Candelaria asiatica

Candelaria asiatica is a lichenized species of fungus in the genus Candelaria, family Candelariaceae. Recognized by its small yellow lobate thallus, this species is found growing under open areas in forests. It is distributed in South Asia, Pakistan, and China.

Taxonomy
Candelaria asiatica was described by Dong Liu and Jae-Seon Hur in 2018.

Morphology
The vegetative body, or thallus, of the lichen is foliose to sub-fruticose. The color ranges from yellow to greenish yellow in the center and bright yellow on the outside tip of the thallus. The thallus is lobate with a powdery surface and fragile lobe margins with basidia or phyllidia-like lobules. Thallus is minute, 0.2–1.2 cm wide, but aggregates to form extensive colonies which cover the substrate. Lobes of the thallus are linear and irregularly branched and range from adnate to erect. The upper cortex is distinct with algae chlorococcoid distributed below the upper cortex. The medulla is not well developed and is white in color. The lower cortex is present near the center of the thallus and lacks a lobe tip. The lower surface is covered with white rhizines.

Distinctions
Similar to Candelaria concolor, Candelaria asiatica differs in lobe tips and margins. Their margins are not round or smooth, and are fragile with blastidia, making them look sorediate. The thallus also has a distinct powdery surface unlike ''Candelaria concolor. Candelaria asiatica forms a clade with two other species and is the sister group of C. crawfordii''. Both of them are collected from Asia.

Habitat and distribution
This species is distributed in South Asia, China, and Pakistan. It is found growing under open areas in forests and arboretums. It has been found growing on Cerasus species. The epithet “asiatica” or from Asia refers to the species geographic distribution.

Chemistry
Chemical compounds for identification include K−, KC−, C−, PD−. Major substances present in Candelaria asiatica are calycin acid, a UV filter or UVA screening compound, and pulvinic acid, a natural chemical pigment.