Heterodermia fragmentata

Heterodermia fragmentata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) foliose lichen in the family Physciaceae. It occurs in Sri Lanka.

Taxonomy
Heterodermia fragmentata was formally described and published by lichenologists Gothamie Weerakoon and André Aptroot 2015. The type specimen was collected by both authors in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, on the bark of a tree.

Description
The species has a foliose (leafy) thallus, forming tufts up to 7 cm in diameter, with linear, grey up to 1 cm long and 0.7–2.2 mm wide. The tips of these lobes are often slightly and spotted with white. The lobes have margins with a thin dark grey line, while the lower surface is, white, and often blackens towards the centre. It features black, shiny, mostly simple (unbranched) up to 3 mm long.

The lichen reproduces through, which are rare, stipitate, and on the upper surface of the thallus lobes. These apothecia develop tapering lobes around their margins, with a brown covered in pale brown pruina. The thallus surface lacks soredia, isidia, and. Instead, the non-peripheral part of the thallus becomes dissected into small lobes with similar cilia. It contains atranorin in the cortex and zeorin in the medulla.

Habitat and distribution
Heterodermia fragmentata is found on trees and shrubs, predominantly in submontane forests and open mountainous areas. It is known only from Sri Lanka, where it is widespread and locally abundant.