Ocellularia flavescens
Ocellularia flavescens is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in northern Thailand, it was formally described as a new species in 2002 by lichenologists Natsurang Homchantara and Brian J. Coppins. The type specimen was collected from Doi Suthep National Park (Chiang Mai Province); here it was found in an oak/chestnut forest at an elevation of 1,600 m (5,200 ft). It is only known from the type collection at the type locality. The lichen has shiny, smooth, whitish to mineral-grey thallus. It contains lichexanthone, a secondary compound that is uncommon in genus Ocellularia. The presence of this chemical causes the lichen thallus to fluoresce a golden-yellow colour when lit with a long-wavelength (365 nm) UV light. This feature is referenced in its specific epithet flavescens (Latin for "becoming yellow or golden").[1]
| Ocellularia flavescens | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Graphidales |
| Family: | Graphidaceae |
| Genus: | Ocellularia |
| Species: | O. flavescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Ocellularia flavescens | |
References
- Homchantara, N.; Coppins, B.J. (2002). "New species of the lichen family Theotremataceae in SE Asia". The Lichenologist. 34 (2): 113–140. doi:10.1006/lich.2002.0382. S2CID 85429979.