Circinaria persepolitana
| Circinaria persepolitana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Pertusariales |
| Family: | Megasporaceae |
| Genus: | Circinaria |
| Species: | C. persepolitana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Circinaria persepolitana Sohrabi & Pérez-Ort.
| |
Circinaria persepolitana is a species of lichen in the family Megasporaceae that has been identified on the historical stone surfaces of Persepolis in Iran.[1][2]
Discovery
This lichen was discovered in 2024 by an international team of researchers from Iran, Spain, Russia, and Italy, and was published in the journal The Lichenologist.[1][3]
Characteristics
This lichen has a crustose structure with an olive to olive-brown surface that appears cracked or areolate. At the margins, it has angular to elongate areoles. Phylogenetic analyses show that this species is closely related to C. mansourii, C. ochracea, and C. reptans.[4]
Microscopic studies have shown that Circinaria persepolitana adheres directly to the surface of stones and can induce biophysical and biochemical changes in the rock. These properties make it a potential agent of biodeterioration for ancient stone structures.[5] Although the presence of this lichen has also been observed in the natural surroundings of Persepolis, its highest density occurs in the historical and decorative sections of the site.[1][6]
References
- ^ a b c Sohrabi, Mohammad; Paukov, Alexander; Pérez-Ortega, Sergio; Nourozi, Hooman; Fadaie, Hamid; Favero-Longo, Sergio Enrico; Talebian, Mohammad Hassan; Ríos, Asunción de los (May 2024). "Circinaria persepolitana (Megasporaceae), a new lichen species from historic stone surfaces in Persepolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iran". The Lichenologist. 56 (2–3): 93–106. doi:10.1017/S0024282924000070. ISSN 0024-2829.
- ^ "Circinaria persepolitana (Megasporaceae), a new lichen species from historic stone surfaces in Persepolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iran · 研飞ivySCI". 研飞ivySCI. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ "Name of Persepolis recorded in world's scientific memory alongside newly discovered lichen". Tehran Times. 2025-05-23. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ Sohrabi, Mohammad; Paukov, Alexander; Pérez-Ortega, Sergio; Nourozi, Hooman; Fadaie, Hamid; Favero-Longo, Sergio Enrico; Talebian, Mohammad Hassan; de los Ríos, Asunción (2024). "Circinaria persepolitana (Megasporaceae), a new lichen species from historic stone surfaces in Persepolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iran". doi:10.1017/s0024282924000070.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Mohammadi, Parisa; Krumbein, Wolfgang E. (2008-03-01). "Biodeterioration of ancient stone materials from the Persepolis monuments (Iran)". Aerobiologia. 24 (1): 27–33. doi:10.1007/s10453-007-9079-6. ISSN 1573-3025.
- ^ "Archives of the Persepolis lichen". Sedaye Miras (in Persian). Retrieved 2025-06-12.