Phlyctis argena
on a tree in Denmark
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Gyalectales
Family: Phlyctidaceae
Genus: Phlyctis
Species:
P. argena
Binomial name
Phlyctis argena
(Ach.) Flot. (1850)
Synonyms
  • Lichen argenus Ach. (1799)

Phlyctis argena is a species of crustose lichen.[1]

Description

Phlyctis argena has a thin crustose thallus that is white, greyish or green-grey in colour. The identification can be confirmed with the spot test application a drop of potassium hydroxide (K-test) to the thallus, which will turn yellow and then red.

Range

Widespread, including Africa, Asia, Europa and North America.

Habitat

Phlyctis argena usually grows as a generalist epiphyte on the bark of deciduous trees, especially Salix cinerea and Fraxinus excelsior. It also occasionally grows on stone, such as gravestones.

Ecology

The lichen is a generalist epiphyte of deciduous trees and is acidophilic. Its abundance appears to have increased generally since the 1970s, possibly in responses to changes in pollution levels[2]

Etymology

The etymology of the genus name, Phlyctis, comes from the obsolete medical term phlyctidium, meaning a large blister. The species epithet, argena, is derived from the latin "argentum", meaning silver.

Taxonomy

The following varieties of Phlyctis argena have been described:

  • Phlyctis argena var. argena[1]
  • Phlyctis argena var. gilvoalbicans[1]
  • Phlyctis argena var. erythrosora[1]
  • Phlyctis argena var. nubilosa[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Whitewash Lichen (Phlyctis argena)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  2. ↑ Liška, Jiří; Herben, Tomáš (2008). "Long-term changes of epiphytic lichen species composition over landscape gradients: an 18 year time series". The Lichenologist. 40 (5): 437-448. doi:10.1017/S0024282908006610. S2CID 85771070.


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