No images found for this plant ID: 25724.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "25724" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
calcareous lichenothelia lichen
Scientific Name: Lichenothelia calcarea
Family: Lichenotheliaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth: Lichenous
Duration:
Other Names:
Lichenothelia calcarea
Also known as calcareous lichenothelia lichen, Lichenothelia calcarea is a fascinating lichen species.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Lichenothelia calcarea Henssen
- Common Name: Calcareous Lichenothelia Lichen
- Family: Lichenotheliaceae
- Rank: Species
- Synonyms: Mentions of "Lichenothelia" without specifying the species may refer to this genus.
- Division: Ascomycota
Distribution and Habitat
- This lichen is often found on hard calcareous rocks.
- Specific locations mentioned include Western Australia, the central Negev in Israel, and a northeast-facing calcareous schistose cliff near Braemar in S. Aberdeenshire.
- It also appears in arid and semiarid regions on bare calcareous and quartzitic rock surfaces.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Lichenothelia calcarea is described as lichenous.
- It is a crustose lichen, meaning it forms a crust-like layer on its substrate.
Ecological Role
- This lichen is restricted to calcareous rocks.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Lichenothelia calcarea can serve as a substrate for lichenicolous fungi, such as Lichenothelia renobalesiana.
- It is also associated with various other lichens, algae, actinomycetes, and fungi in microcolonial communities on rocks.
Quirky Facts
- Lichenothelia calcarea has been found growing on calcareous sandstone at a precise location: 44°59'05.97"N, 35°18'15.10"E.
Further Information
- The British Lichen Society provides a conservation evaluation for this species.
- Henssen, A. (1987) Lichenothelia, a genus of microfungi on rocks.