''Variospora thallincola'' is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family

Teloschistaceae The Teloschistaceae are a large family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. The family, estimated to contain over 1800 species, was extensively revised in 2013, including the creation o ...

Taxonomy

It was formally described as a new species in 1875 by the botanist Hugh Algernon Weddell, who named it ''Lecanora murorum'' var. ''thallincola''. Gustaf Einar Du Rietz raised it to species status in 1925, as ''Caloplaca thallincola''. Ulf Arup and colleagues transferred the taxon to the genus ''

Variospora ''Variospora'' is a genus of crustose lichens, belonging to the family Teloschistaceae. The genus was circumscription (taxonomy), circumscribed in 2013 by Ulf Arup, Ulrik Søchting, and Patrik Frödén. Species *''Variospora aegaea'' *''Vario ...

'' in 2013, following a molecular phylogenetics-based restructuring of the family Teloschistaceae.

Description

''Variospora thallincola'' is characterised by its , bright orange thallus that forms closely appressed, circular structures resembling cartwheels, each measuring 3–4 cm in diameter. The thallus features convex, finger-like ends, around 0.3–0.7 mm broad, which lie closely together and are separated by frequently parallel furrows. The central area of the thallus is convex and , and lacks , a powdery or waxy coating. The species develops apothecia, the fruiting structures, which can be up to 0.8 mm in diameter and are generally scattered across the central area of the thallus. The of the apothecia is orange and becomes excluded as they age. The of these apothecia are brown-orange in colour and transform from flat to convex over time. Within the apothecia, the

paraphyses Paraphyses are erect sterile filament-like support structures occurring among the reproductive apparatuses of fungi, ferns, bryophytes and some thallophytes. The singular form of the word is paraphysis. In certain fungi, they are part of the fe ...

(sterile filamentous structures) are loose, with some being while most fork towards their tips, which are slightly swollen. The of ''Variospora thallincola'' are distinctive for their swollen, lemon-shaped appearance, measuring 11–14 by 8–11

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 ...

with a

septum 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 ...

width of 4–5 μm, accounting for half the length of the ascospore. Both the thallus and the apothecia react to a potassium hydroxide (K) spot test by turning purple.

Habitat and distribution

Found on rocky coasts with siliceous stone, ''Variospora thallincola'' typically grows in the

mesic Mesic may refer to: * Mesic, North Carolina, a town in the United States * Mesic habitat, a type of habitat See also *Mesić (disambiguation) *Mešić Mešić is a Bosnian surname, a patronymic derived from the masculine given name '' Meša'', it ...

to submesic-

supralittoral The supralittoral zone, also known as the splash zone, spray zone or the supratidal zone, sometimes also referred to as the white zone, is the area above the spring high tide line, on coastlines and estuaries, that is regularly splashed, but not su ...

zones. It prefers north-facing rock surfaces that are shaded. The lichen is widely distributed, having been reported from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q25412632 Teloschistales Lichen species Lichens described in 1875 Lichens of Africa Lichens of Asia Lichens of Europe Lichens of North America Taxa named by Hugh Algernon Weddell