Placolecis opaca (Dufour) Hafellner

Beih. Nova Hedwigia, 79: 317, 1984. Basionym: Lecidea opaca Dufour in Fries - Lichenogr. Eur. Ref.: 289, 1831.
Synonyms: Astroplaca balanina (Fr.) Anzi; Astroplaca opaca (Dufour) Bagl.; Biatora opaca (Dufour) Jatta; Lecidea adglutinata Nyl.; Lecidea balanina (Fr.) Hue; Lecidea entochrysoides Hue; Parmelia balanina Fr. nom. illegit.; Placolecis balanina Trevis.; Psora opaca (Dufour) A. Massal.; Psora opaca var. crocea B. de Lesd.
Distribution: N - VG, Frl (vidi!), Ven, TAA, Lomb, Piem, Lig (Watson 2014, Giordani & al. 2016). C - Tosc (Ravera & al. 2019a), Laz, Mol (Nimis & Tretiach 1999, Caporale & al. 2008), Sar (Rizzi & al. 2011). S - Camp (Garofalo & al. 1999, 2010, Aprile & al. 2003, 2003b, Nimis & Tretiach 2004), Pugl (Nimis & Tretiach 1999), Bas (Bartoli & Puntillo 1996, 1998), Cal (Puntillo 1996), Si (Nimis & al. 1996b).
Description: Thallus crustose-placodioid, episubstratic, pale to dark brown (almost black in sun-forms), somewhat shiny, areolate in central parts, forming up to 5 cm wide, regular to irregular rosettes. Lobes elongated, 0.3-0.9 mm wide, contiguous, flat to slightly convex, usually branched. Cortex brown in upper part, colourless in lower part, paraplectenchymatous, with a thin epinecral layer; medulla orange at least in upper part, white to pale orange in lower part. Apothecia rather rare, lecideine, 0.3-1.3 mm across, black, sessile, with a flat to convex disc and a persistent to finally excluded proper margin. Proper exciple brown in outer part, colourless within; epithecium brown; hymenium colourless, K/I+ blue; paraphyses capitate, the apical cells with an internal pigment cap; hypothecium pale brown. Asci 8-spored, cylindrical-clavate, with a K/I+ blue outer coat and a K/I+ uniformly blue apical dome, Catillaria-type. Ascospores simple to to apparently 1-septate due to a pseudoseptum, hyaline, ellipsoid, (7.5-)10-12 x (4-)5-7.5 μm. Pycnidia frequent, immersed or slightly projecting, the wall colourless except in uppermost part. Conidia hyaline, bacilliform, straight, 3-6 x c . 0.8 μm. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: thallus K-, C-, KC-, P-; medulla K+ red, C+ red, KC+ red, P-. Chemistry: medulla with fragilin and other anthraquinones.
Note: a calcicolous lichen found in the Mediterranean and (more rarely) submediterranean belts, on both shaded and sunny surfaces of compact calcareous rocks. Its distribution extends widely into Central Asia. The record from Friuli is from the southern slopes of Mt. Bernadia near Ramandolo (Prov. Udine).
Growth form: Crustose
Substrata: rocks
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

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

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

Paolo Giordani
Italy, Liguria


Paolo Giordani
Italy, Liguria


Paolo Giordani
Italy, Liguria


Paolo Giordani
Italy, Liguria



P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (10119)
2001/11/28


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_P/Text_P_4/Placolecis_opaca.htm
France, 23/5/2017 - Falaise de la Madeleine, alt. 370 m - Lioux - Vaucluse


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_P/Text_P_4/Placolecis_opaca.htm
France, 23/5/2017 - Falaise de la Madeleine, alt. 370 m - Lioux - Vaucluse


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_P/Text_P_4/Placolecis_opaca.htm
France, 23/5/2017 - Falaise de la Madeleine, alt. 370 m - Lioux - Vaucluse


Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_P/Text_P_4/Placolecis_opaca.htm
France, 23/5/2017 - Falaise de la Madeleine, alt. 370 m - Lioux - Vaucluse