Placolecis kunmingensis
Placolecis kunmingensis is a species of saxicolous, crustose lichen in the family Catillariaceae. It is found in Yunnan, China. The lichen is characterised by a thallus that is to in its centre, forming irregular patches or clumps 10–50 mm wide, as well as its ellipsoid or spherical with slightly thickened wall.
Taxonomy
The lichen was formally described as a new species in 2019 by An-Cheng Yin and Li-Song Wang. The type specimen was collected in Baiyi village at an elevation of. This specimen, collected by Wang and colleagues on April 12, 2018, was found growing on rock.Description
Placolecis kunmingensis has a crustose to thallus, forming irregular patches or clumps ranging from 10 to 50 mm wide. In the centre, it features - structures, with shorter sometimes radiating at the margins. These lobes are typically 0.5 to 1 mm long and 0.2 to 0.3 mm wide in the middle, expanding to 0.35 to 0.5 mm at the tips, dark brown in colour, and swollen at the tip. They have equal patterns, with secondary lobules sometimes indistinct from the main lobes. The upper surface of the thallus is dark brownish and uneven.The upper is 25 to 30 μm thick and has a structure. The is uniform, 50 to 70 μm thick, with Trebouxia-like cells measuring 7 to 12.5 μm in diameter. The medulla is 180 to 250 μm thick, with a reddish-orange upper portion and a white lower portion. There is no lower cortex present.
Reproductive structures are 0.3 to 1.2 mm in diameter, sessile,, and range from scattered to crowded, with a well-developed, black margin. The is 40 to 60 μm thick at the sides and black in colour. The is 7 to 15 μm thick and brown. The hymenium is hyaline, 50 to 75 μm thick. The is 75 to 120 μm thick and brown. The asci are to cylindrical, Catillaria-type with an amyloid, and contain eight spores. The are simple or sparsely branched, with a dark brown cap at the apex. are hyaline, simple, spherical or ellipsoid, measuring 5 to 10 by 4 to 6 μm, with a smooth wall 0.5 to 1 μm thick. are numerous, mostly immersed in the thallus about two-thirds of the way in. They are pear-shaped, measure 150 to 190 by 100 to 130 μm, and have a slightly black ostiole. The are, measuring 3 to 5 μm.
In terms of reactions to standard chemical spot tests, the medulla is K+ in its upper yellow portion, and P−, C−. The use of thin-layer chromatography shows the presence of fragilin and an anthraquinone substance.