Coniarthonia micromuralis

Coniarthonia micromuralis is a corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. Described in 2022 from specimens collected in primary rainforest near Manaus in the central Amazon, this species is characterized by its small orange fruiting bodies and lemon-shaped ascospores with multiple internal compartments. It forms thin, pale greenish-gray crusts on tree bark, with tiny point-like fruiting bodies that are often arranged in irregular lines of 5–20 individuals.

Taxonomy

Coniarthonia micromuralis was described in 2022 by André Aptroot from material collected on tree bark in primary rainforest in the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve near Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, at an elevation of about . The holotype (M.E.S. Cáceres 50786 & A. Aptroot) is deposited in the herbarium of the National Institute of Amazonian Research (specimen INPA 284707). Within Coniarthonia, the species is distinguished by its orange fruiting bodies (apothecia) and relatively small, multi-chambered () spores that are divided by 6–7 cross-walls (septa) in one direction and 0–2 walls in the other, with 12–17 compartments visible under the microscope and a length of 16–19 micrometers (μm).

Description

The thallus of Coniarthonia micromuralis is crustose, continuous, not , dull and pale greenish gray. It occupies areas of up to in diameter while remaining under 0.1 mm thick, and is not surrounded by a conspicuous . The is green alga. The ascomata are almost (point-like), either solitary or more often arranged in irregular lines of 5–20, superficial on the thallus, 0.1–0.2 mm in diameter and about 0.1 mm high, with an orange and a margin that is not differentiated. The uppermost layer of the fruiting body (the ) contains orange crystals, and the tissue supporting the spore-producing structures (the ) does not contain oil droplets, with branching and fusing sterile filaments () that are otherwise indistinct. Asci are ovoid, 30–37 × 17–21 ÃŽÂ¼m, with a wall thickened toward the apex; all structures are IKI-negative, apart from the thallus, which stains weakly blue. Ascospores are produced eight per ascus; they are translucent, muriform (multi-chambered) and lemon-shaped (), 6–7-septate in one direction and 0–2-septate in the other, with 12–17 visible in optical view. The spores measure 16–19 × 5.5–6.5 ÃŽÂ¼m, have rather pointed ends, and lack a gelatinous sheath. Pycnidia have not been observed. In standard spot tests the thallus is UV–, C–, K–, KC– and P–, while the orange crystals of the apothecia react K+ (pink) and dissolve; no thin-layer chromatography was carried out because of the small amount of material, but the K-reaction suggests the presence of haematommone.

Habitat and distribution

Coniarthonia micromuralis grows on tree bark in primary rainforest in the Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke region near Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, at about elevation. As of its original publication, it had not been reported from outside Brazil. No additional occurrences had been reported as of 2025.

References