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Baden-Württemberg - Lichens of Wales

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The color intensity <strong>of</strong> the excipulum,<br />

epihymenium and hypothecium depends on the<br />

section selected. The color given in the keys, so<br />

far as possible, relates to that which would be<br />

perceived from a thin hand section. The<br />

structure <strong>of</strong> the excipulum is <strong>of</strong>ten only<br />

perceptible on really thin sections, at best on<br />

microtome sections <strong>of</strong> 15-20 µm thick. The<br />

height <strong>of</strong> the hymenium is measured from the<br />

base <strong>of</strong> the ascus to the outer boundary <strong>of</strong> the<br />

epihymenium, therefore including the<br />

epihymenium. The hymenium height<br />

corresponds to the height <strong>of</strong> the paraphyses.<br />

Here the outermost colored region <strong>of</strong> the<br />

hymenium is designated as the epihymenium, no<br />

matter where the color is located. The hymenium<br />

is commonly colorless. Sometimes rays <strong>of</strong> color<br />

penetrate deep into the hymenium.<br />

Paraphyses and Paraphyses-like Structures<br />

It is the practice, in the determination keys <strong>of</strong> this<br />

book, to call all sterile filamentous structures<br />

within the hymenium paraphyses. According to<br />

the developmental layering viewpoint one may<br />

therefore distinguish more forms <strong>of</strong><br />

paraphyses-like structures. True paraphyses<br />

grow from the underlying region <strong>of</strong> the<br />

hymenium toward the upper and are from the<br />

first free at the ends. Paraphysoids, in contrast to<br />

the true paraphyses, originate largely from ascus<br />

production; they are <strong>of</strong>ten especially thin, the cell<br />

septa wide apart. Pseudopara-physes grow from<br />

the upper part perithecia-like fruiting bodies<br />

developing between the asci and binding to the<br />

base <strong>of</strong> the hymenium; they are commonly<br />

regularly septate, relatively thick, branched and<br />

bound to one another. Diagnosis <strong>of</strong> genera<br />

depend upon the various types <strong>of</strong> “paraphyses.”<br />

The paraphyses may be thickened at the tip or<br />

not thickened, may be branching or reticulate<br />

bound (anastomosing). Simple, entirely, or<br />

predominantly unbranched paraphyses are<br />

known. The relationships are <strong>of</strong>ten difficult to<br />

judge. Adding KOH <strong>of</strong>ten results in greater<br />

clarity. Weakly cemented paraphyses are<br />

loosened from one another by a slight pressure<br />

on the cover glass, at least after addition <strong>of</strong> KOH<br />

(characteristic “paraphyses easily free”). In rare<br />

instances paraphyses are missing or deliquescing<br />

and are then only to be recognized in the young.<br />

Periphyses occur in perithecia; they are<br />

filamentous hyphae, which project from the<br />

mouth region (ostiole).<br />

Asci<br />

The structure <strong>of</strong> the ascus has attained great<br />

importance for systematics in recent years. This<br />

is reflected also in the diagnostics <strong>of</strong> lichens.<br />

Fissitunicate (or bitunicate) asci have walls<br />

whose layers are loose from one another at the<br />

opening <strong>of</strong> the ascus, they are also functionally<br />

distinct in action; the more frequent<br />

non-fissitunicate (or unitunicate) asci have walls<br />

which are not made up <strong>of</strong> functionally distinct<br />

layers. At the tip <strong>of</strong> the asci are frequently found<br />

the so called apical structures, which serve as the<br />

opening <strong>of</strong> the asci. An analysis <strong>of</strong> these<br />

structures which are especially recognizable after<br />

coloring with iodine, aids in genus determination.<br />

Their study requires however a great deal <strong>of</strong><br />

experience and accurate observation. The tholus,<br />

the thickened inner part <strong>of</strong> the ascus apex, has<br />

especial importance. A protrusion <strong>of</strong> the ascus<br />

interior into the tholus in certain respects a<br />

trench-like recess <strong>of</strong> the tholus into the ascus<br />

lumen is called “chambre oculaire” or ocular<br />

chamber. Within the tholus one can <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

distinguish a region not or weakly colored with<br />

iodine (“axial mass”). A table (page 30) gives<br />

illustrations <strong>of</strong> important ascus forms and apical<br />

structures.<br />

Spore<br />

Spore size and form are very important<br />

characteristics. The size is carefully measured<br />

with the ocular micrometer (length and breadth).<br />

Significant forms: spherical, broadly ellipsoidal<br />

(less than twice as wide as long), narrowly<br />

ellipsoidal (more than twice as long as wide),<br />

elongate, fusiform, peg-like, or needle-form (see<br />

illustration on the right p.31).<br />

Pycnidia<br />

Pycnidia are as a rule spherical to pear shaped<br />

receptacles, which commonly are sunken in the<br />

thallus and resemble perithecia. In their interior,<br />

pycnospores (=pycnidiospores) are segmented<br />

<strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> specialized hyphae and expelled to the<br />

outside through a narrow opening (ostiole). The<br />

pycnospores are mostly single celled and<br />

colorless. They function as asexual reproductive<br />

bodies (conidia), in other cases it is very<br />

probable that they have a sexual function, as<br />

male sex cells (spermatia). In a few species two<br />

or three different types <strong>of</strong> pycnidia are found<br />

with various sizes and shapes <strong>of</strong> pycnospores,<br />

12

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