Cladonia asahinae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Cladoniaceae
Genus: Cladonia
Species:
C. asahinae
Binomial name
Cladonia asahinae

Cladonia asahinae, the pixie cup lichen or Asahina's cup lichen,[1] is a species of cup lichen in the family Cladoniaceae. C. asahinae occurs in Europe, North America, southern South America, and the Antarctic. It typically grows in high moisture environments in soil rich in humus or on dead wood.

Taxonomy

The species was first named and formally described by John Walter Thomson in 1969. The species epithet asahinae honors the Japanese chemist and lichenologist Yasuhiko Asahina, a significant contributor to the study of the chemotaxonomy of genus Cladonia.[2] Cladonia asahinae is a member of the Cladonia chlorophaea species complex.[3] In North America, one vernacular name used for the species is "pixie-cup lichen".[4]

Description

Cladonia asahinae is characterized by its dwarf-fruticose growth form, with primary squamules measuring 1–2 mm in breadth, showing an olive green coloration on the top and a white to blackening hue below. The species can be either sorediate or esorediate. Its green-grey podetia are cup-forming, around 0.8–1.0 cm in height, and have a gradual flaring in the upper half. Unlike the squat appearance of C. chlorophaea, this species resembles C. fimbriata in shape. The stalk's base is corticate, with squamules and schizidia being common, while the upper part mixes coarse soredia and schizidia, eventually becoming decorticate and dull, ranging in color from white to brown. The granules and/or soredia were regularly cast off, exposing the white medulla underneath. Apothecia are seen on short stipes emerging from the cup margins, typically brown in color.[2]

Chemical Classification

The chemistry of the cladonia asahinae is an important factor in identification as there are an estimated 400 species in the cladonia genus, many of which appear morphologically similar. [5]Common lichen associates include Cladonia deformis, C. cornuta, C. furcata, and C. macilenta and C. grayi.[2] [5]There are two chemical variants of Cladonia asahinae which exhibit distinct fatty acid compositions. One variant is characterized by the presence of lichesterinic acid and/or protolichesterinic acid, while the other variant contains rangiformic acid and/or nonrangiformic acid. [6][7] In both variants fumarprotocetraric acid is present and fatty acids are made as a secondary metabolite.[8] The two variants were noted as a chemical analysis study conducted by two Norwegian botanists at the University of Bergen resulted in the species testing positive for  rangiformic, and norrangiformic, and fumarprotocetraric acid.[5] Whereas, a study done by conducted by the University of Wisconsin noted the protolichesterinic acid present in cladonia asahinae.[2] This study also conducted chemical spot tests, resulting in K-, C-, and P+ appearing red.[2]

Habitat

As a non-vascular plant member Cladonia asahinae depend on high moisture content for survival. For this reason it prefers humid climates and is often located near oceanic ecosystems.[5] In addition to high moisture, other habitat requirements include minimal soil erosion, presence of shade, fog-drip existence, and rich soil and organic matter.[6] The species appears to prefer environments rich in humus, such as soil, rocks, old logs, and tree bases.[3] However, the most common organic substratum for cladonia asahinae identified by survey conducted by the US forest service was dead twigs. The range of substrate tolerance was estimated to be 3-4 out of 5.[6]

Distribution

In North America, Cladonia asahinae has a Pacific Coastal distribution pattern, with occurrences ranging from Alaska through southern British Columbia to Washington State, with Idaho being the only inland state in which it has been observed.[2] Outside of North America, Cladonia asahinae is widely distributed in Europe, and has been found in South America (Argentina and Chile), as well as in Russia and the Antarctic.[8][3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Standardized Common Names for Wild Species in Canada". National General Status Working Group. 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thompson, John W. (1969). "Cladonia asahinae sp. nov. from western North America". Journal of Japanese Botany. 51 (12): 360–364. doi:10.51033/jjapbot.51_12_6685.
  3. 1 2 3 Ahti, Teuvo; Stenroos, Soili; Moberg, Roland (2013). Nordic Lichen Flora. Cladoniaceae. Vol. 5. Uppsala: Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University. p. 20. ISBN 978-91-85221-29-5.
  4. ↑ Brodo, Irwin M.; Duran, S.; Sharnoff, S. (2001). Lichens of North America. Yale University. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-300-08249-4.
  5. 1 2 3 4 HOLIEN H. & TØNSBERG T (1985). Notes on Cladonia asahinae, C. conista and the C. grayi-group in Norway. Gunneria 51: 1–26.
  6. 1 2 3 Hammer, S. (1995). The Biogeography and Ecology of Species Iin the Lichen Genus A,adonia in the Columbia River. US Forest Service. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r6/icbemp/science/hammer.pdf
  7. ↑ Evans, Alexander W. "Asahina's microchemical studies on the Cladoniae." Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club (1943): 139-151.
  8. 1 2 Kowalewska, Agnieszka; Kukwa, Martin (2007). "Cladonia asahinae, a lichen species overlooked in Poland". Polish Botanical Journal. 52 (2): 173–175.
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