyllidiata'' resembles the '' Pannaria sphinctrina'' species but can be distinguished by the presence of approximately 0.5 mm long, branched, and ascending phyllidia, as well as nodulose apical extensions of the perispores. The lichen forms foliose rosettes with a diameter of , closely attached to the . The lobes are irregularly to subdichotomously branched, discrete in peripheral parts, and to centrally coalescent. The upper surface is pale greyish-green, smooth (), and glossy, turning

chestnut brown Chestnut or castaneous is a colour, a medium reddish shade of brown (displayed right), and is named after the nut of the chestnut tree. An alternate name for the colour is badious. Indian red is a similar but separate and distinct colour fro ...

over time in herbaria. The is 20–25

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 ...

thick, consisting of more or less spherical cells that resemble ''

Myrmecia Myrmecia can refer to: * ''Myrmecia'' (alga), genus of algae associated with lichens * ''Myrmecia'' (ant), genus of ants called bulldog ants * Myrmecia (skin), a kind of deep wart on the human hands or feet See also * '' Copromorpha myrmecias'' ...

''. are scattered and , with that are rufous brown and flat. The proper ascospores are

hyaline A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from el, ὑάλινος, translit=hyálinos, lit=transparent, and el, ὕαλος, translit=hýalos, lit=crystal, glass, label=none. Histopathology Hyaline cartilage is ...

, non-

septate In biology, a septum (Latin for ''something that encloses''; plural septa) is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate. Examples Human anatomy * Interatri ...

ellipsoid An ellipsoid is a surface that may be obtained from a sphere by deforming it by means of directional scalings, or more generally, of an affine transformation. An ellipsoid is a quadric surface; that is, a surface that may be defined as the ...

to lemon-shaped, and distinctly when mature; they measure 7.5–10 by 12–16 μm. The secondary chemistry of ''Pannaria phyllidiata'' includes vicanicin as the major compound and trace amounts of unidentified terpenoids.

Habitat and distribution

This lichen species is primarily found in New South Wales, Australia, with single occurrences in Victoria and

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

. ''Pannaria phyllidiata'' typically grows on tree or

tree fern The tree ferns are arborescent (tree-like) ferns that grow with a trunk elevating the fronds above ground level, making them trees. Many extant tree ferns are members of the order Cyatheales, to which belong the families Cyatheaceae (scaly tree ...

trunks in rainforests at elevations between , occasionally on rocks near streams. It is associated with various tree species, including '' Nothofagus'', ''

Eucalyptus ''Eucalyptus'' () is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Along with several other genera in the tribe Eucalypteae, including '' Corymbia'', they are commonly known as euca ...

'', '' Olearia'', '' Pomaderis'', '' Trochocarpa laurina'', '' Lomatia ilicifolia'', and ''

Bedfordia salicina ''Bedfordia salicina'', commonly known as Tasmanian blanketleaf, is an Endemism, endemic Flowering plant, angiosperm of Tasmania, Australia. It is widespread throughout wet sclerophyll forests, moist gullies and intermediate forests and woodlands ...

''.

Relationship to other species

''Pannaria phyllidiata'' belongs to the '' Pannaria sphinctrina'' species complex, as

circumscribed In geometry, the circumscribed circle or circumcircle of a polygon is a circle that passes through all the vertices of the polygon. The center of this circle is called the circumcenter and its radius is called the circumradius. Not every polyg ...

by Elvebakk in 2007. This group is characterised by thin and the presence of vicanicin as the major secondary compound. ''Pannaria phyllidiata'' differs from other species in the complex by its numerous, ascending, and branched phyllidia, which are larger than the

s of other undescribed species in the group. '' Pannaria minutiphylla'', found in New Zealand, has smaller phyllidia (0.2–0.3 mm tall) that are less erect, and ascospores that measure 6.5–9.0 by 15–21 μm.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q16987276 Pannariaceae Lichen species Lichens described in 2011 Lichens of Australia Taxa named by Arve Elvebakk