Xanthoria aureola
| Xanthoria aureola | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Teloschistales |
| Family: | Teloschistaceae |
| Genus: | Xanthoria |
| Species: | X. aureola
|
| Binomial name | |
| Xanthoria aureola Acharius & Erichsen, 1930
| |
Introduction
Xanthoria aureola, commonly known as the seaside sunburst lichen, is a lichenized species of fungus in the family Teloschistaceae and phylum Ascomycota.[1] X. aureola can be recognized by its bright yellow-orange pigmentation and abundant strap-shaped lobes.[2] It is usually found growing on exposed, nutrient-rich rocks in sunny, maritime habitats.[3][4] It is largely restricted to European coasts, stretching from Portugal to Norway.[1]
Taxonomy
Xanthoria aureola was first described as Parmelia aureola in 1809; it was found on seaside rocks in Boshuslän, Sweden and named by Acharius.[2] In 1930, Erichsen transferred P. aureola to the genus Xanthoria at the species rank, resulting in the accepted binomial X. aureola.[2] However, from 1965-1984, the classification X. aureola was mistakenly applied to X. calcicola, a closely related species first described in 1937.[2] Within the genus Xanthoria, DNA sequencing has confirmed that X. aureola is most closely related to X. calcicola and more distantly related to X. parietina.[5]
Habitat and distribution
X. aureola grows on exposed maritime rocks in sunny areas.[3][4] It generally grows on nutrient-rich, siliceous rocks, as well as limestone and lignum.[2][3] It is found on European coasts 0-150 meters above sea level.[2] Some countries in which X. aureola is commonly found include Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, and the UK.[1] It usually grows next to X. parietina, but in greater abundance and on exposed rock.[2]
Morphology
The thallus of X. aureola is bright yellow, orange, or orange-red with a foliose morphology.[2] It is characterized by overlapping strap-shaped lobes that exhibit dichotomous branching.[2][3] When treated with potassium hydroxide, the thallus turns deep red (K+ red).[2] Average lobe width is 0.46-1.6 mm and average lobe thickness is 135 μm.[3] X. aureola has a lower cortex, although no true rhizines.[2] There are scattered hapters on the cream-colored underside of thick lobes.[3] The upper cortex is rough with a layer of crystals, dotted with few apothecia.[2] Chemicals such as parietin, fallacina, emodin, teloistin, and parietinic acid are present, as well as the dominant carotenoid mutatoxanthin.[2][6] Mutatoxanthin, a carotenoid important in the protection of the photosynthetic component against harsh sunlight, represents 94.4% of the total carotenoid content in X. aureola.[6] Of all Xanthoria species, X. aureola contains the most mutatoxanthin.[6]
X. aureola is often confused with closely related species X. parietina and X. calcicola.[5] In comparison, X. aureola has a brighter thallus color as well as a considerably thicker medulla (187 mm compared to 114-120 mm).[5] Additionally, the rough upper surface of X. aureola contains few apothecia and does not contain soredia or isidia; laminar structures are lobules.[2][5] Last, substrate is important: X. aureola is restricted to seashore rocks, while X. calcicola and X. parietinia can be found on almost any rock or wall[5].
References
- ^ a b c "Catalogue of Life : Xanthoria aureola (Ach.) Erichsen". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Lindblom, Louise; Ekman, Stefan (2005-02). "Molecular evidence supports the distinction between Xanthoria parietina and X. aureola (Teloschistaceae, lichenized Ascomycota)". Mycological Research. 109 (2): 187–199. doi:10.1017/s0953756204001790. ISSN 0953-7562.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e f Fiorentino, J. (2011). "The genus Xanthoria (Teloschistaceae, lichenised Ascomycota) in the Maltese Islands". www.semanticscholar.org. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ a b Bednar, T. W.; Smith, D. C. (1966-04). "VI. PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM OF THE LICHEN XANTHORIA AUREOLA". New Phytologist. 65 (2): 211–220. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1966.tb06353.x. ISSN 0028-646X.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e Lindblom, Louise; Ekman, Stefan (2005-02-01). "Molecular evidence supports the distinction between Xanthoria parietina and X. aureola (Teloschistaceae, lichenized Ascomycota)". Mycological Research. 109 (2): 187–199. doi:10.1017/S0953756204001790. ISSN 0953-7562.
- ^ a b c Czeczuga, B. (1983-11-18). "Mutatoxanthin, the dominant carotenoid in lichens of the Xanthoria genus". Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 11 (4): 329–331. doi:10.1016/0305-1978(83)90032-7. ISSN 0305-1978.