Opegrapha physciaria is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Opegraphaceae.[2] It was first formally described as a new species in 1897 by Finnish lichenologist William Nylander, who placed it in the genus Lecidea.[3] David Hawksworth and Brian J. Coppins transferred it to the genus Opegrapha in 1992.[4]

Opegrapha physciaria
Asci and ascopores of Opegrapha physciaria, 1000x magnification. The fungus was growing on the foliose lichen Xanthoria parietina.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Arthoniomycetes
Order: Arthoniales
Family: Opegraphaceae
Genus: Opegrapha
Species:
O. physciaria
Binomial name
Opegrapha physciaria
Synonyms[1]
  • Lecidea physciaria Nyl. (1897)
  • Buellia physciaria (Nyl.) H.Olivier (1903)
  • Leciographa physciaria (Nyl.) H.Olivier (1906)
  • Phacopsis varia Tul. (1852)
  • Phacothecium varium (Tul.) Trevis. (1857)
  • Celidium varium (Tul.) Körb. (1865)
  • Arthonia varia (Tul.) Jatta (1900)

The fungus produces apothecia (fruiting bodies) that are 0.02–0.3 wide and 0.15–0.21 mm tall. Its ascospores, which number eight per ascus, contain three septa and measure 12–17 by 4–6 μm. The fungus grows on the thallus of the foliose lichen species Xanthoria parietina. Opegrapha physciaria is similar to another related lichenicolous fungus, O. rupestris, but is distinguished by different ascospore dimensions (14–22 by 5–8 μm), and a different host (crustose Verrucariaceae species).[5]

Opegrapha physciaria has been recorded from Europe and North America.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "GSD Species Synonymy. Current Name: Opegrapha physciaria (Nyl.) D. Hawksw. & Coppins, Lichenologist 24(4): 367 (1992)". Species Fungorum. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Opegrapha physciaria (Nyl.) D. Hawksw. & Coppins". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  3. ^ Nylander, William (1897). Supplément aux lichens des environs de Paris (in Latin). Paris: Typographye Paul. Schmidt. p. 8.
  4. ^ Coppins, B.J.; James, P.W.; Hawksworth, D.L. (1992). "New species and combinations in the lichen flora of Great Britain and Ireland". The Lichenologist. 24 (4): 351–369. doi:10.1017/S0024282992000471.
  5. ^ a b Pentecost, A.; James, P.W. (2009). "Caloplaca Th. Fr. (1860)". In Smith, C.W.; Aptroot, A.; Coppins, B.J.; Fletcher, F.; Gilbert, O.L.; James, P.W.; Wolselely, P.A. (eds.). The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland (2nd ed.). London: The Natural History Museum. pp. 643–644. ISBN 978-0-9540418-8-5.