Esculenta: start article on monotypic lichen genus
{{Short description|Single-species lichen genus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =
| image_caption =
| parent_authority = Essl. (1978)
| taxon = Awasthia melanotricha
| authority = ([[D.D.Awasthi]]) Essl. (1978)
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="Species Fungorum synonymy"/>
| synonyms = *''Physcia melanotricha'' {{au|D.D.Awasthi (1957)}}
}}
'''''Awasthia''''' is a [[monotypic]] fungal [[genus]] in the family [[Physciaceae]].<ref name="CoL"/> It contains the single species '''''Awasthia melanotricha''''', a [[foliose lichen]] found in the [[Nepal]] Himalayas.
==Taxonomy==
This lichen was first [[species description|formally described]] by the Indian lichenologist [[Dharani Dhar Awasthi]] in 1957. He gathered the [[type (biology)|type specimen]] from above the banks of the Saju Pokhari near [[Topke Gola]], at an elevation ranging from {{convert|4520|and|4575|m}}, thriving on moist sandy soil alongside mosses and grasses. Awasthi chose the [[botanical name|species epithet]] ''melanotricha'' following a suggestion from [[Adolf Hugo Magnusson]].<ref name="Awasthi 1957"/> Ted Esslinger [[circumscription (taxonomy)|circumscribed]] ''Awasthia'' in 1978 to contain the species, characterised by its unusually branched rhizines and the presence of the substances [[gyrophoric acid|gyrophoric]] and [[lecanoric acid]]s. The genus names honours Awasthi, "well known Indian lichenologist, a student of the Physciaceae, and the collector of the type material". Esslinger noted that due to the lack of apothecia and spores, the placement of the genus in the [[Physciaceae]] was to be considered tentative.<ref name="Esslinger 1978"/>
==Description==
''Awasthia melanotricha'' is a [[foliose lichen]], meaning its body ([[thallus]]) is leaf-like and loosely attaches to its {{lichengloss|substrate}}. It forms nearly circular patches, typically measuring {{cvt|4|–|5|cm}} across, with {{lichengloss|lobes}} that rise slightly from the surface. These lobes are intricately branched in a pattern that resembles repeated forks (subdichotomously branched) and are often layered over each other ({{lichengloss|imbricate}}d). Each lobe is typically 1.5–2 mm wide, narrowing to about 1 mm at the tips, and has a gently channeled ({{lichengloss|canaliculate}}) surface extending to its ends, giving them a concave appearance on the upper side. The edges of the lobes are generally smooth but may be slightly uneven.<ref name="Awasthi 1957"/>
When moist, the thallus is leathery and flexible but becomes brittle when dry. In preserved ([[herbarium]]) specimens, the lobes may twist around to reveal the underside. The upper surface of the thallus is smooth, dark greyish-brown to brownish-black, often lighter at the tips. The underside is black, densely covered with short, black, branched, and rough-surfaced hair-like outgrowths ([[rhizine]]s]) that are about 1 mm long and 0.1 mm thick at the base. The lichen does not produce soredia or isidia, which are structures used by some lichens for reproduction.<ref name="Awasthi 1957"/>
The thallus structure includes a top layer (upper {{lichengloss|cortex}}) made of tightly packed, roundish to slightly angular cells, creating a protective covering about 16–20 [[μm]] thick. Below this, there is a layer of [[green alga]]l cells (genus ''[[Protococcus]]''), each up to 10 μm in size, forming an {{lichengloss|algal layer}} about 20–25 μm thick that aids in [[photosynthesis]]. The central layer ([[medulla (lichenology)|medulla]]) consists of tightly packed, longitudinally aligned fungal filaments ([[hypha]]e), appearing compact in cross-section and sometimes resembling the upper cortex due to their density. These hyphae are about 4 μm thick with thick walls. Below the cortex, the structure becomes more loosely packed ({{lichengloss|plectenchymatous}}) and darker. Chemical [[spot test (lichen)|spot tests]] on the upper cortex and medulla show no reaction, indicating the absence of certain [[lichen product]]s often used for identification. ''Awasthia melanotricha'' is sterile, meaning it does not produce reproductive structures ([[apothecia]]) typical of many lichens.<ref name="Awasthi 1957"/>
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Awasthi 1957">{{cite journal |last=Awasthi |first=D.D. |year=1957 |title=On new lichens from the Himalayas–I |journal=Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences |volume=45 |pages=129–139 |doi=10.1007/BF03051057}}</ref>
<ref name="CoL">{{Catalogue of Life |id=36R7 |title=''Awasthia'' |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Esslinger 1978">{{cite journal |last=Esslinger |first=Theodore L. |year=1978 |title=Studies in the lichen family Physciaceae IV. ''Awasthia'', a new genus from the Himalayas |journal=The Bryologist |volume=81 |issue=3 |pages=445–457 |doi=10.2307/3242252 |jstor=3242252}}</ref>
<ref name="Species Fungorum synonymy">{{cite web |title=Synonymy. Current Name: ''Awasthia melanotricha'' (D.D. Awasthi) Essl., Bryologist 81(3): 445 (1978) |url=https://www.speciesfungorum.org/Names/SynSpecies.asp?RecordID=341396 |publisher=[[Species Fungorum]] |access-date=8 April 2024}}</ref>
}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q21293628 |from2=Q17387616}}
[[Category:Caliciales]]
[[Category:Caliciales genera]]
[[Category:Lichen genera]]
[[Category:Taxa described in 1978]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Theodore Lee Esslinger]]
Okumaya devam et...
{{Short description|Single-species lichen genus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =
| image_caption =
| parent_authority = Essl. (1978)
| taxon = Awasthia melanotricha
| authority = ([[D.D.Awasthi]]) Essl. (1978)
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="Species Fungorum synonymy"/>
| synonyms = *''Physcia melanotricha'' {{au|D.D.Awasthi (1957)}}
}}
'''''Awasthia''''' is a [[monotypic]] fungal [[genus]] in the family [[Physciaceae]].<ref name="CoL"/> It contains the single species '''''Awasthia melanotricha''''', a [[foliose lichen]] found in the [[Nepal]] Himalayas.
==Taxonomy==
This lichen was first [[species description|formally described]] by the Indian lichenologist [[Dharani Dhar Awasthi]] in 1957. He gathered the [[type (biology)|type specimen]] from above the banks of the Saju Pokhari near [[Topke Gola]], at an elevation ranging from {{convert|4520|and|4575|m}}, thriving on moist sandy soil alongside mosses and grasses. Awasthi chose the [[botanical name|species epithet]] ''melanotricha'' following a suggestion from [[Adolf Hugo Magnusson]].<ref name="Awasthi 1957"/> Ted Esslinger [[circumscription (taxonomy)|circumscribed]] ''Awasthia'' in 1978 to contain the species, characterised by its unusually branched rhizines and the presence of the substances [[gyrophoric acid|gyrophoric]] and [[lecanoric acid]]s. The genus names honours Awasthi, "well known Indian lichenologist, a student of the Physciaceae, and the collector of the type material". Esslinger noted that due to the lack of apothecia and spores, the placement of the genus in the [[Physciaceae]] was to be considered tentative.<ref name="Esslinger 1978"/>
==Description==
''Awasthia melanotricha'' is a [[foliose lichen]], meaning its body ([[thallus]]) is leaf-like and loosely attaches to its {{lichengloss|substrate}}. It forms nearly circular patches, typically measuring {{cvt|4|–|5|cm}} across, with {{lichengloss|lobes}} that rise slightly from the surface. These lobes are intricately branched in a pattern that resembles repeated forks (subdichotomously branched) and are often layered over each other ({{lichengloss|imbricate}}d). Each lobe is typically 1.5–2 mm wide, narrowing to about 1 mm at the tips, and has a gently channeled ({{lichengloss|canaliculate}}) surface extending to its ends, giving them a concave appearance on the upper side. The edges of the lobes are generally smooth but may be slightly uneven.<ref name="Awasthi 1957"/>
When moist, the thallus is leathery and flexible but becomes brittle when dry. In preserved ([[herbarium]]) specimens, the lobes may twist around to reveal the underside. The upper surface of the thallus is smooth, dark greyish-brown to brownish-black, often lighter at the tips. The underside is black, densely covered with short, black, branched, and rough-surfaced hair-like outgrowths ([[rhizine]]s]) that are about 1 mm long and 0.1 mm thick at the base. The lichen does not produce soredia or isidia, which are structures used by some lichens for reproduction.<ref name="Awasthi 1957"/>
The thallus structure includes a top layer (upper {{lichengloss|cortex}}) made of tightly packed, roundish to slightly angular cells, creating a protective covering about 16–20 [[μm]] thick. Below this, there is a layer of [[green alga]]l cells (genus ''[[Protococcus]]''), each up to 10 μm in size, forming an {{lichengloss|algal layer}} about 20–25 μm thick that aids in [[photosynthesis]]. The central layer ([[medulla (lichenology)|medulla]]) consists of tightly packed, longitudinally aligned fungal filaments ([[hypha]]e), appearing compact in cross-section and sometimes resembling the upper cortex due to their density. These hyphae are about 4 μm thick with thick walls. Below the cortex, the structure becomes more loosely packed ({{lichengloss|plectenchymatous}}) and darker. Chemical [[spot test (lichen)|spot tests]] on the upper cortex and medulla show no reaction, indicating the absence of certain [[lichen product]]s often used for identification. ''Awasthia melanotricha'' is sterile, meaning it does not produce reproductive structures ([[apothecia]]) typical of many lichens.<ref name="Awasthi 1957"/>
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Awasthi 1957">{{cite journal |last=Awasthi |first=D.D. |year=1957 |title=On new lichens from the Himalayas–I |journal=Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences |volume=45 |pages=129–139 |doi=10.1007/BF03051057}}</ref>
<ref name="CoL">{{Catalogue of Life |id=36R7 |title=''Awasthia'' |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Esslinger 1978">{{cite journal |last=Esslinger |first=Theodore L. |year=1978 |title=Studies in the lichen family Physciaceae IV. ''Awasthia'', a new genus from the Himalayas |journal=The Bryologist |volume=81 |issue=3 |pages=445–457 |doi=10.2307/3242252 |jstor=3242252}}</ref>
<ref name="Species Fungorum synonymy">{{cite web |title=Synonymy. Current Name: ''Awasthia melanotricha'' (D.D. Awasthi) Essl., Bryologist 81(3): 445 (1978) |url=https://www.speciesfungorum.org/Names/SynSpecies.asp?RecordID=341396 |publisher=[[Species Fungorum]] |access-date=8 April 2024}}</ref>
}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q21293628 |from2=Q17387616}}
[[Category:Caliciales]]
[[Category:Caliciales genera]]
[[Category:Lichen genera]]
[[Category:Taxa described in 1978]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Theodore Lee Esslinger]]
Okumaya devam et...