| Aptrootidea | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Graphidales |
| Family: | Gomphillaceae |
| Genus: | Aptrootidea Xavier-Leite, M.Cáceres & Lücking (2023) |
| Type species | |
| Aptrootidea marginata (Lücking) Xavier-Leite, M.Cáceres & Lücking (2023) | |
| Species | |
A. amapensis Contents | |
Aptrootidea is a genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. [1] It has six species of leaf-dwelling (foliicolous) lichens. [2]
The genus was established in 2023 by Amanda Xavier-Leite, Marcela Cáceres, and Robert Lücking, and is named in honour of André Aptroot, a prominent researcher in tropical lichen studies. The genus was created after molecular analyses showed that these species were distinct from the genus Echinoplaca where they were previously classified. While molecular analysis has only been performed on the type species, the other five species are provisionally included based on shared characteristics, though they might eventually be moved to a separate genus with further research. [3]
Aptrootidea lichens are characterised by their growth pattern, which can be either continuous or scattered across the leaf surface. A distinctive feature of some species is the presence of small, dark bristles that grow from a transparent base layer (the prothallus ). Their reproductive structures (apothecia) are flat or slightly raised, appearing as dark spots ranging from chocolate-brown to nearly black in colour. [3]
When viewed under a microscope, these lichens reveal a complex internal structure. Their body is made up of loosely interwoven fungal threads (forming a hyphal excipulum ), above which sits a pale, densely packed layer of cells ( prosoplectenchymatous hypothecium ) that supports the spore-producing region. The uppermost layer ( epithecium ) appears dark brown in colour. Within the reproductive structures, the fungi produce spores ( ascospores ) that can have different numbers of internal divisions (septa) depending on the species. Unlike some related lichens, no specialised stalked structures ( hyphophores ) have been observed in this genus. [3]
The Gomphillaceae are a family of lichen-forming fungi in the order Graphidales. Species in this family are found mostly in tropical regions. The family underwent a major molecular phylogenetics-led reorganisation in 2023, in which 17 genera were recognised and formally established as new or reinstated.
Mazosia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae.
André Aptroot is a Dutch mycologist and lichenologist. His primary research focus is on biodiversity, particularly tropical lichens, encompassing systematics, floristic surveys, and taxonomic reviews. A prolific researcher, he has published more than 500 scientific papers and described hundreds of new fungal and lichen species.
Taitaia is a single-species fungal genus in the family Gomphillaceae. It was circumscribed in 2018 to contain the species Taitaia aurea, a lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus. This species is characterized by aggregated ascomata with yellow margins, and salmon-red discs that originate from a single base. It is known only from a few sites in Kenya's tropical lower-mountain forests, where it grows on thalli of the lichen Crocodia.
Sagiolechiaceae is a small family of lichen-forming fungi in the order Ostropales. It contains two genera, Rhexophiale, and Sagiolechia, the type genus.
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.
Clandestinotrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has 18 species. They typically inhabit montane and cloud forest at higher elevations in the tropics.
Gyalideopsis aptrootii is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Gomphillaceae. Found in southern Brazil, it was described as a new species in 2018. Defining features of this lichen include the unique crescent-shaped structure of its hyphophores, the single-spored asci, and the relatively small size of the ascospores.
Mangoldia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the subfamily Graphidoideae of the family Graphidaceae. It contains four species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) script lichens.
Microtheliopsis is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Microtheliopsidaceae. It comprises four species of foliicolous (leaf-dwelling) crustose lichens.
Adelphomyces is a genus of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises three species.
Aulaxinella is a genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises three species that primarily grow on living leaves (foliicolous), though rarely some species can be found on tree bark (corticolous).
Batistomyces is a small genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has two species of leaf-dwelling (foliicolous) lichens. These microlichens form very thin layers on the surface of leaves, appearing to the naked eye as small, fuzzy dark patches due to their numerous short black bristles.
Bezerroplaca is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has five species of tropical lichens that grow on living leaves.
Vezdamyces is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises two species of leaf-dwelling lichens that grow in tropical forests.
Verruciplaca is a small genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises two species of leaf-dwelling lichens.
Spinomyces is a genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has six species of leaf-dwelling lichens.
Sipmanidea is a small genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises two species of leaf-dwelling lichens.
Roselviria is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has two species of leaf-dwelling lichens.
Caleniella is a small genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises two species of leaf-dwelling lichens.