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Arthonia epiphyscia

Scientific Name: Arthonia epiphyscia

Family: Arthoniaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Arthonia epiphyscia: A Lichenicolous Fungus

Arthonia epiphyscia is a lichenicolous fungus, meaning it lives on lichens. This species belongs to the genus Arthonia.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Arthonia epiphyscia Nyl.
  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Phylum: Ascomycota
  • Class: Ascomycetes / Arthoniomycetes
  • Order: Arthoniales
  • Family: Arthoniaceae
  • Synonyms:
    • Conida epiphyscia (Nyl.) Arnold
    • Arthonia physciae Vain.
  • Misapplied Names:
    • Arthonia elegans auct.brit.
  • Older Synonyms:
    • Arthonia didyma Krb.
    • Arthonia endlicheri (Garov.) Oxner
    • Arthonia excipienda (Nyl.) Leight.
    • Arthonia galactinaria Leight.

Distribution and Habitat

Arthonia epiphyscia has been observed in various locations, including:

  • Europe (e.g., Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Turkey)
  • United Kingdom (England)
  • North America (New Jersey)
  • Arctic Regions (Greenland, Zemlya Frantsa-Iosifa Archipelago, Taimyr Peninsula)
  • South America (Argentina)
  • Antarctica
  • South Korea
  • Iceland

It is typically found growing on the thallus of Physcia species, such as Physcia caesia, Physcia dubia, Physcia stellaris, and Phaeophyscia orbicularis, and sometimes on Physconia perisidiosa, often in roadside environments.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Thallus: Not apparent, with hyaline (clear and colorless) vegetative hyphae.
  • Photobiont: Absent (as it is lichenicolous and obtains nutrients from its host lichen).
  • Ascomata: Single or fusing together.
  • Spores: 1-septate (having one dividing wall) but the septum (dividing wall) is often indistinct, measuring 12-14 x 4-6 ?m or 8-11(-14) x 3.5-4(-5) ?m.
  • Asci: 4-spored.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Arthonia epiphyscia is a lichenicolous fungus, meaning it parasitizes other lichens, specifically species within the genus Physcia and sometimes Physconia.

Resources and Further Information

For further information, consult the following resources:

  • Index Fungorum: http://www.indexfungorum.org/names/NamesRecord.asp?RecordID=364198
  • BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)
  • Natural History Museum’s UK Species Inventory
  • TSB Herbarium
  • NZOR Identifier: 08c577dc-0a2c-4fe0-9e22-d6610cdfe359