Lepraria lobata
Lepraria lobata is a species of leprose lichen in the family Stereocaulaceae. It is found in Australia, where it grows on bark, mosses on rock, and soil.
Taxonomy
Lepraria lobata was described by the lichenologists John Alan Elix and Klaus Kalb in 2006. The type specimen was collected by Elix in Porongurup National Park, Western Australia, at an elevation of. There, on the slopes on Angwin Peak, the lichen was found growing on granite rocks in a sclerophyll forest. The species epithet lobata alludes to the characteristic shape of the thallus margins.
Description
The species forms a granular, partially membranous thallus with a typically well-defined margin. It develops distinctive that are often well-defined, measuring 1–2 mm wide, with slightly to distinctly raised margins. The colour of the thallus ranges from whitish grey to greenish-grey to bluish-grey. The thallus has a distinct white medulla but lacks a . In some areas, only sparse soredia may be present, exposing the medulla. The reproductive structures consist of scattered to abundant fine soredia, which usually have short projecting hyphae. These soredia commonly form larger clusters called, reaching up to 350 μm across. The species can be identified by its characteristic chemical composition, which includes atranorin, zeorin, and various fatty acids.
Habitat and distribution
This lichen grows on bark, mosses on rock, and soil substrates, typically in sheltered locations. It is known to occur only in Australia. In addition to its type locality in western Australia, it has also been recorded in the Australian Capital Territory.