Chrysothrix tchupalensis is a little-known species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), powdery lichen in the family Chrysotrichaceae. It occurs in north Queensland, Australia. The lichen forms a powdery, bright yellow thallus that grows on sheltered, humid rocks in a tropical rainforest environment.
Chrysothrix tchupalensis was formally described as a new species in 2006 by the lichenologists John Alan Elix and Gintaras Kantvilas. The type specimen was collected in Wooroonooran National Park, Tchupala Falls, Queensland, Australia. The specific epithet tchupalensis refers to the type locality.
This lichen has a crustose and leprose (powdery), bright lemon yellow thallus. Chrysothrix tchupalensis is very loosely , and forms small, irregularly roundish, convex cushions 0.5âÂÂ1 cm wide, eventually coalescing into patches up to wide. The soredia are , with individual granules measuring 60âÂÂ160 üm wide. Its is , spherical, and measures 10âÂÂ18 üm wide. The is pale grey-white to black. Apothecia and pycnidia have not been observed to occur in this species.
On standard chemical spot tests, the thallus of Chrysothrix tchupalensis tests KâÂÂ, CâÂÂ, KCâÂÂ, and PDâÂÂ. It contains leprapinic acid as a major secondary metabolite (lichen product) and 4,5-dichlorolichexanthone as a minor component.
Chrysothrix tchupalensis is similar to Chrysothrix granularis but is distinguished by its thallus being loosely adnate, having larger , and containing leprapinic acid.
At the time of its original publication, Chrysothrix tchupalensis was known only from its type locality in north Queensland, Australia. It grows on sheltered, humid rocks in tropical rainforest environments. It co-occurs with Porina crassa and Sagenidiopsis subconfluentica.