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Amygdalaria Lichen

The genus Amygdalaria encompasses a group of lichens within the Porpidiaceae family. Several species are mentioned in the provided text, including Amygdalaria consentiens, Amygdalaria continua, Amygdalaria panaeola, Amygdalaria pelobotryon, Amygdalaria aeolotera, Amygdalaria elegantior, and Amygdalaria haidensis. Some species are referred to collectively as "Amygdalaria Lichen."

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Amygdalaria Norman
• Rank: Species
• Family: Porpidiaceae
• Synonyms:
  • Huilia panaeola
  • Lecidea panaeola
  • Lecidea usbekica (for Immersaria usbekica)

Common Names

• Powdery Almond Lichen (for Amygdalaria panaeola)
• Elegant Almond Lichen (for Amygdalaria elegantior)

Distribution and Habitat

Amygdalaria lichens have a global occurrence and can be found in:

• Eurasia (both Extratropical and Tropical Asia and Europe)
• Americas (North America, including Mexico)
• Arctic regions

They typically grow on rock substrates.

Morphological Characteristics

• Amygdalaria panaeola is described as having a powdery appearance.
• Panaefluoroline B, produced by Amygdalaria panaeola, is a fluorescent yellowish-green pigment.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The cultured mycobiont of Amygdalaria panaeola produces fluorescent compounds called panaefluorolines.

Further Information

Additional information can be found in resources such as:

• British Lichen Society - BLS Lichen Database (specifically for Scotland, with records of Amygdalaria pelobotryon)
• The Lichen Genus Amygdalaria (Porpidiaceae) in North America by Brodo, I.M. & Hertel, H.
• Japanese crustose lichen genera formerly reported under Lecidea sensu lato. 1. Amygdalaria Norman. - Jnal of the Hattori by Inoue, M.

Quirky Facts

• New fluorescent compounds, named panaefluorolines D-H, have been isolated from the cultured mycobiont of Amygdalaria panaeola.
• Amygdalaria lichens have been named in honor of lichenologists such as Inoue and Brodo.