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 with has a single round apothecium (or none) 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 | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
Order: | Acarosporales |
Family: | Acarosporaceae |
Genus: | Acarospora |
Species: | A. thelococcoides |
Binomial name | |
Acarospora thelococcoides | |
Synonyms | |
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The asci are saccate, with variable numbers of globose ascospores.[2] Lichen spot tests are all negative, and it is UV-.[2] It is an indicator of undisturbed soil habitats.[2]
References
- Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0-300-19500-2
- Acarospora thelococcoides, Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 3., Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bugartz, F., (eds.) 2001,