Teuvoahtiana is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Teloschistaceae.[1][2] It contains three species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), crustose lichens, all of which occur in South America.

Teuvoahtiana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Teloschistales
Family: Teloschistaceae
Genus: Teuvoahtiana
S.Y.Kondr. & Hur (2017)
Type species
Teuvoahtiana rugulosa
(Nyl.) S.Y.Kondr. & Hur (2017)

Taxonomy edit

Teuvoahtiana was circumscribed in 2017 by lichenologists Sergey Kondratyuk and Jae-Seoun Hur, with Teuvoahtiana rugulosa assigned as the type species.[3] This species was first formally described as Placodium rugolosum by William Nylander in 1855.[4] The genus name honours Finnish lichenologist Teuvo Ahti, "in recognition of his contribution to lichenology and especially to development of lichenological investigation in the South American continent".[3]

Description edit

Teuvoahtiana has members that are crustose, areolate, and squamulose–an unusually diverse range of forms for a single monophyletic branch of the Teloschistaceae. In some cases, the peripheral zone of the thallus has unique areoles that are elongated to form distinct lobes. This genus is noted for the pronounced thickness of the areolae and lobes. Their colour ranges from a luminescent yellow-orange to a more muted yellowish-brown or dull orange-brown. When numerous apothecia are present, the thallus can take on a less common reddish-orange-brown shade. Structurally, the cortical layer transitions between a paraplectenchymatous to a mesodermatous paraplectenchymatous state.[3]

The apothecia of Teuvoahtiana vary from medium to large size, often congregating in dense clusters. They have a lecanorine to zeorine structure, with a flat disc that displays a spectrum of colours from soft yellow to a more vibrant pinkish orange-brown. The true exciple, or outer layer, is characterised by a complex interwoven structure, known as "textura intricata". The asci, the reproductive sacs in which spores are formed, hold a variable count of one to eight spores. These ascospores are polarilocular (divided into two compartments by a thick septum with a perforation).[3]

Teuvoahtiana is similar to the Australian genus Filsoniana, but unlike that genus, is in the subfamily Xanthorioideae rather than subfamily Teloschistoideae. Close relatives of Teuvoahtiana include the genera Xanthopeltis and Austroplaca.[3]

Species edit

The new species Teuvoahtiana meridionalis was recently (2023) described from Antarctica and Southern South America.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Teuvoahtiana". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  2. ^ Wijayawardene, N.N.; Hyde, K.D.; Dai, D.Q.; Sánchez-García, M.; Goto, B.T.; Saxena, R.K.; et al. (2022). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa – 2021". Mycosphere. 13 (1): 53–453 [157]. doi:10.5943/mycosphere/13/1/2. hdl:10481/61998.
  3. ^ a b c d e Kondratyuk, S.Y.; Lőkös, L.; Upreti, D.K.; Nayaka, S.; Mishra, G.K.; Ravera, S.; Jeong, M.-H.; Jang, S.-H.; Park, J.S.; Hur, J.S. (2017). "New monophyletic branches of the Teloschistaceae (lichen-forming Ascomycota) proved by three gene phylogeny". Acta Botanica Hungarica. 59 (1–2): 71–136. doi:10.1556/034.59.2017.1-2.6. hdl:10447/414429.
  4. ^ Nylander, W. (1855). "Additamentum in floram cryptogamicam Chilensem". Annales des Sciences Naturelles Botanique. 4 (in Latin). 3: 145–187 [153].
  5. ^ Halıcı, Mehmet Gökhan; Søchting, Ulrik; Yiğit, Merve Kahraman; Arup, Ulf (13 June 2023). "Teuvoahtiana meridionalis, a new species from Patagonia and Antarctica". Nova Hedwigia. doi:10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2023/0736. ISSN 0029-5035.