Cladia cryptica
Family
Cladoniaceae
Flora category
Lichen – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Lichens - Fruticose
Current conservation status
2018 | Data Deficient
Distribution
Known from New Zealand, Australia, and Malaysia.
Habitat
It is found on soil, grassy soil and rocks. In Tasmania, this species was found in dry sclerophyll forests.
Detailed description
Characterized by inflated sterile pseudopodetia, with glossy, yellow to brownish surface, mostly dichotomously branched toward the apex. Perforations abundant. Conidiomata on terminal branches of sterile pseudopodetia, conidia 5–7.5 µm long, bacilliform. The sizes of fertile pseudopodetia are variable, with yellow to brownish yellow surfaces, racemosely branched. Apothecia on terminal branches of fertile pseudopodetia, 0.5–1.0 mm wide, disk concave to plane, brownish black; ascospores ellipsoid, non-septate, hyaline, 7–10 × 2.5 µm, 8 per ascus.
Secondary chemistry: two chemical races were found: I) Barbatic acid and 4-O-demethylbarbatic acid, and II) stictic acid chemosyndrome.
Similar taxa
Very similar to other members of the Cladia aggregata group.
This species was named by Parnmen et al. (2013) based on genetic distinction, however further delineation of this taxon is required.
Substrate
Terricolous (soil), saxicolous
Etymology
cryptica: The epithet 'cryptica' refers to the fact that the species has been hidden within the Cladia aggregata species complex
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by Marley Ford (15 February 2022). Distribution, Habitat, Features and Similar taxa sections adapted from Parnmen et al. (2013).
References and further reading
Parnmen S., Leavitt S.D., Rangsiruji A., and Lumbsch H.T. 2013: Identification of species in the Cladia aggregata group using DNA barcoding (Ascomycota: Lecanorales). Phytotaxa, 115(1): 1-14.