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Siphula<br />
Waterfingers<br />
Pertusariales Icmadophilaceae<br />
30<br />
Siphula is a lichen genus found mainly on soil exposed to sun in humid high<br />
elevations, with centres <strong>of</strong> diversity in South America, South Africa, and<br />
Australasia. One other species has been recorded from Sikkim -India.<br />
No species <strong>of</strong> Siphula is known to produce apothecia, however several studies<br />
have used molecular data. This genus has very beautiful fruticose species that are<br />
fragile, and become attached to substrates by a stolone-like rhizine. The thallus<br />
is erect, has branched to unbranched white grey stalks in dense clumps that are<br />
more or less scattered. The stalks are blunt at the tips, usually with long furrows.<br />
No isidia, soredia or apothecia are seen on any <strong>of</strong> the species known so far.<br />
Cr<br />
R<br />
Sclerophyton elegans<br />
The species included here was found at an open soil bank on a moss mat, and on<br />
dead wood among mosses along the Pattipola road -Nuwara Eliya. This is a new<br />
record for <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> and the Indian subcontinent (Weerakoon & Aptroot 2014)<br />
and has a very restricted distribution in a few habitats in montane areas. Further<br />
field studies need to be carried out in similar habitats in upper montane regions<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> to discover the total diversity <strong>of</strong> this genus.<br />
Roccellaceae<br />
Description The thallus is corticolous, smooth to uneven, pale grey to greyish<br />
white. The prothallus is thin and grey to black. Ascomata are lirelliform, aggregated<br />
in a stroma, and the disc is pale to dark brown. The thalline margin exists in line<br />
with the ascomatal disc, but is slightly raised above the sterile part <strong>of</strong> the thallus,<br />
and is paler in colour.<br />
Chemistry Thallus C-, K+ yellowish or brownish, PD+ yellow, UV-<br />
Apothecia Not known.<br />
Chemistry Varies from species to species.<br />
A dorsiventral organ is one that has two surfaces differing from each other in<br />
appearence and structure, as an ordinary leaf.<br />
Physciaceae<br />
Status Rare species.<br />
Habitat as a corticolous species in humid high elevation forest edges above<br />
1200 m.<br />
Locations Pattipola road- Nuwara Eliya.<br />
148 <strong>Fascinating</strong> <strong>Lichens</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong><br />
<strong>Fascinating</strong> <strong>Lichens</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> 149
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