Rhizocarpon lecanorinum

Images made through a microscope. All subject types.

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ralfwagner
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Rhizocarpon lecanorinum

Post by ralfwagner »

Hello,

this crustose lichen is from an old lead pit. It is growing on silicate rocks.

- Closeup thallus, 105 mm makroobjective with 36 mm extension ring, 45 picture stack with Helicon

Image

- section apothecium, LCB (lactophenol-cottonblue) stain

Image

Image

- Spore, 43 x 16 µm

Image

- Orange fluorescence of the rhizocarpic acid that is situated in the cortex. Beneath the red chlorophyll autofluorescence of the photobiont, a green algae.

Image

Sumguy01
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Post by Sumguy01 »

:D Very interesting.
Thanks for sharing.

micro_pix
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Post by micro_pix »

Very interesting, I particularly like the flourescence image.

Mike
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Post by Mike »

Hello Ralf,

Interesting and educational series - appreciate how you go from macro to micro with photos/info. Might have to look at the various lichens around my place.

Thanks,
Mike
"Nil satis nisi optimum"

Jacek
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Post by Jacek »

Very nice

ralfwagner
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Post by ralfwagner »

Mike wrote: Might have to look at the various lichens around my place.
Mike, this is a very good iadea and will bring you much to see and learn about nature.

Thanks @ all for your interest in lichens.

Pau
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Post by Pau »

Excellent work!
- Orange fluorescence of the rhizocarpic acid that is situated in the cortex. Beneath the red chlorophyll autofluorescence of the photobiont, a green algae.
Is this rizocarpic acid auto fluorescent? Is it present in many lichen species? What excitation wavelength did you use?
Pau

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Pitufo
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Post by Pitufo »

It seems that lichens produce quite a lot of different colours with UV autofluorescence. See here.

https://canadianmuseumofnature.wordpres ... -of-light/

ChrisR
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Post by ChrisR »

I let my schoolkids discover that, with a 365mm nichia-powered torch. It was declared to be "well cool". :D
I didn't have anything as psychedelic as that article shows, though.
Chris R

ralfwagner
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Post by ralfwagner »

Pau wrote: Is this rizocarpic acid auto fluorescent? Is it present in many lichen species? What excitation wavelength did you use?
Rhizocarpic acid is auto fluorescent. I used a "royal blue led" @ 440 nm for exitation. Look here for the chemical structure: http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalPro ... 202378.htm

Rhizocarpic acid is present in all yellow or yellow-green species of the genus Rhizocarpon. You will find rhizocarpic acid also in many Acarospora species and in some Lecanora spec. (e.g. Lecanora epanora) and in Lecidea lucida. This list is not complete but just what is mentioned in my literature.

As mentioned by Pitufo, there are many auto fluorescent lichen substances. For example many Cladonia spec. show a white fluorescence caused by sqamatic acid, Xanthoria parietina shows the orange fluorescence of parietin.

Pau
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Post by Pau »

Thanks for the info, Ralf
Pau

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