Acarospora strigata
Acarospora strigata is an areolate to verruculous crustose lichen that grows on rock around the world, in full sun or shade, and in mesic to arid habitats.[1]:220[2] It is brown but may appear white or pale gray if it is covered in a pruina.[1]:220 The lichen is common in southwestern deserts of North America.[2]
| Acarospora strigata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Acarosporales |
| Family: | Acarosporaceae |
| Genus: | Acarospora |
| Species: | A. strigata |
| Binomial name | |
| Acarospora strigata (Nyl.) Jatta (1906) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Areolas (from tiny to 3mm) surrounding dark reddish-brown to black apothecia are both highly variable in shape and size, and variable in size relative to each other.[1]:220[2] Measuring 0.1–1 mm, the apothecia range in size from small dots on the areolas to almost as wide as the areola.[1]:220[3] They can be pointlike to round, polygonal to stellate radiating fissures, and one to many per areola.[2] The lichen as a whole can thus appear as a collection of contiguous light rimmed dark circular forms, to a collection of whitish warts with dark dots.
Areoles may be cracked on the surface, especially toward the apothecia.[1]:220
Lichen spot tests are all negative.[1]:220[2]
References
- Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0-300-19500-2
- Acarospora strigata, Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 3, Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bugartz, F., (eds.) 2001,
- Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 3, Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bugartz, F., (eds.) 2001,