Candelaria asiatica
Candelaria asiatica is a lichen-forming fungus in the genus Candelaria, family Candelariaceae. Recognized by its small yellow lobate thallus, this species is found growing under open areas in forests. It is distributed in South Asia, Pakistan and China.
Taxonomy
Candelaria asiatica was described by Dong Liu and Jae-Seon Hur in 2018. The epithet asiatica refers to the species' geographic distribution.Description
The vegetative body, or thallus, of the lichen is foliose to sub-fruticose. The colour ranges from yellow to greenish yellow in the centre and bright yellow on the outside tip of the thallus. The thallus is lobate with a powdery surface and fragile lobe margins with basidia or -like. The thallus is minute, 0.2–1.2 cm wide, but aggregates to form extensive colonies which cover the substrate. Lobes of the thallus are linear and irregularly branched and range from adnate to erect. The upper is distinct with algae distributed below the upper cortex. The medulla is not well developed and is white in colour. The lower cortex is present near the centre of the thallus and lacks a lobe tip. The lower surface is covered with white rhizines.The results of chemical spot tests for identification include K−, KC−, C−, PD−. Major lichen substances present in Candelaria asiatica are calycin, a UV filter or UVA screening compound, and pulvinic acid, a natural chemical pigment.