# Austroplaca

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***Austroplaca*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [lichen](/source/Lichen)-forming [fungi](/source/Fungi) in the family [Teloschistaceae](/source/Teloschistaceae).[1] It comprises 13 species. These lichens are found primarily in the coldest regions of the Southern Hemisphere, including Antarctica, sub-Antarctic islands, and the southern tips of South America. Most species grow on rocks in harsh, windswept environments.

## Taxonomy

The genus was [circumscribed](/source/Circumscription_(taxonomy)) in 2013 by Ulrik Søchting, Patrik Frödén, and Ulf Arup, with *[Austroplaca ambitiosa](/source/Austroplaca_ambitiosa)* assigned as the [type species](/source/Type_species). The generic name means "southern disc". [Molecular](/source/Molecular_phylogenetics) and [morphological](/source/Morphology_(biology)) evidence indicate that *Austroplaca* is [monophyletic](/source/Monophyletic); that is, its species form a single evolutionary [lineage](/source/Lineage_(evolution)). It appears most closely related to two other Southern Hemisphere genera, *[Gondwania](/source/Gondwania)* and *[Cerothallia](/source/Cerothallia)*. *Gondwania* chiefly shows a southern [circumpolar distribution](/source/Circumpolar_distribution), in contrast to the Antarctic–Subantarctic–[Patagonian](/source/Patagonia) range typical of *Austroplaca*, but the three genera otherwise span similar morphological and anatomical variation. *Cerothallia* differs in having spores with a short internal cross-wall ([septum](/source/Septum)) and a poorly developed, grey, crustose thallus. [2]

Across analyses, these taxa do not consistently form a single, well-supported [clade](/source/Clade), and they cannot be united without also absorbing *[Xanthopeltis](/source/Xanthopeltis)*, *[Caloplaca altoandina](/source/Caloplaca_altoandina)*, and several undescribed species. The authors considered that option but judged it would erase useful information carried by current genus names: for example, that *Cerothallia* comprises species with short-septate spores and weakly developed thalli, whereas *Xanthopeltis* sensu stricto has an thallus (attached at one central point), apothecia (sunken fruiting bodies), and narrow, one-septate, S-shaped spores. They therefore preferred to retain at least four genera rather than collapse them into one.[2]

## Description

Most species of *Austroplaca* form low, circular [rosettes](/source/Rosette_(botany)) with somewhat lobed edges. A minority are : minute, shrubby thalli with tiny upright bumps (papillae), as in *[A. erecta](/source/Austroplaca_ercta)*. Others are [crustose](/source/Crustose_lichen) with a radiating, lobed outline (), or break into small, shield-like plates (peltate ) that often grow on moss or plant debris, for example *[A. darbishirei](/source/Austroplaca_darbishirei)*. The upper surface (thallus ) commonly shows [pseudocyphellae](/source/Pseudocyphella)—fine pores or cracks that appear as pale specks and promote [gas exchange](/source/Gas_exchange). Only a few species produce [soredia](/source/Soredia), the powdery [propagules](/source/Propagule) used for [vegetative reproduction](/source/Vegetative_reproduction); examples include *A. darbishirei* and the high-latitude, bipolar *[A. soropelta](/source/Austroplaca_soropelta)* (occurring in both polar regions).[2]

The [fruiting bodies](/source/Fruiting_bodies) are [apothecia](/source/Apothecia) of the type: small edged by a margin formed from both the lichen thallus and the inner apothecial wall. The [ascospores](/source/Ascospore) are typically two-celled, separated by a medium to broad cross-wall ([septum](/source/Septum)). Chemically, species fall into A or A3, indicating a characteristic, genus-typical suite of [secondary metabolites](/source/Secondary_metabolite) used in Teloschistaceae classification.[2]

## Species

As of September 2025, [Species Fungorum](/source/Species_Fungorum) (in the [Catalogue of Life](/source/Catalogue_of_Life)) accept 11 species of *Austroplaca*.[1]

- *[Austroplaca ambitiosa](/source/Austroplaca_ambitiosa)*
- *[Austroplaca cirrochrooides](/source/Austroplaca_cirrochrooides)*
- *[Austroplaca darbishirei](/source/Austroplaca_darbishirei)*
- *[Austroplaca erecta](/source/Austroplaca_erecta)*
- *[Austroplaca frigida](/source/Austroplaca_frigida)* [3] – Antarctica
- *[Austroplaca hookeri](/source/Austroplaca_hookeri)*
- *[Austroplaca imperialis](/source/Austroplaca_imperialis)* [4]
- *[Austroplaca johnstonii](/source/Austroplaca_johnstonii)*
- *[Austroplaca lucens](/source/Austroplaca_lucens)*
- *[Austroplaca millegrana](/source/Austroplaca_millegrana)*
- *[Austroplaca sibirica](/source/Austroplaca_sibirica)* [5]
- *[Austroplaca soropelta](/source/Austroplaca_soropelta)*
- *[Austroplaca thisbe](/source/Austroplaca_thisbe)* [6] – Argentina

## References

1. Arup, Ulf; Søchting, Ulrik; Frödén, Patrik (2013). "A new taxonomy of the family Teloschistaceae". *Nordic Journal of Botany*. **31** (1): 16–83. [Bibcode:2013NorJB..31...16A](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013NorJB..31...16A). [doi:10.1111/j.1756-1051.2013.00062.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2013.00062.x)

1. Søchting, Ulrik; Garrido-Benavent, Isaac; Seppelt, Rod; Castello, Miris; Pérez-Ortega, Sergio; De Los Ríos Murillo, Asunción; Sancho, Leopoldo Garcia; Frödén, Patrik; Arup, Ulf (2014). "*Charcotiana* and *Amundsenia*, two new genera in Teloschistaceae (lichenized Ascomycota, subfamily Xanthorioideae) hosting two new species from continental Antarctica, and *Austroplaca frigida*, a new name for a continental Antarctic species". *The Lichenologist*. **46** (6): 763–782. [Bibcode:2014ThLic..46..763S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014ThLic..46..763S). [doi:10.1017/S0024282914000395](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282914000395)

1. Søchting, Ulrik; Sancho, Leo Garcia; Arup, Ulf (2023). "The lichen genera *Gondwania* and *Transdrakea* gen. nov. (Teloschistaceae) – speciation in three southern continents". *Plant and Fungal Systematics*. **68** (2): 304–319. [doi:10.35535/pfsyst-2023-0015](https://doi.org/10.35535/pfsyst-2023-0015)

1. Søchting, U. & Arup, U. (2021). "*Austroplaca sibirica* (lichenized Ascomycota, Teloschistaceae) – a bipolar lichen with an austral origin documented by molecular data". *Graphis Scripta*. **33** (1): 12–16.

1. Søchting, Ulrik; Sancho, Leo G.; Arup, Ulf (2023). "*Marchantiana pyramus*, *M. ramulicola* and *Austroplaca thisbe* (Teloschistaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) – three new twig lichens from southern Patagonia". *The Lichenologist*. **55** (5): 377–387. [Bibcode:2023ThLic..55..377S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023ThLic..55..377S). [doi:10.1017/S0024282923000361](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282923000361)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Austroplaca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austroplaca) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austroplaca?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.