# Vulpicida

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Vulpicida
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Vulpicida.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulpicida
> Source revision: 1244808593
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

***Vulpicida*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [lichenized](/source/Lichen) [fungi](/source/Fungi) in the family [Parmeliaceae](/source/Parmeliaceae). Circumscribed in 1993 to contain species formerly placed in *[Cetraria](/source/Cetraria)*, the genus is widespread in [Arctic](/source/Arctic) to northern [temperate](/source/Temperate) regions, and contains six species.[1] The genus is characterized by the presence of the [secondary metabolites](/source/Secondary_metabolite) [pulvinic acid](/source/Pulvinic_acid) and [vulpinic acid](/source/Vulpinic_acid), compounds that when combined with [usnic acid](/source/Usnic_acid), give the species their characteristic yellow and green colors.

## Taxonomy

The genus was circumscribed by Jan-Eric Mattson and Ming-Jou Lai in a 1993 *[Mycotaxon](/source/Mycotaxon)* publication, to contain yellow species containing [vulpinic](/source/Vulpinic_acid) and [pinastric acids](/source/Pinastric_acid) and a broadly club-shaped [ascus](/source/Ascus).[2] Mattson published a [monograph](/source/Monograph) of the genus later that year.[3] The group of species assigned to the genus were previously recognized as a distinct grouping by Finnish lichenologist [Veli Räsänen](/source/Veli_R%C3%A4s%C3%A4nen) in 1952, who [classified](/source/Classification_(biology)) them in the genus *[Cetraria](/source/Cetraria)*, [subgenus](/source/Subgenus) *Platysma*, [section](/source/Section_(botany)) *Flavidae*, and subsection *Cucullatae*.[4] The [type species](/source/Type_species) is *Vulpicida juniperinus*,[5] originally *Lichen juniperinus* as described by [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) in the second volume of his 1753 *[Species Plantarum](/source/Species_Plantarum)*.[6]

The generic name *Vulpicida* is derived from the [Latin](/source/Latin) words *vulpes* ("fox") and -*cida* ("who kills"); according to Swedish peasant folklore, the lichen, when consumed, kills foxes but not dogs or wolves.[2]

According to a 2009 [molecular](/source/Molecular_phylogenetics) analysis using [internal transcribed spacer](/source/Internal_transcribed_spacer) data from five of the six known species, *Vulpicida* is supported as [monophyletic](/source/Monophyletic) (descended from a common evolutionary ancestor) when using [Bayesian analysis](/source/Bayesian_analysis). Using a different method for [phylogenetic](/source/Phylogenetic) inference, PAUP (phylogenetic analysis using parsimony), the genus is [paraphyletic](/source/Paraphyly), as *[Allocetraria](/source/Allocetraria)* nests within the same [clade](/source/Clade).[7]

## Description

The thallus (the vegetative body of the lichen) ranges in form from foliose ("leaf-like", with distinctly formed lobes) and forming rosettes, to somewhat fruticose (branch-like and bushy), with lobes usually [dorsiventral](/source/Dorsiventral) with raised tips, sometimes even cylindrical or slightly tapering. The upper thallus surface is bright to dark yellow (resulting from [usnic acid](/source/Usnic_acid)), sometimes greenish, often wrinkled or somewhat folded. The lower thallus surface is weakly yellow, with black central parts, and lacks [pseudocyphellae](/source/Pseudocyphellae) (tiny pores on the outer surface). The rhizinae (black hair-like strands that attach the lichen to their [substrate](/source/Substrate_(biology))) are laminal (originating from all across the thallus surface), almost never close to the margin and rather sparse, and either simple or irregularly branched.[2]

The [apothecia](/source/Apothecia) (the fruit body of the lichen) are somewhat marginal (positioned on the edge or near the margin) or laminal, and comprise a brown disc with an often finely scalloped edge. The [asci](/source/Ascus) ([spore](/source/Spore)-bearing cells) are broadly club-shaped, with a wide ocular chamber (a wide, finger-like protrusion of the epiplasm into the apical region of the ascus), and large axial body. The thallus often has a strong [staining](/source/Staining) reaction in Lugol's solution. Spores are spherical or nearly so, and number eight per ascus. [Pycnidia](/source/Pycnidia) are typically abundant, with either a marginal or laminal arrangement. They are generally conspicuous, black, situated on projections, and raised or immersed. The medulla is yellow to orange (from [pinastric](/source/Pinastric_acid) and [vulpinic acids](/source/Vulpinic_acid)). The pycnidial wall contains some black pigment. The [conidia](/source/Conidia) are somewhat flask-shaped or lemon-shaped.[2] The genus is characterized by the presence of the [secondary metabolites](/source/Secondary_metabolite) [pulvinic acid](/source/Pulvinic_acid) and [vulpinic acid](/source/Vulpinic_acid), which are derived from the [shikimic acid](/source/Shikimic_acid) biosynthetic pathway. These compounds, combined with usnic acid, give the species their characteristic yellow and green colors.[7]

## Species

There are four species in *Vulpicida,* after a taxon merge in 2014.[8] They are all found in [arctic](/source/Arctic) or [boreal](/source/Boreal_climate) regions of the [Northern Hemisphere](/source/Northern_Hemisphere).[2]

- *[V. canadensis](/source/Vulpicida_canadensis)* (Räsänen) J.-E.Mattsson & M.J.Lai

- Originally *Cetraria junier* var. *canadensis*, published by Räsänen in 1933.[9]

- *[V. juniperinus](/source/Vulpicida_juniperinus)* complex (L.) J.-E.Mattsson & M.J.Lai

- Originally *Lichen juniperinus*, published by Linnaeus in 1753.[6]
- Composed of previously distinct groups of *V. juniperinus, V. tilesii, and V. tubulosis.*

- *[V. pinastri](/source/Vulpicida_pinastri)* ([Scop.](/source/Scop.)) J.-E.Mattsson

- Originally *Lichen pinastra*, published by Scopoli in 1772.[10]

- *[V. viridis](/source/Vulpicida_viridis)* (Schwein.) J.-E.Mattsson & M.J.Lai

- Originally *Cetraria viridis*, published by Halsey, and attributed to Schweinitz in 1824.[11]

Species V. canadensis V. pinastri V. viridis V. juniperinus complex

## References

1. Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA (2008). *Dictionary of the Fungi*. 10th ed. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. p. 727. ISBN 978-0851998268.

1. Mattsson JE, Lai MJ (1993). ["*Vulpicida*, a new genus in Parmeliaceae (lichenized ascomycetes)"](http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/59575/0046/0425.htm). *Mycotaxon*. **46**: 425–8.

1. Mattson J-E. (1993). "A monograph of the genus *Vulpicida* (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycetes)". *Nordic Journal of Botany*. **13** (4): 5–61. [doi:10.1111/j.1756-1051.1993.tb00084.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.1993.tb00084.x)

1. Räsänen V. (1952). "Studies of the species of the lichen genera *Cornicularia*, *Cetraria* and *Nephromopsis*". *Kuopion Luonnon Ystäväin Yhdistyksen Julkaisuja B*. **2** (6): 1–53.

1. ["*Vulpicida* J.-E. Mattsson & M.J. Lai 1993"](http://www.mycobank.org/BioloMICS.aspx?Table=Mycobank&Rec=98922&Fields=All). [MycoBank](/source/MycoBank). International Mycological Association. Retrieved 2012-10-17.

1. Linnaeus C. (1753). [*Species Plantarum*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/359168) (in Latin). Vol. 2. Stockholm, Sweden: Impensis Laurentii Salvii. p. 1147.

1. Thell A, HöGnabba F, Elix JA, Feuerer T, Kärnefelt I, Myllys L, Randlane T, Saag A, Stenroos S, Ahti T, ((Seaward MRD)) (2009). "Phylogeny of the cetrarioid core (Parmeliaceae) based on five genetic markers". *The Lichenologist*. **41** (5): 489–511. [doi:10.1017/S0024282909990090](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282909990090). [hdl:1885/51099](https://hdl.handle.net/1885/51099). [S2CID 84592469](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:84592469)

1. Saag, Lauri; Mark, Kristiina; Saag, Andres; Randlane, Tiina (December 2014). ["Species delimitation in the lichenized fungal genus Vulpicida (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) using gene concatenation and coalescent-based species tree approaches"](https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3732/ajb.1400439). *American Journal of Botany*. **101** (12): 2169–2182. [doi:10.3732/ajb.1400439](https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1400439). [ISSN 0002-9122](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0002-9122). [PMID 25480713](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25480713)

1. Räsänen V. (1933). ["Contribution to the lichen flora of North America"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/23684). *Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden*. **20** (1): 7–21. [doi:10.2307/2394419](https://doi.org/10.2307/2394419). [JSTOR 2394419](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2394419). [S2CID 84511217](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:84511217)

1. Scopoli JA. (1772). *Flora carniolica* (in Latin). Vol. 2. 2nd ed. Vienna, Austria: J.P. Krauss. p. 382.

1. Halsey A. (1824). ["Synotpical view of the lichens growing in the vicinity of the city of New York"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15913185). *Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York*. **1**: 3–21 (see p. 16)

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