Baeomyces rufus

Baeomyces rufus, commonly known as the brown beret lichen,[4] is a fruticose lichen belonging to the cap lichen family, Baeomycetaceae. The species was first described by J.F Rebentisch in 1804.[2] Like other lichens, it is a symbiosis between a fungus and an alga.

Baeomyces rufus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Ascomycota
Class:
Lecanoromycetes
Subclass:
Ostropomycetidae
Order:
Baeomycetales
Family:
Baeomycetaceae[1]
Genus:
Baeomyces
Species:
B. rufus
Binomial name
Baeomyces rufus
(Huds.) Rebent. (1804)[2]
Synonyms
  • Lichen rufus Huds. (1762)
  • Sphyridium byssoides[3]

Taxonomy

William Hudson described this species as Lichen rufus in 1762.

The similar-appearing lichen D. baeomyces was formerly identified as Baeomyces roseus; it was not until 1997 that a study by Soili Stenroos and Paula DePriest used DNA sequencing to establish that the species now called Dibaeis baeomyces did not belong to the genus Baeomyces. B. rufus was the lichen representing genus Baeomyces whose DNA was sequenced for comparison with B. roseus/D. baeomyces.[5]

Description

B. rufus is characterized by bulbous apothecia which may vary from reddish brown to orange to pink, and which become translucent when wet; they may reach a maximum diameter of 2 mm, atop stalks no taller than 6 mm. The thallus may be green, grey or greenish-grey, and may have a brownish tinge.[1][6] Unlike other Baeomyces species, B. rufus's margins are unlobed.[4]

Similar species

B. rufus can be confused with Dibaeis baeomyces, particularly when the former's fruiting bodies are more pink than brown, but the two can be distinguished by morphological differences such as D. baeomyces's larger bulbs or the translucent appearance of B. rufus's apothecia when wet, and by differences in habit, as D. baeomyces thrives in full sun whereas B. rufus avoids it.[4]

Distribution and habitat

This is the most common of the beret or cap lichens.[4] It is found in circumpolar North America,[1] Asia,[6] and Europe; it occurs as far south as Turkey.[7] Its southern ranges are limited to mountainous areas.[7] Typical habitats of B. rufus are temperate pine forests, with moist sites and disturbed ground being particularly preferred.[1] Specimens may grow directly on soil or leaf litter, or on tree bark or stones.[6] Shaded locations are preferred to those that receive direct sunlight.[4]

Varieties

Named varieties of B. rufus include:[8]

  • B. r. var. callianthus (meaning: having beautiful flowers)[9]
  • B. r. var. carneofulvescens
  • B. r. var. chilensis (meaning: from the country Chile)[10]
  • B. r. var. monstrosus (meaning: abnormal, enormous, malformed)[11]
  • B. r. var. piceicola
  • B. r. var. prostii

References
  1. "CNALH — Baeomyces rufus". LichenPortal.org. Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  2. "Baeomyces rufus". MycoBank.org. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  3. Mycologia Balcanica, Volumes 1–3. Bulgarian Mycological Society. 2004. p. 52. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  4. Brodo, Irwin M.; Duran Sharnoff, Sylvia; Sharnoff, Stephen (2001). Lichens of North America. Yale University Press. pp. 173–5. ISBN 978-0300082494. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  5. Stenroos, Soili K.; DePriest, Paula T. (November 1998). "SSU rDNA phylogeny of cladoniiform lichens". American Journal of Botany. 85 (11): 1548–1559. doi:10.2307/2446481. JSTOR 2446481. PMID 21680313. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  6. "Baeomyces rufus (Huds.) Rebent". LIASLight.LIAS.net. Botanische Staatssammlung München. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  7. "Baeomyces rufus (Huds.) Rebent". EU-Nomen.eu. Pan-European Species directories Infrastructure (PESI). Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  8. "Taxon Passport: Baeomyces rufus". StrainInfo.net. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  9. "Garden Dictionary Word: callianthus". BackyardGardener.com/GardenDictionary. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  10. "Garden Dictionary Word: chilensis". BackyardGardener.com/GardenDictionary. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  11. "Garden Dictionary Word: monstrosus". BackyardGardener.com/GardenDictionary. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
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