| Architrypethelium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Architrypethelium murisporum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Dothideomycetes |
| Order: | Trypetheliales |
| Family: | Trypetheliaceae |
| Genus: | Architrypethelium Aptroot (1991) |
| Type species | |
| Architrypethelium seminudum (Mont.) Aptroot (1991) | |
Architrypethelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae. [1]
The genus was circumscribed in 1991 by the Dutch lichenologist André Aptroot, with A. seminudum assigned as the type species. It is a segregate of genus Trypethelium . [2]
Architrypethelium is marked by a thallus with a protective outer layer known as the cortex . This genus has ascomata (fruiting bodies responsible for spore production) that can be found either singularly or clustered together. The ostioles are positioned either at the apex (top) or eccentrically (off-centre). Their walls consist of intertwined hyphal threads, known as textura intricata , and have a carbonised (blackened) appearance. [3]
The hamathecium , a tissue layer inside the ascomata containing filamentous structures, is either transparent or inspersed with oil droplets. These filaments are slender and form an interwoven network known as anastomosing paraphysoids . Ascospores in Architrypethelium are typically distoseptate (having a two-part septum) and euseptate (only one wall layer is visible), predominantly brown in colour, large in size, and generally have three to five septa. These spores often have longitudinal folds in their walls and are occasionally colourless. Pycnidia , asexual reproductive structures, are not known to occur in this genus. In terms of chemical composition, the presence of lichexanthone, a xanthone compound, is rare in Architrypethelium. [3]
Architrypethelium bears a resemblance to species in the genus Astrothelium , as well as those previously classified under Laurera , Cryptothelium , and Trypethelium . However, it distinguishes itself anatomically with its particularly large, 3-septate ascospores, which mature from hyaline (clear) to dark brown, lacking the diamond-shaped lumina typical of mature Astrothelium species. Phylogenetically, Architrypethelium is closely related to Astrothelium. [3]
The genus Pyrenula , which includes species with large, 3-septate ascospores, may sometimes be confused with Architrypethelium. They can be differentiated by their hamathecium structure and the shape of their ascospores. For example, Pyrenula subpraelucida has ascospores with small terminal lumina against the endospore , whereas P. laii and P. montocensis have ascospores with angular lumina, thick septa, and lateral walls. Notably, 3-septate ascospores in Pyrenula are typically shorter than 90 μm, whereas in Architrypethelium, they usually exceed 90 μm in length, reaching up to 160 μm. [3]
The Trypetheliaceae are a family of mainly lichen-forming fungi in the order Trypetheliales. The family consists almost exclusively of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens with an almost strictly tropical distribution.
Astrothelium is a large genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichens in the family Trypetheliaceae. The genus is characterized by a corticate thallus and diverse ascomata structures, which can be simple, aggregated, or forming pseudostromata. Astrothelium is also notable for the carbonized walls of its ascomata, the so-called textura intricata arrangement of cells in these walls, and various forms of distoseptate, transparent spores.
Polymeridium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae. Species in the genus are corticolous (bark-dwelling) and typically occur in tropical areas.
Trypethelium is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae. The widespread genus contains about 50 species that are predominantly found in tropical areas. Trypethelium was circumscribed by German botanist Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel in 1804.
Bathelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae.
Astrothelium stromatofluorescens is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is only known to occur in a few locations in Brazil and Bolivia.
Architrypethelium hyalinum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Costa Rica and Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2008 by lichenologist André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected by Harrie Sipman from the Las Cruces Biological Station in Puntarenas. The lichen has a smooth to uneven, olive-green thallus. Its ascomata occur solitarily, have an apical ostiole, and measure 0.7–1.5 mm in diameter. Ascospores number 4 to 8 per ascus, have an oblong to ellipsoid shape with 3 septa, and measure 100–150 by 30–50 μm. These spores are among the largest of the 3-septate lichens in the Trypetheliaceae. Both the thallus and ascomata contain lichexanthone, a lichen product that causes these structures to glow yellow when lit with a long-wavelength UV light; A. hyalinum is the only species in genus Architrypethelium that contains lichexanthone.
Nigrovothelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae. It has three species. The genus was circumscribed in 2016 by lichenologists Robert Lücking, Matthew Nelsen, and André Aptroot, to contain species formerly in the Trypethelium tropicum species group. The type species, Nigrovothelium tropicum, was originally described by Erik Acharius in 1810, as a species of Verrucaria.
Astrothelium aurantiacocinereum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It occurs in New Caledonia.
Astrothelium carassense is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Robert Lücking, Matthew Nelsen, and Marcelo Marcelli. The type specimen was collected by the first author from the Santuário do Caraça, at an altitude between 1,300 and 1,400 m. The lichen has an uneven to bumpy, pale olive-yellow thallus that covers areas of up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter. The pseudostromata are covered with an orange anthraquinone compound. The species epithet carassense refers to the type locality. The characteristics of the lichen that distinguish it from others in genus Astrothelium are its pseudostromatic ascomata, which are erumpent, with an orange cover; and the dimensions and form of its ascospores, which are muriform and measure 100–170 by 30–40 μm. Astrothelium purpurascens is somewhat similar in appearance to A. carassense, but it lacks pseudostromatic pigment and has slightly smaller ascospores.
Astrothelium cryptolucens is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Panama, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Robert Lücking, Matthew Nelsen, and Noris Salazar Allen. The type specimen was collected by the first author from the Altos de Campana National Park at an altitude of 500–600 m (1,600–2,000 ft); there, in a submontane rainforest, it was found growing on the bark of roadside trees. The lichen has an uneven to coarsely bumpy, olive-yellow thallus that covers areas of up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter. The species epithet cryptolucens makes reference both to the habit of the immersed perithecia and the presence of lichexanthone. The characteristics of the lichen that distinguish it from others in genus Astrothelium are the finely and densely cracked pseudostromata that dominate the thallus, with dispersed thallus bumps; and the hardly visible ascomata that are completely immersed in pseudostromata. A. cryptolucens is somewhat similar to Astrothelium carrascoense, but that species does not have an inspersed hamathecium.
Astrothelium fijiense is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Fiji, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Robert Lücking, Khwanruan Naksuwankul, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch. The type specimen was collected from Nakoba Levu at an altitude of 750 m (2,460 ft); there, it was found growing on bark on a steep slope in a secondary forest. The lichen has a smooth to uneven, light olive-yellow thallus that covers areas of up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. Both the thallus and the pseudostromata contain lichexanthone, a lichen product that causes these structures to fluoresce a yellow colour when lit with a long-wavelength UV light. The species epithet fijiense refers to the type locality. The characteristics of the lichen that distinguish it from others in genus Astrothelium are the distinctly pseudostromatic ascomata, and the presence of lichexanthone on the pseudostromata. Astrothelium cinereorosellum is somewhat similar, but that species has slightly longer ascospores and does not have lichexanthone on the pseudostromata.
Astrothelium macrostomoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Robert Lücking, Matthew Nelsen, Michel Navarro Benatti. The type specimen was collected by the first author from the Santuário do Caraça at an altitude between 1,300 to 1,400 m ; there, in the Atlantic Forest biome, it was found growing on bark in a gallery forest along a river. The lichen has an uneven to coarsely bullate, olive-green thallus that covers areas of up to 7 cm (2.8 in). Ascomata are in the form of perithecia, which are arranged in aggregated groups of 5–10 in pseudostromata. The pseudostromata contain lichexanthone, which is a lichen product that causes these structures to fluoresce yellow when lit with a long-wavelength UV light. The species epithet macrostomoides alludes to the similarity of the lichen with Astrothelium macrostomum, from which it differs by having larger ascospores. The characteristics of the lichen that distinguish it from others in genus Astrothelium are the diffusely pseudostromatic ascomata with erumpent pseudostromata, covered by thallus, each with a single group of fused ascomata; and the dimensions and form of the ascospores, which measure 80–110 by 17–25 μm, and have from five to seven septa.
Astrothelium pictum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Dutch lichenologist André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected by the author from the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Santuário Caraça at an altitude of 1,300 m (4,300 ft); there, in an Atlantic Forest habitat, it was found growing on smooth tree bark.
Dictyomeridium is a genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens in the family Trypetheliaceae. It has eight species.
Astrothelium nigrum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is characterized by its conical black pseudostromata, which contrast sharply with the thallus. This lichen species has been found only in Brazil and is unique in its appearance, superficially resembling a Pyrenula species.
Astrothelium novemseptatum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It was first identified in Brazil, and has since been found in Guyana and Colombia. The lichen is characterized by its corticate, smooth, and somewhat shiny thallus, as well as its pyriform ascomata.
Astrothelium simplex is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae, first described in 2016. It is found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.
Astrothelium macrostomum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela.
Astrothelium globosum is a species of lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. This species is characterised by its immersed ascomata and a thallus consisting of nearly spherical warts, along with distinctive 3-septate ascospores.