| Arthothelium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Arthothelium spectabile | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Arthoniomycetes |
| Order: | Arthoniales |
| Family: | Arthoniaceae |
| Genus: | Arthothelium A.Massal. (1852) |
| Type species | |
| Arthothelium tremellosum (Eschw.) A.Massal. (1852) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
Arthothelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Arthoniaceae. [2]
Arthothelium is a genus of crustose lichens, which can either be immersed (embedded within the substrate ) or superficial (growing on the surface). The thallus may spread freely or be confined to specific areas. The lichen's photobiont (the algae or cyanobacteria involved in its symbiosis) can vary, including types from the genus Trentpohlia , the family Chlorococcaceae, or may be absent altogether. [3]
The reproductive structures resemble apothecia, a common form of lichen fruiting body, and come in various shapes, from flat to convex, and may be elongated or star-like. These structures, known as the disc , range in colour from red-brown to black, and can sometimes have a frosted, powdery appearance ( pruinose ). A thalline margin , which in some lichens surrounds the fruiting body, is absent in Arthothelium. The exciple , a rim of tissue found in some lichen fruiting bodies, is also absent. [3]
The uppermost layer of the apothecium, the epithecium , can be colourless, red-brown, or dark brown. Below this, the hymenium, where the spores develop, often turns blue when tested with iodine (I+). The hypothecium , the supportive tissue beneath the hymenium, is variable in thickness and ranges from dark red-brown to dark brown in colour. The hymenium contains filaments called paraphysoids , which are sparsely to densely branched and often have swollen, red-brown tips. [3]
The asci (spore-producing cells) are usually clavate (club-shaped) or ellipsoidal, containing eight spores. They are semi- fissitunicate , meaning they have two wall layers that split during spore release, and feature a large apical dome with a distinct ocular chamber. The ascospores are obovoid to ellipsoidal, colourless, and muriform , meaning they are divided by multiple internal walls, creating a brick-like pattern. This is a key distinguishing feature from similar genera like Arthonia , where the spores are only divided by transverse walls. [3]
Conidiomata (structures producing asexual spores) resemble those found in Arthonia. The genus generally lacks lichen products (secondary metabolites), in species found in Britain and Ireland, but elsewhere, species may contain xanthones or anthraquinones. [3]
Arthothelium typically grows on smooth bark in humid, undisturbed habitats, although it is rarely found on rock. The genus includes around 50 species and has a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species occurring in tropical regions. It is considered polyphyletic, meaning the genus likely includes species that do not share a common evolutionary ancestor, and further study is needed on its type species, Arthothelium tremellosum . [3]
As of October 2024 [update] , Species Fungorum (in the Catalogue of Life) accept 26 species of Arthothelium: [4]
