The
World Botanical Associates Web Page
Prepared by Richard W. Spjut
April 2003, Oct 2005, Sep 2012
Additions: May 2017, Nov 2021
Niebla and Vermilacinia (Ramalinaceae) from California and Baja
California.
Evolutionary history of coastal species
of fog lichen genera
Spjut R, Simon A, Guissard M, Magain N, Sérusiaux E.
2020. The fruticose genera in the Ramalinaceae (Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes):
their diversity and evolutionary history. MycoKeys. 73: 1–68,
published online.
Additional Discussion: See:
Introduction to
Niebla and its
phylogeography |
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SE of Guerrero Negro, near Whale watching center, Jan
2016 |
SE of Guerrero Negro, near Whale watching center, Jan
2016 |
SE of Guerrero Negro, near Whale watching center, Jan
2016
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Morro Santo Domingo,
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Scammon's Lagoon, BCS |
Guerrero Negro, |
Rancho San José |
Cañón San Vicente
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Close-up of thallus,
near Guerrero Negro, Follmann 34432 (B)
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Habitat of the species
near Guerrero Negro, BCS
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Niebla sp. [aff. brachyura] Baja California Sur. Vizcaíno Peninsula: Southeast of Guerrero Negro near Whale Watch; 27°46.178, 114°00.665, 6 m. Type locality for N. limicola (salazinic acid). Spjut & Sérusiaux 17132-4752. Jan 2016. Hypoprotocetraric acid + psoromic acid? Cited in MycoKeys 73: 18, Fig. 7 (2020). New chemotype for Niebla. DNA 4752. |
Bahía
de San Quintín, BCN
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Geographic Distribution
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Illustration of TLC data showing salazinic acid among
other chemotypes |
Niebla limicola is a species of fruticose lichen endemic to the peninsula of Baja California, occurring along shores of bays and beaches with salt scrub (Atriplex, Frankenia), and inland on alkali barren soil (devoid of higher plant vegetation), ranging from the Vizcaíno Peninsula to Bahía de San Quintín. It seems most common on coastal mud or sand in the Southern Vizcaíno Desert, especially near Guerrero Negro, the type locality. It is readily recognized by the regular appearance of short bifurcate branchlets arising along dilated-flattened segments, and by having salazinic acid. Niebla arenaria is similar in chemistry and habit, but differs by the linear-prismatic branches in contrast to the dilated-flattened branches of N. limicola. Another similar species, N. effusa (salazinic acid), has spreading fringing branchlets from dilated segments nearer the apex instead of the regular bifurcate branching. Branches of N. limicola are generally more twisted in contrast to related salazinic-acid species. Niebla brachyura, a relatively infrequent species in the southern half region of the Vizcaíno Desert and on Isla Cedros, is sometimes similar in the bifurcate branching but easily distinguished by its lichen substance of hypoprotocetraric acid (as opposed to salazinic acid). The geographic occurrence of N. limicola on the northern peninsula of Baja California (Norte) is more spotty than in related species. As the epithet implies, the thalli are mostly found on alkali silt or mud where there is little other vegetation, including lichens as may be seen in Cañón San Vicente—between El Rosario and Punta Antonio—south of Punta Baja. A "sampling" of eight specimens of putative N. limicola, initiated by Professor Sérusiaux from thalli growing within several meters of each other in the vicinity of the type locality; were selected by morphological differences. Five were DNA extracted, and one other limited to TLC. All clustered in a phylogenetic ITS tree among other depsidone species within the depsidone clade; however, both BPP and Stacey analyses recognized two different species, clearly evident in the 6-loci phylogenetic tree(Spjut et al. 2020, Fig. 7) in which 17130-4751 and 17132-4752 are well separated, phylogenetically. While 17130 compares closely with the type collection in morphology and chemistry of salazinic acid—and could serve as an epitype for the species, ± supported by the DNA phylogeny—the nearby 17132-4752 was found to be a new chemotype for the genus in having the combination of hypoprotocetraric acid and psoromic acid with unknowns, and also morphologically distinct by its thicker cortex. It is shown phylogeographically related to depsidone specimens collected in the Chaparral Desert Transition, a disjunct pattern also seen other species complexes of Niebla. Additional References: See Niebla
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