lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.fungi in the
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Lobarioideae of the family Peltigeraceae. It has two foliose species that are found in New Zealand. Lichen products that have been detected in the genus include
polyporic acid
Polyporic acid is a para-terphenyl benzoquinone compound first identified by German chemist Stahlschmidt from a mycelial culture of the fungus species ''Hapalopilus nidulans'' in 1877. This chemical, present at 20–40% of the fresh weight of the ...
triterpenoid
Triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of three terpene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of six isoprene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squale ...
s. The genus was
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 ...
in 2015 by
David John Galloway
David John Galloway , FRSNZ (7 May 1942 – 6 December 2014) was a biochemist, botanist, and lichenologist.
Biography
Galloway grew up in Invercargill. After graduation from Southland Boys' High School, he studied at the University of Otago. As ...
. The generic name ''Yarrumia'' honours James Murray (1923–1961) "who first detected polyporic acid in the two species comprising the genus, and who contributed so much to New Zealand lichenology, subsequent to his initial interest in the chemistry of ''Yarrumia coronata'' dating from 1949".