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echinoplaca lichen
Scientific Name: Echinoplaca
Family: Gomphillaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Echinoplaca: A Genus of Lichens
Echinoplaca is a genus of lichens belonging to the family Gomphillaceae. These lichens are often found on leaves in tropical rainforests (foliicolous).
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Echinoplaca
- Common Name: Echinoplaca Lichen
- Family: Gomphillaceae (sometimes listed as Graphidaceae)
- Kingdom: Fungi
- Taxonomic Rank: Genus
Distribution and Habitat
- Echinoplaca species are found in tropical regions, including:
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Costa Rica
- Singapore
- Vietnam
- Rwanda
- India
- Venezuela
- Galapagos Islands
- They are often foliicolous, meaning they grow on the leaves of plants, particularly in tropical rainforests.
Morphological Characteristics
- Some species exhibit isidia, small conical outgrowths, that can be orange or hyphophore-based.
- Hyphophores, specialized structures for spore dispersal, can be stalked or without stalks.
- Ascocarps are present in some species, like Echinoplaca pellicula.
- Thallus of Echinoplaca can be smooth.
Species
- Examples of species within the genus include:
- Echinoplaca amapensis
- Echinoplaca atrofusca
- Echinoplaca atromuralis
- Echinoplaca bispora
- Echinoplaca campanulata
- Echinoplaca epiphylla
- Echinoplaca furcata
- Echinoplaca heterella
- Echinoplaca intercedens
- Echinoplaca pachyparaphysata
- Echinoplaca pellucida
- Echinoplaca pernambucensis
- Echinoplaca strigulacea
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Echinoplaca species are lichen-forming fungi, meaning they exist in a symbiotic relationship with algae or cyanobacteria.
Further Resources
- Lichen Herbarium Berlin
- Index Fungorum
Quirky Facts
- Echinoplaca vezdana is named in honor of Antonín V?zda, a prominent lichen taxonomist, on his 80th birthday.