ITALIC 8.0

Chaenotheca gracilenta (Ach.) Mattsson & Middelb.

in Middelborg & Mattsson, Sommerfeltia 5: 45, 1987. Basionym: Calicium gracilentum Ach. - Lichenogr. Univ.: 243, 1810.

Synonyms: Coniocybe gracilenta (Ach.) Ach.; Cybebe gracilenta (Ach.) Tibell

Distribution: N - Frl (Puntillo & Puntillo 2009), Ven (Nascimbene 2008c), TAA (Nascimbene & al. 2006e, 2022, Thor & Nascimbene 2007, Puntillo & Puntillo 2009, Nascimbene 2014, Nascimbene & Marini 2015, Nimis & al. 2015, Trindade & al. 2021), Lomb (Puntillo & Puntillo 2009), Piem (TSB 33502). C - Tosc (Puntillo & Puntillo 2009), Umb (Ravera & al. 2023b).

Description: Thallus crustose, thinly episubstratic, farinose, grey-green. Apothecia long-stalked, pin-like, 2-3.5 mm high. Stalk slender and flexuose, 0.06-0.09 mm thick, black, but covered in a thin, grey, granular pruina, consisting of periclinally arranged, medium brown hyphae, the outermost layer disrupted into pruina-like granules. Capitulum spherical, 0.2-0.4 mm across, with a poorly developed exciple which is continuous with the stalk tissue. Mazaedium well-developed, pale grey; hypothecium medium brown, formed as a continuation of the stalk, c. 120-150 µm wide and 65-90 µm high. Asci ellipsoid, formed in chains from ascogenous hyphae without hooks, dissolving early. Ascospores 1-celled, very pale brown to almost hyaline, globose, 2.5-3 µm wide, with a smooth to slightly cracked wall. Photobiont chlorococcoid, with rectangular cells (Stichococcus). Spot tests: thallus K-, C-, KC-, P-. Chemistry: thallus with small amounts of several unidentified substances.

Note: a circumboreal-montane species found on rotting wood and decaying bark, on faces protected from rain such as hollows of old stumps in ancient, humid, montane to subalpine forests, reported from the Alps and the Northern Apennines. It is included in the Italian red list of epiphytic lichens as “Vulnerable” (Nascimbene & al. 2013c).

Growth form: Crustose

Substrata: bark and lignum

Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia

Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual

In underhangs rarely wetted by rain

Commonnes-rarity: (info)

Alpine belt: absent

Subalpine belt: extremely rare

Oromediterranean belt: absent

Montane belt: very rare

Submediterranean belt: absent

Padanian area: absent

Humid submediterranean belt: absent

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

Herbarium samples

Index Fungorum GBIF

P.L. Nimis CC BY-SA 4.0

TSB 6758

Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/lichens/gallery/

Courtesy: Anita Stridvall

Leif Stridvall - Source: http://www.stridvall.se/la/galleries.php (Courtesy: Anita Stridvall)