Buellia bahiana
Buellia bahiana | |
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LC (NCA)[1]
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
Order: | Caliciales |
Family: | Caliciaceae |
Genus: | Buellia |
Species: | B. bahiana
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Binomial name | |
Buellia bahiana Malme
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Synonyms[2] | |
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Buellia bahiana (commonly known as bay buttons[3]) is a crustose-type lichen species that frequently grows on the bark and wood of trees found in coastal and inland forest habitats.[4][3] This lichen species exhibits a broad geographic distribution, being documented in various pantropical and subtropical regions around the world.[4] Specific areas where Buellia bahiana has been recorded include parts of Australia, Africa, North America, Central America, South America, and several Pacific Island chains.[4]
Description[edit]
Buellia bahiana has a thin, continuous thallus that can range in texture from membranous to areolate.[4] The thallus color varies from white to grey-white or pale grey.[4][3] A prothallus, the dark border around the thallus, is typically only evident when the lichen is growing adjacent to other species.[4]
The lichen produces abundant, sessile apothecia that are 0.1-0.7 mm wide.[4] These apothecia have a black, epruinose (lacking a waxy bloom) disc that is plane to slightly convex in shape. The margin of the apothecia is also black and persistent.[4][3] Microscopically, the proper exciple, the layer beneath the disc, is dark brown to brown, black, but paler internally.[4]
The epihymenium, the uppermost layer of the hymenium, is 10-15 μm thick and ranges in color from olive to blue-green or dark olive-green. This layer turns violet when exposed to potassium hydroxide (K+ violet).[4] The hymenium, the spore-bearing layer, is 65-85 μm thick and contains numerous oil droplets dispersed throughout.[4] The hypothecium, the layer beneath the hymenium, is 35-80 μm thick and dark brown in color.[4]
The asci, the spore-producing structures, contain 8 ascospores each. The ascospores are 1-septate, meaning they have a single wall dividing them, and measure 13-20 μm long by 5.5-8.0 μm wide. They are often slightly elongated at the ends and have distinct thickenings of the subapical and septum regions of the spore wall. The outer wall of the ascospores is smooth.[4] Pycnidia, the structures that produce asexual spores, have not been observed on this species.[4][3]
Chemistry[edit]
Chemical analysis via spot test shows that the thallus of Buellia bahiana tests positive for two substances. It reacts K+ red, indicating the presence of norstictic acid as a major component. The thallus also tests P+ yellow or yellow orange, revealing the minor or trace compound connorstictic acid.[4]
Habitat and distribution[edit]
Buellia bahiana is commonly found growing on the bark and wood of trees in coastal and hinterland forests in several regions of Australia, including Western Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania.[4] This lichen species has a broader pantropical to subtropical distribution.[4][3]
Beyond its distribution in Australia, this lichen species is also known to occur in various locations across the Pacific region, Central America, North America, and South America.[4] Specific areas where Buellia bahiana has been documented include Tahiti, Hawaiian Islands, and the New Caledonia.[4]
Conservation status[edit]
In the U.S. state of Georgia, Buellia bahiana is considered a rare species, reported from swamps and bottomland forests.[3] However, its overall conservation status in other parts of its range is generally unknown.[5]
Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 in the state of Queensland, Australia, the conservation status of this lichen species is listed as "Least Concern".[1][a]
Notes and references[edit]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Species profile—Buellia bahiana". Queensland Government. 2014-10-20. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Buellia bahiana Malme". Consortium of Lichen Herbaria.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Buellia bahiana". georgiabiodiversity.org. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Buellia bahiana". www.anbg.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Status Codes and Descriptions". The University of Queensland.