ITALIC 8.0

Peccania tiruncula (Nyl.) Henssen

in Henssen & Jørgensen, Lichenologist, 22: 143, 1990. Basionym: Omphalaria tiruncula Nyl. - Flora, 61: 338, 1878.

Synonyms: Thyrea tiruncula (Nyl.) Zahlbr.

Distribution: C - Abr (Nimis & Tretiach 1999).

Description: Thallus foliose-subsquamulose, peltate-monophyllous, 180-300 μm thick, attached by a single central strand of rhizohyphae, dull black to dark brown when dry, dark olive-brown when wet, the squamules 1-2(-3) mm wide, 1-1.5 mm high, with initially erect then parallel to the substrate, densely crowded, cylindrical to flattened, 0.2-0.3 mm thick, mostly simple lobules. Thallus ecorticate, the peripheral part 40-65 μm thick, with a loose network of anticlinally oriented hyphae enclosing the photobiont, the inner part with an irregular, 100-170 μm thick axial strand made of longitudinally to irregularly oriented hyphae. Apothecia terminal, 1-2 per squamule, at first urceolate then clearly lecanorine, 0.4-0.8(-1) mm across, round to irregular in outline, with a dark orange-brown, slightly concave to flat, often finally fissured disc and a thick, prominent thalline margin. Proper exciple absent; epithecium yellowish brown, poorly differentiated; hymenium colourless, but with conspicuous brown to red-brown patches in the upper third, 80-110 μm high, I+ blue; paraphyses branched and anastomosing, 2-4 μm thick, not constricted at septa, clearly capitate; hypothecium yellowish brown, 60-90 μm high (higher in central part). Asci 8-spored, cylindrical-clavate, with a thin, one-layered, non-amyloid wall and passive spore discharge via apical rupturing. Ascospores 1-celled, hyaline, globose or subglobose, 8-10(-12) x 7-9(-11) μm. Pycnidia immersed, globose to pyriform, unilocular, 180-230 x 40-65 μm. Conidia 1-celled, hyaline, thread-like, curved, 20-35 x c. 1 μm. Photobiont cyanobacterial, chroococcoid, with single or paired 10-17 x 8-14 μm large cells often penetrated by haustoria, surrounded by a yellowish brown gelatinous sheath which tends to become thinner and paler in internal parts. Spot test: all negative. Chemistry: without lichen substances.

Note: a poorly known species of exposed calcareous rocks, which deserves further study, apparently more widespread in subsaharan Africa (Algeria, Morocco).

Growth form: Fruticose

Substrata: rocks

Photobiont: cyanobacteria, coccaceous (e.g. Gloeocapsa)

Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual

On otherwise dry surfaces with short periods of water seepage after rain

Poorly known taxon in need of further study

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

Alpine belt: absent

Subalpine belt: absent

Oromediterranean belt: absent

Montane belt: very rare

Submediterranean belt: very rare

Padanian area: absent

Humid submediterranean belt: absent

Humid mediterranean belt: extremely rare

Dry mediterranean belt: extremely rare

pH of the substrata:

1

2

3

4

5

(info)

Solar irradiation:

1

2

3

4

5

(info)

Aridity:

1

2

3

4

5

(info)

Eutrophication:

1

2

3

4

5

(info)

Poleotolerance:

0

1

2

3

(info)

Altitudinal distribution:

1

2

3

4

5

6

(info)

Predictive model

Herbarium samples

Index Fungorum GBIF

Matthia Schultz - Source: https://lichenportal.org/cnalh/taxa/index.php?taxon=127057&clid=1184