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echinoplaca lichen

Scientific Name: Echinoplaca intercedens

Family: Gomphillaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

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 and other similar environments.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Echinoplaca
  • Rank: Genus
  • Family: Gomphillaceae (sometimes listed as Graphidaceae)
  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Synonyms: Actinoplaca (a segregate of Echinoplaca isidioid)

Common Names

  • Echinoplaca Lichen

Distribution and Habitat

  • Echinoplaca species are found in various locations, including:
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Costa Rica
    • Rwanda
    • Singapore
    • Vietnam
    • South Karnataka-India
    • Galapagos Islands
    • Australia (QLD, NSW, LHI, VIC)
  • They are often associated with tropical rainforest leaves (foliicolous) or other organic substrates.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Some species exhibit isidia, which appear as small, conical, orange structures.
  • Hyphophores (specialized structures for spore dispersal) are observed in some species and can be stalked.
  • Ascocarps (fruiting bodies) are present in some species, such as Echinoplaca pellicula.
  • The length of hyphophores in some species is around 4 mm (based on visual records).
  • Some species have a smooth thallus with differentiated diahyphae.

Species

  • Examples of species within the genus include:
    • Echinoplaca amapensis
    • Echinoplaca atrofusca
    • Echinoplaca atromuralis
    • Echinoplaca bispora
    • Echinoplaca campanulata
    • Echinoplaca pernambucensis
    • Echinoplaca epiphylla
    • Echinoplaca pellucida
    • Echinoplaca furcata
    • Echinoplaca strigulacea
    • Echinoplaca heterella
    • Echinoplaca pachyparaphysata

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Echinoplaca lichens are lichen-forming fungi, indicating a symbiotic relationship with algae or cyanobacteria.

Further Information

  • Information can be found at various herbaria such as Lichen Herbarium Berlin.
  • Resources such as Index Fungorum, Mushroom Observer, and Lichens of the World may provide additional information.

Quirky Facts

  • Echinoplaca vezdana is named in honor of Antonín V?zda, a renowned lichen taxonomist.
  • The genus has been the subject of FT-Raman spectroscopic studies.