Pseudephebe is a genus of fruticose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. It contains three species that grow on rocks.

Pseudephebe
Pseudephebe minuscula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Parmeliaceae
Genus: Pseudephebe
M.Choisy (1930)
Type species
Pseudephebe pubescens
(L.) M.Choisy (1930)
Species

P. mariensis
P. minuscula
P. pubescens

Taxonomy

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Pseudephebe was circumscribed by French lichenologist Maurice Choisy in 1930. Molecular phylogenetic work published in 2016 showed that the genus is monophyletic, and within the alectorioid clade of the family Parmeliaceae.[1] This clade includes the genera Alectoria, Bryocaulon, Bryoria, and Nodobryoria.[2] P. mariensis was added to the genus in 2019, transferred from the genus Bryoria.[3] Although Boluda and colleagues considered this to be synonymous with P. minuscula,[1] Fryday and colleagues "consider the distinct pseudocyphellae, detectable norstictic acid, thick cortex and the unique propagule system of the Falklands collections as sufficient to provisionally maintain it as a distinct species."[3]

Description

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Pseudephebe lichens are small and fruticose, ranging in colour from brown to almost black. Their thalli somewhat resembles coarse, tangled hair, although sometimes regions around the periphery of thallus have flattened branches that are almost foliose. Pseudocyphellae, isidia, and soredia are not present on the thallus. Ascospores are colourless, and measure 7–12 by 6–8 μm. All lichen spot tests are negative.[4]

Habitat and distribution

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Pseudephebe grows on siliceous rocks.[4] It is a cool-temperate to arctic genus.[5]

Species

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References

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  1. ^ a b Boluda, Carlos G.; Hawksworth, David L.; Divakar, Pradeep K.; Crespo, Ana; Rico, Víctor J. (2016). "Microchemical and molecular investigations reveal Pseudephebe species as cryptic with an environmentally modified morphology". Lichenologist. 48 (5): 527–543. doi:10.1017/S0024282916000426. S2CID 88919305.
  2. ^ Pizarro, David; Divakar, Pradeep K.; Grewe, Felix; Leavitt, Steven D.; Huang, Jen-Pan; Dal Grande, Francesco; Schmitt, Imke; Wedin, Mats; Crespo, Ana; Lumbsch, H. Thorsten (2018). "Phylogenomic analysis of 2556 single-copy protein-coding genes resolves most evolutionary relationships for the major clades in the most diverse group of lichen-forming fungi". Fungal Diversity. 92 (1): 31–41. doi:10.1007/s13225-018-0407-7. S2CID 52051244.
  3. ^ a b Fryday, Alan M.; Orange, Alan; Ahti, Teuvo; Øvstedal, Dag O.; Crabtree, Dafydd E. (2019). "An annotated checklist of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi reported from the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)". Glalia. 8 (1): 1–100.
  4. ^ a b Brodo, Irwin M.; Sharnoff, Sylvia Duran; Sharnoff, Stephen (2001). Lichens of North America. Yale University Press. p. 587. ISBN 978-0300082494.
  5. ^ Goward, Trevor. (1994–1999). The lichens of British Columbia : illustrated keys. McCune, Bruce., Meidinger, Dellis Vern, 1953-, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests. Research Branch. Victoria, B.C.: Ministry of Forests, Research Program. ISBN 0-7726-2194-2. OCLC 31651418.