Xanthoparmelia maricopensis

Xanthoparmelia maricopensis, the Maricopa rock-shield, is a 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in) wide, yellow-green foliose lichen in the Parmeliaceae family. It grows on igneous rock in southwestern North American deserts.[1][2][3]

Xanthoparmelia maricopensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Parmeliaceae
Genus: Xanthoparmelia
Species:
X. maricopensis
Binomial name
Xanthoparmelia maricopensis
T.H.Nash & Elix (1986)

Description

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The thallus is tightly attached to the substrate, with irregular somewhat shiny 1–2 mm lobes.[2] It differs from Xanthoparmelis dierythra in that it has hyposalazinic acid and the lobes are usually more narrow and convex. The lower surface is tan and has unbranched rhizenes.[3]

Metabolites

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The upper cortex is K−, C−, KC−, and P−. The medulla is K+ yellow to orange, C−, KC−, P+ orange.[2] The upper cortex has usnic acid as a secondary metabolite.[2] The medulla has norstictic acid and traces of hyposalazinic acid and connorstictic acid.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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It is common in lower elevations of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, southern California, and north and south Baja California to Chihuahua, Mexico and Sonora Mexico.[2] In Joshua Tree National Park it grows on non-calcareous rock, soil, basalt, gneiss, and monzogranite.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Xanthoparmelia maricopensis in the Joshua Tree National Park (California, U.S.A.), Map collection, Kerry Knudsen, Kocourková Jana.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region, Vol 2., Nash, T.H., Ryan, B.D., Gries, C., Bugartz, F., (eds.) 2001.
  3. ^ a b Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, ISBN 978-0-300-19500-2. Page 138.