''Kurokawia palmulata'', the shaggy fringe lichen, is a species of

corticolous This glossary of mycology is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to mycology, the study of fungi. Terms in common with other fields, if repeated here, generally focus on their mycology-specific meaning. Related terms can be found ...

(bark-dwelling),

foliose lichen A foliose lichen is a lichen with flat, leaf-like , which are generally not firmly bonded to the substrate on which it grows. It is one of the three most common growth forms of lichens. It typically has distinct upper and lower surfaces, each o ...

in the family

Physciaceae The Physciaceae are a family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. A 2016 estimate placed 19 genera and 601 species in the family. Description The Physiaceae family includes various ...

Taxonomy

It was

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 ...

as a new species in 1803 by French botanist

André Michaux André Michaux (' → ahn- mee-; sometimes Anglicisation, anglicised as Andrew Michaud; 8 March 174611 October 1802) was a French botanist and explorer. He is most noted for his study of North American flora. In addition Michaux collected specime ...

, who named it ''Psoroma palmulatum''. In its taxonomic history, it has been proposed for placement in the genera ''

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 ...

'', '' Parmelia'', and ''

Physcia ''Physcia'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Physciaceae. The widely distributed genus contains about 80 species. The genus is cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan, and has been extensively studied in various regions in the p ...

''. In 1899,

Edvard August Vainio Edvard August Vainio (born Edvard Lang; 5 August 185314 May 1929) was a Finnish lichenology, lichenologist. His early works on the lichens of Lapland (Finland), Lapland, his three-volume monograph on the lichen genus ''Cladonia'', and, in part ...

transferred it to the genus ''

Anaptychia ''Anaptychia'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Physciaceae. ''Anaptychia'' species are foliose (leafy) to fruticose (bushy) lichens. They have brown, thin-walled spores with a single septum, and a upper . Taxonomy The genus wa ...

'', and it was known as a member of this genus until 2021, when

Sergey Kondratyuk Sergey Yakovlevich Kondratyuk () (born 17 May 1959) is a Ukrainian botanist specialising in lichenology. His research deals with the taxonomy, floristics, ecology and geography of lichens and lichenicolous fungi. He has worked at the for mo ...

and colleagues transferred it to the newly

circumscribed In geometry, a circumscribed circle for a set of points is a circle passing through each of them. Such a circle is said to ''circumscribe'' the points or a polygon formed from them; such a polygon is said to be ''inscribed'' in the circle. * Circum ...

genus '' Kurokawia'' . In North America, it is commonly known as the "shaggy fringe lichen".

Description

''Kurokawia palmulata'' is recognisable by its foliose thallus, which is typically and can grow up to in diameter. The colour varies from brownish-grey to tan-brown. Its are elongated and linear, branching irregularly, and they remain mostly flat at the ends. Unlike some other lichens, ''Kurokawia palmulata'' does not possess

soredia Soredia are common reproduction, reproductive structures of lichens. Lichens asexual reproduction, reproduce asexually by employing simple fragmentation and production of soredia and isidia. Soredia are powdery propagules composed of fungus, fung ...

isidia An isidium (plural: isidia) is a tiny, wart- or finger-like outgrowth on the thallus surface of certain lichen species. It is one of two principal types of vegetative reproduction, vegetative reproductive structures in lichens, the other being ...

. However, it often develops lateral secondary . The lichen's lower surface starts off white or off-white and gradually darkens to a tawny or light brown shade. A noticeable feature is the superimposed layer of

hypha A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one o ...

e, which does not carry

rhizine In lichens, rhizines are multicellular root-like structures arising mainly from the lower surface. A lichen with rhizines is termed rhizinate, while a lichen lacking rhizines is termed erhizinate. Rhizines serve only to anchor the lichen to their s ...

s. Commonly, ''Kurokawia palmulata'' will present with

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 ...

, which are laminal and can grow up to 4 mm in diameter. The chemical

spot test Spot analysis, spot test analysis, or a spot test is a chemical test, a simple and efficient technique where analytic assays are executed in only one, or a few drops, of a chemical solution, preferably in a great piece of filter paper, without usin ...

reactions of the lichen often reveal a K+ (yellow) reaction on the upper surface, making it distinctive. The presence of variolaric acid has also been observed. However, the strength and prominence of these reactions can vary between specimens.

Similar species

The distinct chemical reactions of ''Kurokawia palmulata'' to spot tests, especially when it comes to the excipular spot tests, coupled with its colour and morphology, make it stand out from other lichen species. However, care must be taken not to confuse it with similar-looking species like '' Physconia subpallida'' – which lacks the positive spot tests that are characteristic of ''Kurokawia palmulata''. Another differentiation point is the cortex structure of these lichens, with ''Kurokawia palmulata'' having a upper cortex. Some species of ''

Heterodermia ''Heterodermia'' is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Physciaceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in tropical regions, and contains about 80 species. Description ''Heterodermia'' are subterranean or almost upright le ...

'' and ''

'' are similar, but they can be distinguished by their K+ (yellow) upper surface spot test reaction, which indicates the presence of

atranorin Atranorin is a chemical substance produced by some species of lichen. It is a secondary metabolite belonging to a group of compounds known as depsides. Atranorin has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, antioxidant, ...

Habitat and distribution

Endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to eastern North America and eastern Asia, ''Kurokawia palmulata'' has been found to have a strong affinity for the bark of hardwood trees. However, it can also establish itself on rock surfaces, either directly or overlying mosses. The species is particularly prevalent in areas corresponding to the eastern deciduous forest. Additionally, a correlation has been noted between the geographical distribution of the lichen and the of its rhizines – specimens from the southern range tend to have less squarrose rhizines compared to those from the north. Its North America range was extended considerably when it was recorded from

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

–the first report from western North America. Its range extends north to

southern Ontario Southern Ontario is a Region, primary region of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. It is the most densely populated and southernmost region in Canada, with approximately 13.5 million people, approximately 36% o ...

, and the coniferous

old-growth forest An old-growth forest or primary forest is a forest that has developed over a long period of time without disturbance. Due to this, old-growth forests exhibit unique ecological features. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Natio ...

s of southwestern

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

in Canada.

References

{{Taxonbar, from= , from2=Q17387110 Caliciales Lichen species Lichens described in 1803 Taxa named by André Michaux Lichens of Asia Lichens of Eastern Canada Lichens of the United States