Phlyctis argena (Spreng.) Flot.

Bot. Zeit., 8: 572, 1850. Basionym: Parmelia argena Spreng. - Caroli Linnaei Syst. Veget., 4, 1: 300, 1827.
Synonyms: Pertusaria reducta Stirt.; Phlyctis erythrosora Erichsen; Thelotrema variolarioides (Pers.) Ach.; Urceolaria variolarioides Pers.
Distribution: N - VG (Castello 1996, 2002, Carvalho 1997, Martellos & Castello 2004), Frl (Badin & Nimis 1996, Brackel 2013), Ven (Lazzarin 1997, Nascimbene 2005c, 2008, 2008c, 2011, Nascimbene & al. 2005b, 2006c, 2007, 2008e, 2013b, 2015, Thor & Nascimbene 2007, Nascimbene & Marini 2007, Obermayer 2011), TAA (Philippi 1983, Nascimbene 2005b, 2006b, 2006c, 2008b, 2014, Nascimbene & al. 2007b, 2014, 2022, Zarabska & al. 2009, Nascimbene & Marini 2015, Nimis & al. 2015, Trindade & al. 2021), Lomb (Zocchi & al. 1997, Gheza & al. 2015, 2020, 2023, Favero-Longo & al. 2023), Piem (Piervittori 2003, Matteucci & al. 2010, Giordani & Malaspina 2016), Emil (Gasparo & Tretiach 1996, Nimis & al. 1996, Tretiach & al. 2008, Benesperi 2009, Brackel 2015, Fariselli & al. 2020), Lig (Brunialti & al. 1999, Putortì & al. 1999b, Giordani & al. 2002, Brunialti & Giordani 2003, Giordani 2006, Giordani & Incerti 2008). C - Tosc (Tretiach & Nimis 1994, Loppi & Putortì 1995b, Loppi & al. 1995, 1997, 1997b, 1998, 1998b, 1999a, 2002, 2002b, 2002c, 2004, 2004c, 2006, Loppi 1996, 1996b, Loppi & De Dominicis 1996, 1996b, Putortì & al. 1998, 1999, Tretiach & Ganis 1999, Putortì & Loppi 1999b, Bacci & al. 2000, Benesperi 2000a, 2006, 2011, Senese & Critelli 2000, Paoli & Loppi 2001, Laganà & al. 2002, Lorenzini & al. 2003, Stofer 2006, Benesperi & al. 2007, Lastrucci & al. 2009, Brunialti & Frati 2010, Loppi & Nascimbene 2010, Brunialti & al. 2012b, Paoli & al. 2012, 2015d, Brackel 2015, Nascimbene & al. 2015, Frati & Brunialti 2023), Marc (Nimis & Tretiach 1999, Frati & Brunialti 2006, Brackel 2015), Umb (Ravera 1998, Nimis & Tretiach 1999, Ravera & al. 2006, Panfili 2007, Brackel 2015), Laz (Ravera 2002, 2008b, Ravera & al. 2003, Massari & Ravera 2002, Nimis & Tretiach 2004, Ruisi & al. 2005, Munzi & al. 2007, Ravera & Genovesi 2008, Zucconi & al. 2013, Brackel 2015), Abr (Nimis & Tretiach 1999, Stofer 2006, Brackel 2015, Caporale & al. 2016, Corona & al. 2016, Gheza & al. 2021), Mol (Nimis & Tretiach 1999, Caporale & al. 2008, Ravera & al. 2010, Genovesi & Ravera 2014, Paoli & al. 2015, Caporale & Ravera 2020), Sar (Zedda 1995, 2002, 2002b, Loi & al. 2000, Zedda & Sipman 2001, Zedda & al. 2001, Stofer 2006, Rizzi & al. 2011, Cossu 2013, Neuwirth 2018, Di Nuzzo & al. 2022). S - Camp (Aprile & al. 2003b, Nimis & Tretiach 2004, Brunialti & al. 2010, 2013, Garofalo & al. 2010, Ravera & Brunialti 2013, Catalano & al. 2016), Pugl (Nimis & Tretiach 1999, Brackel 2011), Bas (Nimis & Tretiach 1999, Potenza 2006, Brackel 2011), Cal (Puntillo 1996, Incerti & Nimis 2006, Stofer 2006), Si (Nimis & al. 1994, Ottonello & Salone 1994, Ottonello & al. 1994, Grillo 1998, Grillo & al. 2002, Grillo & Caniglia 2004, Caniglia & Grillo 2006b, Stofer 2006, Brackel 2008b, Liistro & Cataldo 2011, Puglisi & Cataldo 2019, Campisi & al. 2020, Ravera & al. 2023b).
Description: Thallus crustose, ecorticate, very thinly episubstratic, white to grey-white, smooth to slightly cracked, forming orbicular to irregular, up to 10(-20) cm wide patches which often merge and cover wider areas on the trunks, often delimited by a white felty prothallus of radiating hyphae. Central part of thallus diffusely sorediate; soredia white, grey-white or greenish-white when fresh (usually paler than thallus), turning pale brown in the herbarium, initially farinose but later often gathering into 90-125 µm wide consoredia. Apothecia very rare, immersed in sorediate thalline warts, irregular to round, 0.2-0.4(-0.5) mm across, the disc grey to grey, black, but whitish-pruinose. Thalline exciple raised, often sorediate; proper exciple colourless, poorly developed; epithecium colourless to pale brown, granular; hymenium colourless, up to 240 µm high; paraphyses slender, 1.5-2 µm thick, simple or sparingly branched in upper part, with slightly enlarged apical cells; hypothecium colourless. Asci 1-spored, broadly clavate, thin-walled, not strongly thickened at apex, the outer wall K/I+ blue, the tholus I+ weakly blue. Ascospores densely muriform, hyaline to pale yellowish when overmature, broadly ellipsoid, not distinctly apiculate, (60-)70-130(-150) x (25-)30-50(-53) µm, with a thin, I+ blue wall and a very thin perispore. Pycnidia rare, immersed, black but whitish-pruinose, Conidia simple, narrowly ellipsoid, more or less curved, (3-)4-5(6.5) x 1(-3) µm. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: thallus and soralia K+ yellow then slowly blood-red (needle-like crystals), C-, KC+ reddish, P+ yellow then orange-red, UV-. Chemistry: norstictic acid.
Note: a subtropical to southern boreal-montane, holartic lichen, an aggressive coloniser of smooth bark (e.g. of Carpinus) in sheltered situations (e.g. in forests), with optimum in the deciduous forest belts.
Growth form: Crustose
Substrata: bark
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly asexual, by soredia, or soredia-like structures (e.g. blastidia)
Pioneer species

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

Alpine belt: absent
Subalpine belt: absent
Oromediterranean belt: absent
Montane belt: very common
Submediterranean belt: common
Padanian area: extremely rare
Humid submediterranean belt: very common
Humid mediterranean belt: rare
Dry mediterranean belt: absent

pH of the substrata:

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Solar irradiation:

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Aridity:

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Eutrophication:

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Poleotolerance:

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Altitudinal distribution:

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Predictive model
Herbarium samples

Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/



P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (34829)
2002/02/13
apothecial warts in an exceptionally silicicolous specimen



P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (29406)
2002/05/14
detail of soredia



P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (34829)
2002/02/13
section of an unfrequent apothecial wart


Andres Saag; Owner: University of Tartu



P.L.Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (36774)
2008.02.28


Gabriele Gheza, Tromello (PV); Owner: Gabriele Gheza, Tromello (PV)


Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/la/galleries.php



Andrea Moro; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trieste, Trieste Karst near Borgo Grotta Gigante
16/02/2017



Andrea Moro; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trieste, Trieste Karst near Borgo Grotta Gigante
16/02/2017



Andrea Moro; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Trieste, Trieste Karst near Borgo Grotta Gigante
16/02/2017



Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
[16488], Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Kreis Göppingen, am Kornberg südlich von Gammelshausen, 690 m



Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
[16488], Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Kreis Göppingen, am Kornberg südlich von Gammelshausen, 690 m



Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
[16488], Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Kreis Göppingen, am Kornberg südlich von Gammelshausen, 690 m


Zahlbruckner A. 1926. Lichenes (Flechten). In: Engler A. (ed.): Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien. 2nd ed., vol 8, W. Engelmann, Leipzig, 270 pp.


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Reaction to KOH


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Reaction to KOH


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Reaction to KOH


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/
Reaction to KOH


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Andres Saag; Owner: University of Tartu


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Walter Obermayer CC BY-SA 4.0 - Source: Lichens of Noricum - http://lichens-of-noricum.uni-graz.at/


Joël Querellou - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Le Mougaut


Joël Querellou - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Le Mougaut


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, L'Aber


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Châteaulin


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Coadry


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Landévennec


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Landévennec


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Landévennec


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Landévennec


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Gorges du Stangala


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: https://italic.units.it/flora/?procedure=img_ins2&species_id=3812
France, Gorges du Stangala


Ulrich Kirschbaum
Portugal: Madeira. (1600 m)