Ocellularia rivasplatiana

Ocellularia rivasplatiana is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Singapore, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Gothamie Weerakoon and Robert Lücking. The type specimen was collected by the first author from a low-elevation primary forest in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. It is only known to occur at the type locality. The species epithet honours lichenologist Eimy Rivas Plata.[1]

Ocellularia rivasplatiana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Graphidales
Family: Graphidaceae
Genus: Ocellularia
Species:
O. rivasplatiana
Binomial name
Ocellularia rivasplatiana

The thallus of the lichen is light green, lacks a prothallus, and measures up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter. The photobiont partner of the lichen is from the green algal genus Trentepohlia; their cells are yellowish-green and measure 6–10 by 5–8 μm. Although Ocellularia exigua is somewhat similar in morphology, O. rivasplatiana has larger apothecia with broader pores and a black-rimmed margin, which is filled with black-topped columella.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Weerakoon, Gothamie; Ngo, Kang Min; Lum, Shawn; Lumbsch, H. Thorsten; Lücking, Robert (2015). "On time or fashionably late for lichen discoveries in Singapore? Seven new species and nineteen new records of Graphidaceae from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, a highly urbanized tropical environment in South-East Asia". The Lichenologist. 47 (3): 157–166. doi:10.1017/s0024282915000043. S2CID 89905602.