Peltigera Hydrophila

''Peltigera hydrophila'' is a species of foliose lichen in the family Peltigeraceae. First described in 2020, it distinguishes itself through a distinct, hairless thallus that turns deep blue-violet when it becomes wet. Found primarily in the Magallanes Region of Chile, this small leafy lichen clings closely to mosses and other substrates. Distinctive features include the always-present reddish-brown to dark brown and the ''Peltigera''-type ascospores that contain three internal partitions, or septa. Despite sharing a habitat with similar species like '' P. aubertii'' and '' P. frigida'', ''P. hydrophila'' sets itself apart through its unique thallus surface texture and colour. This semi-aquatic lichen primarily thrives in humid forests, shrubby and herbaceous vegetation in southern Chile, particularly near waterfalls, streams, and other wet environments.

Taxonomy

The species ''Peltigera hydrophila'' was formally described in 2020 by lichenologists William R. Buck, Jolanta Miądlikowska, and Nicolas Magain. This lichen presents a unique, hairless thallus surface that changes to a deep blue-violet colour when wet. It was given the species epithet ''hydrophila'' in reference to its affinity for water-based habitats. The type specimen was found in the Magallanes Region of Chile, where it was found in a floodplain forest dominated by species such as ''Nothofagus betuloides'', '' N. antarctica'', and ''Drimys winteri''.

''Peltigera hydrophila'' distinguishes itself from related species, including its sister species '' P. aubertii'', by a unique internal transcribed spacer 1 hypervariable region (ITS1-HR). The close genetic relationship with ''P. aubertii'' was corroborated during a later study on the ''Peltigera'' lichen symbionts in the Andean steppes of southern Chile.

Description

''Peltigera hydrophila'' has a small foliose (leafy) thallus (up to in diameter) that is either fragile or rigid, and adheres closely to mosses and other s. The of the thallus have distinct features, including a smooth and matte upper surface that develops a deep bluish-violet hue when wet. They are narrow, typically less than wide.

The apothecia of ''P. hydrophila'', a defining characteristic of many lichen species, are always present and can be numerous, round or nearly round, and coloured reddish-brown to dark brown or black in some specimens. These structures develop on the parts of the lobes and have a diameter of up to 4 mm. ''P. hydrophila'' also has the distinctive feature of ''Peltigera''-type ascospores, which typically contain three septa and measure 37.5–55.0 by 3.5–6 μm.

The , or photosynthetic partner of ''P. hydrophila'', belongs to the ''Nostoc'' phylogroup XXIII, which imparts the thallus with its deep bluish-violet colour when wet. No secondary metabolites were detected in this species using thin-layer chromatography.

Similar species

Owing to its semi-aquatic lifestyle, ''P. hydrophila'' has several morphological traits in common with species from the unrelated section ''Hydrothyriae''. Furthermore, ''P. hydrophila'' shares its habitat with ''P. aubertii'' and ''P. frigida'', two species from the section ''Peltigera'' that also have reddish-brown, round, flat apothecia. The smooth texture of the thallus surface of ''P. hydrophila'' contrasts, however, with ''P. aubertii'', which has a upper thallus surface, and ''P. frigida'', which has a glossy surface. The ascospores, a key distinguishing feature among lichen species, are similar in shape and size among these three species.

Habitat and distribution

''Peltigera hydrophila'' thrives on mossy rocks in semi-aquatic environments, such as near waterfalls or along streams, or submerged, as well as in humid ''Nothofagus'' forests or shrubby and herbaceous vegetation in temperate areas of southern Chile. At the time of its original publication, this species had been found in seven collections across Chile, extending from Los Ríos Region and Los Lagos Region to the southernmost tip of Magallanes Region.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q108145888

hydrophila
Lichen species
Lichens described in 2020
Lichens of Chile