Badimia multiseptata Papong & Lücking
Mycobank MB 517736
Thallus foliicolous, continuous or irregularly dispersed, 20–25 µm thick, densely verrucose, pale greenish grey; verrucae wart-shaped, white. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Apothecia rounded, 0.4–0.8 mm diam.; disc pale yellow to orange; margin slightly prominent, paler than the disc. Excipulum paraplectenchymatous, lacking crystals, 30–40 µm broad. Hypothecium prosoplectenchymatous, 20–30 µm high, colourless to pale yellow, K–. Epithecium indistinct. Hymenium 45–55 µm high, colourless, I+ blue. Paraphyses unbranched, 1–1.5 µm thick. Asci clavate, 40–50 x 8–10 µm, I+ blue. Ascospores 8 per ascus, oblong to fusiform, (3–)5–7(–9)-septate, without or with slight constrictions at septa, 25–32 x 4–5 µm, 6–7 times as long as broad, colourless. Campylidia sessile, halfmoon-shaped, chamois-colored to white. Conidia filiform, 5–7-septate, 50–60 x 1–1.5 µm, with short lateral appendages at most segments, colourless. Chemistry: usnic acid and zeorin.
Badimia is a small genus of foliicolous lichens characterized by comparatively large, vividly colored apothecia and unique, campylidioid conidiomata (Vezda, 1986; Lücking, 2008). The genus is pantropical and restricted to lowland rain forest and appears to be an excellent indicator of undisturbed rain forest (Lücking & Kalb, 2001). Two groups are distinguished which differ in apothecial color and excipulum structure: the core group of the genus with crystalline excipulum and opaque apothecia, and the pallidula-group with non-crystalline excipulum and slightly translucent, gyalectoid apothecia (Lücking, 2008). Badimia multiseptata belongs in the latter group and is characterized by its multiseptate, comparatively large ascospores. It is morphologically similar to B. pallidula (Kremp.) Vezda and relatives, but differs in its ascospores: B. pallidula and B. polillensis (Vain.) Vezda have 3-septate ascospores, whereas those of B. verrucosa (Vezda) Lücking & Vezda are submuriform.
The epithet refers to the multiseptate ascospores as compared to other species of the genus.
Known from several collections from lowland rain forest in Thailand.
Type:—THAILAND: Nakhorn Ratchasima Province: Khao Yai National Park; 14°11’N, 101°37’E, 650 m; lower montane rainforest, shady understory, on leaves; Dec 2005, Papong 5888 (holotype KKU).
Additional specimens examined (paratypes):—THAILAND. Chanthaburi Province: Namtok Phlio National Park; Papong 882, 884-1, 887-1 (KKU). Loei Province: Phu Kradueng National Park; Papong 3269 (KKU). Nakhon Si Thammarat Province: Khao Lung National Park, Papong 3526 (F), 3543 (KKU). Nakhorn Ratchasima Province: Khao Yai National Park; Papong 5905-2 (F).
Sicut Badimia pallidula sed ascosporis maioribus multiseptatis differt.