Umbilicaria polyphylla (L.) Baumg.

Fl. Lips.: 571, 1790. Basionym: Lichen polyphyllus L. - Sp. Pl., 2: 1150, 1753.
Synonyms: Gyrophora anthracina (Wulfen) Körb.; Gyrophora glabra (Ach.) Ach.; Gyrophora polyphylla (L.) Funck; Umbilicaria anthracina (Wulfen) Hoffm.; Umbilicaria glabra Ach.
Distribution: N - Frl (Tretiach & Hafellner 2000), Ven, TAA (Nascimbene & al. 2022), Lomb (Gheza 2019, 2019b), Piem (Morisi & Sereno 1995, Isocrono & Falletti 1999, Isocrono & al. 2003, 2004, 2006), VA (Piervittori & Isocrono 1997, 1999, Lich. Ital. Exs. 80: Isocrono & al. 2023), Emil (Fariselli & al. 2020). C - Tosc (Tretiach & al. 2008), Sar (Nöske 2000). S - Bas (Potenza & al. 2014), Cal (Puntillo 1996, Potenza & al. 2011), Si (Caniglia & Grillo 2003, Ottonello 2005, Iacolino & Ottonello 2006).
Description: Thallus foliose-umbilicate, attached by a central holdfast, dorsiventral, polyphyllous and cushion-forming, rarely monophyllous, 2-4(-10) cm diam., paper-thin and fragile when dry, irregular in outline, with lacerate, undulate, entire or deeply dissected margins, the edges strongly up-turned, the umbo slightly folded. Upper surface dark brown, rarely grey-brown, smooth, slightly glossy at least in marginal parts, even or with poorly evident reticulate wrinkles. Lower surface smooth, even, sooty black, sometimes brown around umbilicus, erhizinate. Thalloconidia usually 6-10-celled, spherical to ellipsoid, smooth, brown to dark brown, 9-28 x 9-24 µm, completely covering the lower surface, except for a brown area around umbilicus. Upper cortex palisade-plectenchymatous; medulla white, densely scleroplectenchymatous; lower cortex scleroplectenchymatous. Apothecia very rare, black, gyrodisc, 0.5-2(-4) mm across. Asci 8-spored, clavate, thick-walled, with an amyloid apical dome, Umbilicaria-type. Ascospores 1-celled hyaline, ellipsoid, 12-19 x 4-8 µm. Pycnidia mainly marginal on upper surface, immersed, globose, with a dark brown ostiole. Conidia bacilliform, c. 4-5.5 x c. 0.6 µm. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: K-, C+ red, KC+ red, P-. Chemistry: medulla with gyrophoric and umbilicaric acids (major), and lecanoric acid (minor).
Note: a variable and ecologically wide-ranging species of rainy areas, with optimum on inclined surfaces of siliceous rocks wetted by rain, present both in the Alps and in the high Mediterranean mountains; South Italian records, however, may belong to the very similar U. subpolyphylla (see Christensen 2022).
Growth form: Foliose, umbilicate
Substrata: rocks
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly asexual, by conidia and thalloconidia
Most common in areas with a humid-warm climate (e.g. most of Tyrrenian Italy)

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

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

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



P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (32889)
2003/03/17


Triin Aimla; Owner: University of Tartu


Caterina Azara; Owner: Caterina Azara
Italy, Sardegna, Oristano, Luogosanto
2010


Caterina Azara; Owner: Caterina Azara
Italy, Sardegna, Oristano, Luogosanto
2010


Frey E. 1933. Cladoniaceae (unter Ausschluß ded Gattung Cladonia) und Umbilicariaceae. In: Rabenhrst’s Kryptogamenflora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. 15: 1-208.


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


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


Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=550&lang=en
Belgium, Monthermé


Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=550&lang=en
Belgium, Monthermé


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=550&lang=en
France, Brasparts


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=550&lang=en
France, Brasparts


Michel David - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=550&lang=en
France, Brasparts


Michel David - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=550&lang=en
France, Brasparts


Ulrich Kirschbaum
Central Europe; Germany; Hesse: Rhön Mountains.