Alyxoria fuscospora
Alyxoria fuscospora is a species of terricolous and corticolous crustose lichen in the family Lecanographaceae. Originally described from Brazil in 2014, this lichen has since been found to have a pantropical distribution, occurring across Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The species is unusual in its habitat preferences, growing both on tree bark and on the soil of termite mounds in primary rainforest environments. It is distinguished from related species by its spores, which turn brown relatively early in their development and are surrounded by a thin gelatinous layer.
Taxonomy
Alyxoria fuscospora was described in 2014 by Damien Ertz, André Aptroot, and Marcela Cáceres. The type was collected from Sítio Ecológico Buriti on Lago Cujubim near Porto Velho, on smooth tree bark in primary rainforest.The authors placed the species in Alyxoria, a genus reinstated for the Opegrapha varia-group, because its fruiting bodies and spore- and ascus-types match that lineage. It is distinguished by three-septate spores with a distinct gelatinous sheath that turn brown relatively early—unlike many Opegrapha taxa, where spores only become pale brown when over-mature. Historical material named Opegrapha herbarum corresponds to this species; in contrast, Alyxoria culmigena has spores that darken only when over-ripe. On that basis the authors infer that A. fuscospora is pantropical and commonly corticolous.