Fulgensia fulgida --- the scrambled eggs lichen

[ralfwagner]

Hello,

found this (in Germany seldom) lichen in France, Provence on lime rocks. The first picture shows why it is also named "scrambled eggs lichen".

- Habitus. Thallus up to bis 3 cm, upper surface yellow-white, rosett-like, loben at the margins, inwards coherent without schizidia. Photobiont coccoid. Apothecia frequent, 0,5 - 1,5 mm diameter, disc red with thalline exciple. Spores clubbed, 12 - 20 x 5 - 6 µm. Chemistry: Apothecia K+ purple, Physcion
On (dust impregnated)lime rock, in bright locations, kollin.



- Closeup apothecia and thallus.



- Cross section apothecium. Thalline exiple. Staining with Lactophenol-Methylblue-Acidfuchsin



- Cross section apothecium. Closeup thalline exciple. Staining with Lactophenol-Methylblue-Acidfuchsin



- Ascus with spores. Ascus 8 spored, amyloid, Teloschistes-type. Spores clubbed, 12 - 20 x 5 - 6 µm. Staining with Lugol.

[discomorphella]

Hi Ralf--

Great sections. Are these hand sections or frozen sections? Also, have you tried PAS staining on your lichens?

David

[RogelioMoreno]

Very nice sections, thank you for sharing.

Rogelio

[ralfwagner]

Hello

and thank you for your nice comments.

@David: The cutting technique used is described here http://www.dr-ralf-wagner.de/TechInfo-englisch.html in detail.
No, I didn`t try the PAS method. Did you ever try it with lichens what results did you obtain?

[discomorphella]

Hi Ralf--

I've never tried PAS on a lichen, but it has given good results on macrofungi like mushrooms. I was thinking PAS-Alcian Blue or for fluorescence, maybe Calcofluor and Sytox Green for seeing the different components. If I have some time try I'll try that. I certainly have lots of lichen in the woods in Oregon and Washington...

David