Image of Caloplaca ochracea (Schaer.) Flagey

Description:

Syn.: Xanthocarpia ochracea (Schaer.) A. Massal. & De Not., Blastenia ochracea (Schaer.) Trevis., Callopisma ochraceum (Schaer.) A. Massal., Gyalecta tetrasticha (Nyl.) Jatta, Lecidea ochracea Schaer., Triophthalmidium tetrasticha (Nyl.) Gyeln., Placodium tetrastichum (Nyl.) H. Olivier, Biatora aurantiaca var. ochracea (Schaer.) Rabenh - Habitat: stony fence dividing former mountain pastures; scattered trees and bushes around; slightly inclined terrain, southeast aspect; colluvial, calcareous ground; quite sunny, dry place; elevation 600 m (1.950 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: inclined surface of limestone rock. Comment: Caloplaca ochracea is a conspicuous saxicolous lichen because of its bright colored thallus. However, genus Caloplaca includes many species and several have yellow thallus and apothecia. Looking at spores seems necessary for a reliable determination. Mature, released spores have not been found. Instead those released by pressure during preparation of hymenium squash are shown and measured. Their dimensions fit to expectations, but they were of much variable internal structure. Most of them were 4-loculate, some of them also with for Caloplaca ochracea typical narrow channel-like loculi between both terminal ones. Asci were 4-spored, which fits to Caloplaca ochracea. Thallus and apothecia K+ crimson. Spores smooth, thick walled, most of them 4-loculate. Dimensions: (11) 12 - 18 (18,5) (5,5) 5,8 - 7,4 (7,5) m; Q = (1,9) 1,95 - 2,55 (2,6); N = 13; Me = 14,9 6,5 m. Olympus CH20; NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x; in water, fresh material. Asci about 60 x 13 m, clavate, 4-spored. Paraphyses with septa having thickened, rounded ends; up to 5 m in diameter at the end. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Picture 15 shows herbarium specimen; Novex, Zoom Stereo RZ_Range, Holland. Ref.: (1) V. Wirth, Die Flechten Baden-Wrttembergs, Teil.1., Ulmer (1995), p 235. (2) F.S. Dobson, Lichens, The Richmonds Publishing Ca.LTD (2005), p 106. (3) C.W.Smith, et all, The lichens of Great Britain and Ireland,The British Lichen Society,(2009), p 268. SP (4) http://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_C/Caloplaca_ochracea.htm (accessed March 29. 2018)