Acarospora thelococcoides

Acarospora thelococcoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Acarosporales
Family: Acarosporaceae
Genus: Acarospora
Species: A. thelococcoides
Binomial name
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][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

The asci are saccate, with variable numbers of globose ascospores.[2] [Lichen spot test]]s are all negative, and it is UV-.[2] It is an indicator of undisturbed soil habitats.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0-300-19500-2
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Acarospora thelococcoides, Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region. Vol 3., Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bugartz, F., (eds.) 2001,