ITALIC 8.0

Acarospora nitrophila H. Magn.

Göteborg. Vetensk.-och Vitter.-Handl., Ser. 4, 28, 2: 74, 1924.

Synonyms: Acarospora moraviae H. Magn.

Distribution: N - TAA (Nascimbene 2004), Lomb, Piem (Morisi & Sereno 1995, Matteucci & al. 2013, Giordani & al. 2014), VA (Piervittori & Isocrono 1999, Isocrono & al. 2008, Favero-Longo & Piervittori 2009, Matteucci & al. 2015c), Lig. C - Tosc, S - , Si (Grillo & Caniglia 2004).

Description: Thallus crustose, episubstratic, of dispersed or contiguous, sometimes substipitate 0.3-0.5(-1.4) mm wide 0.3-0.6 mm thick, flat to slightly convex, sometimes lobulate areoles, the upper surface dark brown, red brown or pale brown, epruinose or rarely partially pruinose, sometimes minutely rugulose (noticeable when wetted). Lower surface partly white in young areoles, but usually pale brown to blackish brown. Epicortex lacking or <10 μm thick and giving areoles a shiny appearance; cortex 20-30(-40) μm thick, the upper layer dark brown and narrow, often one cell thick, the lower layer colourless, with round or variably shaped, mostly 3-6 μm wide, sometimes vertically arranged cells; algal layer 80-120 μm thick, not dense, relatively even, uninterrupted by hyphal bundles but with occasionally narrow strands of hyphae visible between the algal cells; medulla usually up to 400 μm thick, of thin-walled, branched, densely intricate to vertically arranged, 2-4(-5) μm thick hyphae with some round to irregular bloated and angular cells. Apothecia 1-10 per areole, 0.1-0.4(-0.5) mm across, immersed or semi-immersed, with a dull brown, usually epruinose disc, with or without an elevated thalline margin. Proper exciple to 15-30 μm wide, sometimes visible as a narrow parathecial ring; epithecium brownish, c. 10 μm high; hymenium colourless, (90-)100-130(-150) μm high, the hymenial gel hemiamyloid, IKI+ immediately red or blue slowly turning red; paraphyses (1-)1.5(-2) μm wide at mid-level, the apical cells barely expanded; subhymenium 20-30 μm high, IKI+ blue; hypothecium indistinct, to 20 μm high. Asci 100-200-spored, cylindrical to narrowly clavate, 80-120 x 10-20 μm. Ascospores 1-celled, hyaline, ellipsoid, 4-5 x (1.5-)2 μm, Pycnidia rare. Conidia simple, c. 1.5 x 0.7 μm. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: cortex and medulla K-, C-, KC-, P-, UV-. Chemistry: without lichen substances.

Note: a lichen of steeply inclined to rain-sheltered surfaces of basic siliceous rocks, usually in species-poor communities, mostly near settlements. This is one of the most misunderstood species of the genus in Europe (Knudsen & al., in press). Earlier records by Nimis & Tretiach (1999) from Marche and Basilicata, and Nimis & al. (1996b) from Sicily are erroneous (fide Knudsen in TSB). The only confirmed record from Italy is that by Nascimbene (2004) from the Stelvio National Park (Knudsen & al., in press), all other records require confirmation.

Growth form: Crustose

Substrata: rocks

Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia

Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

Alpine belt: absent

Subalpine belt: very rare

Oromediterranean belt: absent

Montane belt: very rare

Submediterranean belt: very rare

Padanian area: absent

Humid submediterranean belt: very rare

Humid mediterranean belt: absent

Dry mediterranean belt: absent

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

P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste

Herbarium: Herb. J.Nascimbene
2003/03/31

P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste

Herbarium: TSB (29921)
2003/03/11