Acarospora elevata | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
Order: | Acarosporales |
Family: | Acarosporaceae |
Genus: | Acarospora |
Species: | A. elevata
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Binomial name | |
Acarospora elevata
H.Magn. (1929)
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Acarospora elevata, the mountain cobblestone lichen, is a shiny dark reddish brown to dark brown verrucose to aereolate crustose lichen that grows up to 3 cm (1.2 in) wide on granite in central and southern California to Baja California, and high elevations in the Rocky Mountains. [1]: 216–217 [2] It is usually only found above 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) because it is eaten by red mites at lower elevations. [1]: 216–217 [2] In the Californias, it is mostly found at high elevations (hence "elevata"), but sometimes in coastal locations where it is less glossy. [2] It grows in full sun, mostly on hard granite, but sometimes other igneous or carbonate rock, from 500 to 3,350 metres (1,640 to 10,990 ft) in elevation. [2] It may start by growing on members of the genus Aspicilia, or other such pioneer species on hard rocks. [2]
There are typically between zero and four apothecia on each areola or wart, with dark red or black, rough surfaced, flat to concave discs without a dusty looking surface pruina. [2] The asci are thicker at the top than at the base ( clavate). [2]
Lichen spot test are all negative, and it is UV− under ultraviolet light. [2] It may be identical with type of Acarospora nitida. [2] The lower-elevation forms were originally called Thelocarpon albomarginatum and A. washingtonensis. [2]
Acarospora is in the family Acarosporaceae. A. elevata was first described scientifically by lichenologist Adolf Hugo Magnusson in 1929. [3]