Usnea oreophila
| Usnea oreophila | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Parmeliaceae |
| Genus: | Usnea |
| Species: | U. oreophila
|
| Binomial name | |
| Usnea oreophila A.Gerlach & P.Clerc (2019)
| |
Usnea oreophila is a little-known species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) beard lichen in the family Parmeliaceae.[1] Found in high-altitude regions of Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by Alice Gerlach and Philippe Clerc.
Description
[edit]Usnea oreophila is distinguished by its patchy reddish pigmentation overlaying a jet-black basal layer. The branches feature numerous cracks with characteristic downturned edges. The thallus contains abundant sorediate fibercles and possesses a thick, hollow (fistulose) central axis. Chemical analysis reveals a complex secondary metabolite composition with squamatic acid as the primary compound in the medulla.[2]
Distribution
[edit]At the time of its original publication, Usnea oreophila had been documented exclusively from high-altitude grasslands exceeding 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Paraná, and Santa Catarina.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Usnea oreophila A. Gerlach & P. Clerc". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ^ a b Gerlach, Alice da Cruz Lima; Silveira, Rosa Mara Borges da; Clerc, Philippe (2019). "Usnea oreophila (Parmeliaceae), a new saxicolous species from the mountains of Brazil". The Bryologist. 122 (1): 122–129. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-122.1.122.