Variospora dalmatica (A. Massal.) Cl. Roux

Bull. Ass. Fr. Lichénologie, 47, 1: 30, 2022. Basionym: Callopisma dalmaticum A. Massal. - Symmicta Lich. Nov. 3031, 1855.
Synonyms: Callopisma aurantiacum var. diffractum A. Massal.; Callopisma aurantiacum var. leucotis A. Massal.; Callopisma aurantiacum var. ochroleucum A. Massal.; Callopisma dalmaticum A. Massal.; Caloplaca aurantiaca var. ochroleuca (A. Massal.) Jatta; Caloplaca velana var. dalmatica (A. Massal.) Clauzade & Cl. Roux; Placodium aurantiacum var. diffractum (A. Massal.) Anzi
Distribution: N - VG, Frl, Ven (Lazzarin 2000b, Caniglia & al. 1999, Nascimbene & Marini 2007), TAA (Nascimbene 2003, Nascimbene & al. 2022), Lomb, Piem (TSB), VA (Piervittori & Isocrono 1999), Emil (Fariselli & al. 2020), Lig (Valcuvia & al. 2000, Giordani & al. 2016). C - Tosc, Marc (Nimis & Tretiach 1999), Umb (Nimis & Tretiach 1999, Panfili 2000b, 2007, Ravera & al. 2006), Laz (Bartoli & al. 1998, Nimis & Tretiach 2004, Brackel 2015), Abr (Nimis & Tretiach 1999), Mol (Nimis & Tretiach, 1999, 2004, Caporale & al. 2008), Sar. S - Camp (Garofalo & al. 1999, 2010, Nimis & Tretiach 2004), Pugl (Nimis & Tretiach 1999, Durini & Medagli 2002), Bas (Nimis & Tretiach 1999), Cal (Puntillo 1996), Si (Ottonello & Salone 1994, Ottonello & al. 1994, Ottonello 1996, Nimis & al. 1996b, Grillo 1998, Grillo & al. 2002, Grillo & Caniglia 2004, Brackel 2008b, 2008c, Gianguzzi & al. 2009).
Description: Thallus crustose, episubstratic, ochraceous yellow to ochraceous orange, epruinose, smooth and subcontinuous or sometimes finely cracked, usually well-delimited, forming up to 3 cm wide patches. Apothecia frequent, 0.3-0.8(-1) mm across, persistently immersed in the thallus, with an initially flat, then sometimes convex, orange to brownish orange disc and a usually slightly paler, smooth, persistent margin. Epithecium orange, granular, K+ red; hymenium colourless, 50-80 μm high; paraphyses sparingly branched in upper part, the apical cells swollen, up to 4-6 μm wide; hypothecium colourless. hyaline, very variable, Ascospores 2-celled, polarilocular, hyaline, ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, 9-15 x 5-10 μm, the equatorial thickening (“septum”) 3-5 μm (1/4-1/2 of spore length). Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: thallus and apothecia K+ red, C-, KC-, P-. Chemistry: thallus and apothecia with parietin (major), fallacinal, emodin, teloschistin and parietinic acid (minor), corresponding with chemosyndrome A of Søchting (1997).
Note: a poorly known calcicolous species described from Dalmatia. The epithet dalmatica seems to have priority within a difficult and still not fully understood complex of related species found on a wide variety of calcareous substrata in exposed, rather eutrophicated situations. The records reported from Italy refer to the species in a very broad sense; several of them could refer to other species, such as V. dolomiticola, V. epierodens, V. placidia, V. schaereri, V. velana.
Growth form: Crustose
Substrata: rocks
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual
Poorly known taxon in need of further study

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

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

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=598&lang=en
France, Loperhet


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=598&lang=en
France, Loperhet


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=598&lang=en
France, Loperhet


Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=598&lang=en
France, Loperhet