Absconditella

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Absconditella
JE 9628 Absconditella sphagnorum 180px Stedlinger Moor Germany.jpg
Absconditella sphagnorum
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Ostropales
Family: Stictidaceae
Genus: Absconditella
Vèzda (1965)
Type species
Absconditella sphagnorum
Vězda & Poelt (1965)
Species

See text

Synonyms [1]
  • GeisleriaNitschke (1861)

Absconditella is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Stictidaceae. [2] These lichens are characterised by their inconspicuous growth and small, cup-shaped fruiting bodies (apothecia) that are often hidden within a jelly-like mass containing green algae. The genus name, meaning "hidden", reflects their elusive nature. Absconditella species are typically found on short-lived surfaces such as decaying wood, mosses, and unstable soil. Genetic studies have revealed that the genus is more complex than previously thought, with some species being moved to a new genus, Absconditonia , and others potentially representing groups of closely related species. Despite their small size and easily overlooked nature, environmental DNA studies suggest that Absconditella lichens may be more widespread than collections indicate.

Contents

Taxonomy

The genus was circumscribed in 1965 by Czech lichenologist Antonín Vězda, with Absconditella sphagnorum assigned as the type species. Absconditella is characterised by gyalectoid apothecia with a hymenium that is not amyloid, without a dark pigment and thalli containing green algae as photobionts. [3] The genus name means "hidden", a reference to the scant structure of the thallus and its small apothecia. [4]

Molecular phylogenetics studies have shown that Absconditella is polyphyletic within Stictidaceae. The genus Geisleria has been found to be nested within Absconditella, leading to the transfer of Geisleria sychnogonioides to Absconditella. Additionally, a new genus, Absconditonia , has been circumscribed to accommodate some species previously placed in Absconditella. [1]

The conservation of the name Absconditella against Geisleria has been proposed to maintain nomenclatural stability. [1]

Characteristics

Absconditella species typically have minute, urceolate (deeply cup-shaped) ascomata (fruiting bodies) that are often sunken into a gel-like thallus. The excipulum can be either composed of parallel conglutinated hyphae or cellular. Paraphyses are simple and indistinctly septate, occasionally branched only in the upper part. Ascospores vary in shape and septation among species. [1]

Habitat and distribution

Species of Absconditella are often found on ephemeral substrates such as decaying wood, bryophytes, and unstable soil. Environmental DNA studies suggest that both Absconditella and Absconditonia may be more widespread than previously thought based on collected specimens alone. [1]

Species

As of August 2024, Species Fungorum (in the Catalogue of Life) accepts 13 species of Absconditella, [5] although more species than this have been proposed for inclusion.

Research suggests that A. sphagnorum may represent a complex of multiple species. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lecanoraceae</span> Family of lichen-forming fungi

The Lecanoraceae are a family of lichenized fungi in the order Lecanorales. Species of this family have a widespread distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graphidaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Graphidaceae are a family of lichen-forming fungi in the order Graphidales. The family contains nearly a hundred genera and more than 2000 species. Although the family has a cosmopolitan distribution, most Graphidaceae species occur in tropical regions, and typically grow on bark.

<i>Acanthothecis</i> Genus of lichen

Acanthothecis is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. The genus was circumscribed by Frederick Edward Clements in 1909.

Crustospathula is a genus of five species of crustose lichens in the family Malmideaceae. They are characterized by their stalked and sometimes branched cartilaginous soredia and Bacidia-like apothecia.

<i>Lopadium</i> (lichen) Genus of lichens

Lopadium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the monotypic family Lopadiaceae, which is in the order Lecideales. The genus contains 10 species. Lopadium was circumscribed by German lichenologist Gustav Wilhelm Körber in 1855.

<i>Enterographa</i> Genus of lichen

Enterographa is a genus of lichens in the family Roccellaceae.

Arthotheliopsis is a genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has 5 species. The genus was circumscribed by Finnish lichenologist Edvard August Vainio in 1896, with A. hymenocarpoides assigned as the type species.

Echinoplaca is a genus of lichens in the family Gomphillaceae.

<i>Gyalidea</i> Genus of lichen

Gyalidea is a genus of crustose lichens in the family Gomphillaceae. It has 50 species.

<i>Tricharia</i> Genus of lichens

Tricharia is a genus of lichens in the family Gomphillaceae. It has an estimated 30 species.

Vezdaea is a genus of crustose lichens in the monotypic family Vezdaeaceae, which itself is the only taxon in the order Vezdaeales. The genus was circumscribed by Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess and Josef Poelt in 1976. The genus name honours Czech lichenologist Antonín Vězda (1920-2008).

<i>Flavoplaca</i> Genus of lichen

Flavoplaca is a genus of crust-like or scaly lichens in the family Teloschistaceae. It has 28 species with a mostly Northern Hemisphere distribution.

<i>Coenogonium</i> Genus of lichen

Coenogonium is a genus of filamentous lichens in the monotypic family Coenogoniaceae. It has about 90 species. Most species are leaf-dwelling or grow on bark, although a few are known to grow on rocks under certain conditions, and some are restricted to growth on termite nests. The genus was circumscribed in 1820 by German naturalist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg.

Absconditella rosea is a species of crustose lichen in the family Stictidaceae. Found in Venezuela, it was formally described as a new species in 2018 by lichenologists Klaus Kalb and André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected at a location between Laguna Mucubají and Pico Mucuñuque (Mérida) at an altitude of about 3,500 m (11,500 ft); here it was found growing on detritus in páramo. The specific epithet refers to the pale pinkish colour of the ascomata. The lichen is only known to occur in Venezuela. A similar species in genus Absconditella is A. lignicola, which can be distinguished from A. rosea by its whitish apothecia and differences in ascospore morphology.

<i>Thelenella</i> Genus of lichens

Thelenella is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Thelenellaceae. It has 30 species. The genus was circumscribed by Finnish lichenologist William Nylander in 1855, with Thelenella modesta assigned as the type species.

Pyrenidium is a genus of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungi. It is the only genus in the family Pyrenidiaceae. It has 13 species.

Strangospora is a genus of lichen-forming fungi. It is the only genus in the family Strangosporaceae, which itself is of uncertain taxonomic placement in the Ascomycota. It contains 10 species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graphidales</span> Order of lichen-forming fungi

Graphidales is an order of lichen-forming fungi in the class Lecanoromycetes. It contains 6 families, about 81 genera and about 2,228 species. Family Graphidaceae are the largest crustose family within Graphidales order comprising more than 2000 species, which are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Protothelenella is a genus of fungi in the family Protothelenellaceae. It contains 11 species, some of which form lichens. Protothelenella species have a crustose thallus with spherical to pear-shaped, dark brown to blackish perithecia. Microscopic characteristics of the genus include bitunicate asci with an amyloid tholus, and ascospores that are colourless and contain multiple internal partitions. Some species grow on acidic substrates including rocks, soil, bryophytes, plant detritus or rotten wood. Other species are lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling), growing on species of Solorina, Peltigera, Pseudocyphellaria, or Cladonia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Suija, Ave; van den Boom, Pieter (2023). "Phylogenetic relationships, taxonomic novelties, and combinations within Stictidaceae (Ostropales, Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota): focus on Absconditella". Mycological Progress. 22 (46): 1–12. doi:10.1007/s11557-023-01889-2.
  2. ↑ Wijayawardene, N.N.; Hyde, K.D.; Dai, D.Q.; Sánchez-García, M.; Goto, B.T.; Saxena, R.K.; et al. (2022). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa – 2021". Mycosphere. 13 (1): 53–453 [162]. doi:10.5943/mycosphere/13/1/2.
  3. 1 2 Vězda, A. (1965). "Flechtensystematische Studien II. Absconditella, eine neue Flechtengattung". Preslia (Praha) (in German). 37: 237–245.
  4. ↑ Dobson, Frank S. (2011). Lichens: An Illustrated Guide to the British and Irish Species (6th ed.). Slough, UK: RichmondPublishing. p. 55. ISBN   978-0-85546-315-1.
  5. ↑ "Absconditella". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  6. ↑ Spribille, Toby; Björk, Curtis R.; Ekman, Stefan; Elix, John A.; Goward, Trevor; Printzen, Christian; Tønsberg, Tor; Wheeler, Tim (2009). "Contributions to an epiphytic lichen flora of northwest North America: I. Eight new species from British Columbia inland rain forests". The Bryologist. 112 (1): 109–137. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-112.1.109.
  7. ↑ Søchting, U.; Øvstedal, D.O.; Sancho, L.G. (2004). "The lichens of Hurd Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica". Bibliotheca Lichenologica. 88: 607–658.
  8. ↑ Kondratyuk, S.; Lőkös, L.; Tchabanenko, S.; Haji Moniri, M.; Farkas, E.; Wang, X.Y.; Oh, S.O.; Hur, J.S. (2013). "New and noteworthy lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi". Acta Biologica Hungarica. 55 (3–4): 275–349.
  9. ↑ Döbbeler, P.; Poelt, J. (1977). "Absconditella celata spec. nov., eine Flechtenart aus Lappland". Herzogia (in German). 4: 363–366. doi:10.1127/herzogia/4/1977/363.
  10. 1 2 Vězda, A.; Pisut, I. (1984). "Zwei neue Arten der Flechtengattung Absconditella (lichenisierte Stictidaceae, Ostropales) in der Tschechoslowakei". Nova Hedwigia. 40 (1–4): 341–346.
  11. 1 2 Kalb, K.; Aptroot, A. (2018). "New lichen species from Brazil and Venezuela". The Bryologist. 121 (1): 56–66. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-121.1.056.
  12. ↑ Cáceres, M.E.S.; Aptroot, A. (2016). "First inventory of lichens from the Brazilian Amazon in Amapá State". The Bryologist. 119 (3): 250–265. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-119.3.250.
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