Acarospora thelococcoides

Acarospora thelococcoides is a pruinose (dusty whitish) verruculose (warty) crustose lichen that grows in patches up to 10 cm across that grows on soil (terricolous), especially soils made from decomposed granite.[1]: 220 [2] It grows from San Benito, California to Baja California, and inland to 930 metres (3,050 ft).[2] Each roundish areole becomes more pruinose toward the top and typically has a single round apothecium that is immersed with a dark brown disc, so as to appear like a collection of white rings.[2] This appearance gives it the common name, soil eyes lichen.[1]: 220 

Acarospora thelococcoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Acarosporales
Family: Acarosporaceae
Genus: Acarospora
Species:
A. thelococcoides
Binomial name
Acarospora thelococcoides
(Nyl.) Zahlbr. (1927)
Synonyms
  • Lecanora thelococcoides Nyl. (1891)

The asci are saccate, with variable numbers of spherical ascospores.[2] Lichen spot tests are all negative, and it is UV-.[2] It is an indicator of undisturbed soil habitats.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0-300-19500-2
  2. ^ a b c d e f Acarospora thelococcoides, Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 3., Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bugartz, F., (eds.) 2001, [1]