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''Gyalolechia fulgens'', the scrambled egg lichen, is a species of
terricolous A terricolous lichen is a lichen that grows on the soil as a substrate. Examples include some members of the genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classificati ...
(ground-dwelling),
squamulose lichen A squamulose lichen is a lichen that is composed of small, often overlapping "scales" called . If they are raised from the substrate and appear leafy, the lichen may appear to be a foliose lichen, but the underside does not have a "skin" (cortex), ...
in the family
Teloschistaceae The Teloschistaceae are a large family (biology), family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class (taxonomy), class Lecanoromycetes in the division (botany), division Ascomycota. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, althoug ...
. The lichen comprises overlapping, slightly lemon-yellow scales with a margin. It grows on highly
calcareous Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime (mineral), lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of Science, scientific disciplines. In zoology ''Calcare ...
substrates such as
chalk Chalk is a soft, white, porous, sedimentary carbonate rock. It is a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite and originally formed deep under the sea by the compression of microscopic plankton that had settled to the sea floor. Ch ...
,
limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
and shell sand, often in association with the
moss Mosses are small, non-vascular plant, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic phylum, division Bryophyta (, ) ''sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Wilhelm Philippe Schimper, Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryo ...
species '' Trichostomum crispulum''.


Taxonomy

The species was first
formally described A species description is a formal scientific description of a newly encountered species, typically articulated through a scientific publication. Its purpose is to provide a clear description of a new species of organism and explain how it differ ...
by the Swedish taxonomist
Olof Swartz Olof Peter Swartz (21 September 1760 – 19 September 1818) was a Swedish botanist and taxonomist. He is best known for his taxonomic work and studies into pteridophytes, but also studied orchids, mosses and lichens. Biography Olof Swartz a ...
in 1784, as ''Lichen fulgens''. In its long
taxonomic 280px, Generalized scheme of taxonomy Taxonomy is a practice and science concerned with classification or categorization. Typically, there are two parts to it: the development of an underlying scheme of classes (a taxonomy) and the allocation ...
history, it has been proposed for inclusion in several genera, including ''
Biatora ''Biatora'' is a genus of lichens in the family Ramalinaceae. Originally circumscribed in 1817,Fries EM, Sandberg A. (1817). ''Lichenum dianome nova''. Lund. the genus consists of crustose and squamulose lichens with green algal photobionts, bi ...
'', ''
Caloplaca ''Caloplaca'' is a lichen genus comprising a number of distinct species. Members of the genus are commonly called firedot lichen, jewel lichen.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, gold lichens, "ora ...
'', ''
Fulgensia ''Fulgensia'' is a fungal genus in the family Teloschistaceae. The genus was circumscribed by Abramo Bartolommeo Massalongo and Giuseppe De Notaris in 1853, with ''Fulgensia vulgaris'' assigned as the type species. Although the genus has had se ...
'', and ''
Lecanora ''Lecanora'' is a genus of lichen commonly called rim lichens.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, Lichens in the genus '' Squamarina'' are also called rim lichens. Members of the genus have roughly c ...
'', among others. It was transferred to the genus '' Gyalolechia'' in 2013 by Ulrik Søchting and colleagues, as part of a
molecular phylogenetics Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
-based restructuring of the Teloschistaceae. Its
common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...
, "scrambled egg lichen'", alludes to its overlapping yellow scales with white margins. The
species epithet Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany) ...
is
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
for "shining". Another vernacular name is "yellow ground lichen".


Description

''Gyalolechia fulgens'' has a distinctive appearance and colouration, which makes it readily identifiable. The body of the lichen, known as the
thallus Thallus (: thalli), from Latinized Greek (), meaning "a green shoot" or "twig", is the vegetative tissue of some organisms in diverse groups such as algae, fungi, some liverworts, lichens, and the Myxogastria. A thallus usually names the entir ...
, typically spans between 1 and 3 cm in diameter. It has a vibrant orange-yellow to whitish hue and forms a
rosette Rosette is the French diminutive of ''rose''. It may refer to: Flower shaped designs * Rosette (award), a mark awarded by an organisation * Rosette (design), a small flower design *hence, various flower-shaped or rotational symmetric forms: ** R ...
-like shape, though it can also appear irregular and fragmented. The thallus is somewhat in form, meaning it has a crust-like centre with outwardly radiating . The marginal lobes of the thallus are neatly defined and usually longer than they are broad, often exceeding 1 mm in width. These lobes tend to remain distinct or may overlap, particularly towards the centre. As the lichen ages, the central area often develops a - texture—characterised by wart-like protrusions—and becomes coarsely dusted with a pale, powdery substance known as . , which are specialised scale-like reproductive
propagule In biology, a propagule is any material that functions in propagating an organism to the next stage in its life cycle, such as by dispersal. The propagule is usually distinct in form from the parent organism. Propagules are produced by organisms ...
s, are variably present on the surface of ''Gyalolechia fulgens''. In many populations, part of the thallus surface is dedicated to the production of these structures. When schizidia are shed, they reveal the underlying white
medulla Medulla (Latin for "marrow") or medullary may refer to: Science * Medulla oblongata, a part of the brain stem * Renal medulla, a part of the kidney * Adrenal medulla, a part of the adrenal gland * Medulla of ovary, a stroma in the center of the ...
, which is the inner layer of the thallus.
Apothecia An ascocarp, or ascoma (: ascomata), is the fruiting body ( sporocarp) of an ascomycete phylum fungus. It consists of very tightly interwoven hyphae and millions of embedded asci, each of which typically contains four to eight ascospores. As ...
, the spore-producing structures, are often found on this lichen. They are small, measuring 0.5 to 1.5 mm in diameter. Initially concave with a (a rim-like structure surrounding the apothecia), they become convex over time, with the margin appearing more or less excluded. The deep orange colour of the apothecia contrasts with the paler colour of the thallus. The of ''Gyalolechia fulgens'' measure 9 to 12 by 3.5 to 5 
μm The micrometre (Commonwealth English as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American English), also commonly known by the non-SI term micron, is a unit of length in the International System ...
and are typically either non-
septate In biology, a septum (Latin for ''something that encloses''; septa) is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate. Examples Human anatomy * Interatrial se ...
(without divisions) or one-septate (with a single division). They come in various shapes:
ellipsoid An ellipsoid is a surface that can be obtained from a sphere by deforming it by means of directional Scaling (geometry), scalings, or more generally, of an affine transformation. An ellipsoid is a quadric surface;  that is, a Surface (mathemat ...
(oval), (pear-shaped), or (club-shaped). Chemical spot tests yield specific reactions that are characteristic of this species. A
potassium hydroxide Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula K OH, and is commonly called caustic potash. Along with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), KOH is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications, most of which utili ...
(K) test turns the thallus purple, indicating the presence of the
secondary metabolite Secondary metabolites, also called ''specialised metabolites'', ''secondary products'', or ''natural products'', are organic compounds produced by any lifeform, e.g. bacteria, archaea, fungi, animals, or plants, which are not directly involved ...
s (
lichen product Lichen products, also known as lichen substances, are organic compounds produced by a lichen. Specifically, they are secondary metabolites. Lichen products are represented in several different chemical classes, including terpenoids, orcinol deri ...
s)
parietin Parietin is the predominant cortical pigment of lichens in the genus '' Caloplaca'', a secondary product of the lichen '' Xanthoria parietina'', and a pigment found in the roots of curled dock (''Rumex crispus''). It has an orange-yellow color ...
and its precursor,
emodin Emodin (6-methyl-1,3,8-trihydroxyanthraquinone) is an organic compound. Classified as an anthraquinone, it can be isolated from rhubarb, buckthorn, and Japanese knotweed ('' Reynoutria japonica'' syn. ''Polygonum cuspidatum''). Emodin is part ...
. Under
ultraviolet Ultraviolet radiation, also known as simply UV, is electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths of 10–400 nanometers, shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is present in sunlight and constitutes about 10% of ...
light, the thallus shows a dull, pale orange colour due to the presence of
fragilin Fragilin is a chemical compound of the anthraquinone class. It has the molecular formula and is a chlorinated derivative of parietin. In 1965, it was reported as a constituent of the lichens ''Sphaerophorus fragilis'' and ''Sphaerophorus corall ...
and caloploicin. The apothecia also turn purple with the K test, indicative of
physcion Parietin is the predominant Cortex (botany), cortical pigment of lichens in the genus ''Caloplaca'', a secondary metabolism, secondary product of the lichen ''Xanthoria parietina'', and a biological pigment, pigment found in the roots of curled do ...
.


Habitat and distribution

''Gyalolechia fulgens'' is typically found in environments that are well-lit and offer well-drained, basic . This lichen thrives on stable and firm surfaces such as chalk
grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominance (ecology), dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes such as clover, and other Herbaceo ...
s and compacted shell-sand. It is frequently found in warm and sheltered locations that are still open to the elements, favouring sites that are close to sea level. These habitats are often adjacent to
dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...
s. A notable aspect of the habitat of ''Gyalolechia fulgens'' is its association with certain
moss Mosses are small, non-vascular plant, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic phylum, division Bryophyta (, ) ''sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Wilhelm Philippe Schimper, Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryo ...
species, particularly '' Trichostomum crispulum''. Geographically, ''Gyalolechia fulgens'' has a wide distribution. It is found across Europe and is widespread in the warmer regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The lichen is also present in Australia and New Zealand, indicating its adaptability to various climatic conditions within these regions. In the United Kingdom, it is considered rare. In
Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
, it seems to be restricted to coastal areas. ''Gyalolechia fulgens'' belongs to a group of specialised lichens that thrive in highly open environments that typically feature areas of exposed soil and often include small rock
outcrop An outcrop or rocky outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth and other terrestrial planets. Features Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most p ...
s. These settings are characterised by minimal competition from larger,
vascular plant Vascular plants (), also called tracheophytes (, ) or collectively tracheophyta (; ), are plants that have lignin, lignified tissues (the xylem) for conducting water and minerals throughout the plant. They also have a specialized non-lignified Ti ...
s, allowing these lichens the space and resources they need to grow. ''Gyalolechia fulgens'' is a prominent component of the
biological soil crust Biological soil crusts, often abbreviated as biocrusts, are communities of living organisms inhabiting the surface of soils in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, which form stable aggregates of soil particles in a thin layer millimeters to centimeters ...
lichen community of the
Negev The Negev ( ; ) or Naqab (), is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The region's largest city and administrative capital is Beersheba (pop. ), in the north. At its southern end is the Gulf of Aqaba and the resort town, resort city ...
desert, and is particularly common on north-west facing slopes and interdunes. In North America, it is found in the interior of the continent with a range extending north to the Arctic.


Species interactions

'' Lichenochora epifulgens'' is a
lichenicolous fungus A lichenicolous fungus is a member of a specialised group of fungi that live exclusively on lichens as their host organisms. These fungi, comprising over 2,000 known species across 280 genera, exhibit a wide range of ecological strategies, includ ...
that parasitises ''Gyalolechia fulgens''.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q26260500 , from2=Q59504718 , from3=Q1473589 , from4=Q105486982 , from5=Q107915049 Teloschistales Lichen species Lichens described in 1784 Lichens of Europe Lichens of Australia Lichens of New Zealand Lichens of North America Lichens of Western Asia Taxa named by Olof Swartz