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dirinaria lichen

Scientific Name: Dirinaria confusa var. saxicola

Family: Physciaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Dirinaria Lichen

This page provides information about lichens belonging to the Dirinaria genus, particularly focusing on Dirinaria picta and Dirinaria applanata. Lichens are symbiotic organisms consisting of a fungus and an alga.

Considerations for Pets

  • Lichens grow on tree trunks, so if pets have access to trees, they could come into contact with Dirinaria.
  • The upper part of some *Dirinaria* species is encrusted with lichen acids.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Dirinaria picta (Sw.) Schaer. ex Clem.
  • Common Names: Dirinaria Lichen
  • Dirinaria applanata
  • Frost's Dirinaria Lichen: Dirinaria frostii

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Genus: Dirinaria (Tuck.) Clem.
  • Family: Physciaceae (sometimes listed as Caliciaceae).
  • Kingdom: Fungi (as lichens contain a fungal component)
  • Synonyms:
    • Dirinaria aegialita (Afzel. ex Ach.) B.J. Moore = Dirinaria aspera (H. Magn.) D.D. Awasthi = Physcia aspera H. Magn.
    • Frost's Smooth Rosette (synonym for Dirinaria frostii)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Dirinaria is mainly a pantropical and subtropical genus.
  • Dirinaria picta has been found growing on the Galapagos Islands and is commonly found on tree trunks in Thailand.
  • Dirinaria applanata has been identified in South Korea and India.
  • Dirinaria aegialita is found in Taiwan.
  • Distributional maps exist for Dirinaria confluens in the USA and Canada.

Ecological Role

  • Lichens are slow-growing organisms.
  • Lichens can be used as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution. Dirinaria picta has been used in Singapore and Malaysia to assess heavy metal concentrations.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Dirinaria are described as encrusting arboreal lichens.
  • Some species exhibit scarlet red coloration.
  • Gelatinous: Narrow lobed and tightly attached.
  • Underside black, lacking.

Genetic Information

  • A non-reducing polyketide synthase gene (DnPKS, 8162 bp) has been characterized from Dirinaria applanata. This gene is down-regulated by sucrose and up-regulated by certain other factors.

Quirky Facts

  • Awasthi published "A Monograph of the Lichen Genus Dirinaria" in 1975.

Further Information

  • Greater Sonoran Desert Lichen Flora. Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bungartz, F., (eds.) 2001.
  • Catalogue of Life: 2012 Annual Checklist
  • Bibliotheca Lichenologica volume 2: A Monograph of the Lichen Genus Dirinaria by D.D. Awasthi