Astrothelium | |
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Astrothelium aeneum found in Florida | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Dothideomycetes |
Order: | Trypetheliales |
Family: | Trypetheliaceae |
Genus: | Astrothelium Eschw. (1824) |
Type species | |
Astrothelium conicum Eschw. (1824) | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Astrothelium is a large genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichens in the family Trypetheliaceae. [2] 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 (i.e., tightly interwoven) arrangement of cells in these walls, and various forms of distoseptate , transparent spores.
The genus was circumscribed in 1824 by German botanist Franz Gerhard Eschweiler, with Astrothelium conicum assigned as the type species. [3]
The thallus, or the vegetative body of Astrothelium, is corticate , meaning it is covered by a protective cortex . The ascomata, which are the fruiting bodies containing the reproductive spores, can appear in various forms such as simple, aggregated, or forming pseudostromata . These structures often differ in their composition and colour, and can be used as characters to distinguish between species. The ascomata can range from being immersed within the thallus to prominently displayed on the surface. The ostioles, or small openings that allow the release of spores, can be located at the apex or eccentrically on the ascomata and may appear as either simple or fused structures. [4]
Astrothelium is also notable for its ascomatal wall, which is made up of hyphal cells and is typically carbonized. The wall features a textura intricata , a term used to describe a tightly interwoven arrangement of cells. [4]
Within the hamathecium , the tissue that houses the asci (spore-producing structures), the cells are either clear or filled with oil droplets. The ascospores , which are the sexual spores responsible for reproduction, are distoseptate and hyaline in appearance. They can also exhibit a variety of forms, including transversely septate or muriform , reflecting their segmented or multi-cellular nature. [4]
As of January 2024 [update] , Species Fungorum accepts 267 species in Astrothelium. [5]
Sarcographa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It is estimated to contain 37 species. The genus was circumscribed by French botanist Antoine Laurent Apollinaire Fée in 1825.
Graphis is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae.
Fissurina is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has about 160 species, most of which are found in tropical regions.
Diorygma is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. The genus was circumscribed by Franz Gerhard Eschweiler in 1824. Species of the genus are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
Carbacanthographis is a genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichens in the family Graphidaceae. The genus was circumscribed by German lichenologists Bettina Staiger and Klaus Kalb in 2002. An updated worldwide key to the genus was published in 2022 that added 17 new species.
Acanthothecis is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. The genus was circumscribed by Frederick Edward Clements in 1909.
Porina is a genus of lichens in the family Trichotheliaceae. A 2020 estimate places about 145 species in the widespread genus.
Myriotrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae.
Architrypethelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae.
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.
Pseudopyrenula is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae.
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.
Malmidea is a genus of crustose lichens and the type genus of the family Malmideaceae. It was established in 2011 to contain a phylogenetically distinct group of species formerly placed in the genus Malcolmiella. The crust-like thallus of Malmidea lichens has a surface that varies from smooth to rough, featuring textures such as verrucose (wart-like), granulose (grainy), or pustulate (pimpled). These textures are often formed by goniocysts, which are spherical clusters of green algal cells from the family Chlorococcaceae, encased in fungal hyphae. Malmidea comprises nearly 70 mostly tropical species that grow on bark, although a few grow on leaves.
Allographa is a genus of script lichens in the family Graphidaceae. It has nearly 200 species. Formally circumscribed in 1824 by François Fulgis Chevallier, Allographa was formerly included in Graphis, but was upgraded to generic status in 2018 by lichenologists Klaus Kalb and Robert Lücking.
Viridothelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae. It has 11 species. The genus was circumscribed by Robert Lücking Matthew Nelsen, and André Aptroot in 2016, with Viridothelium virens assigned as the type species. Lichens in this genus were previously assigned to genus Trypethelium, as part of the Trypethelium virens clade.
Bathelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae.
Henricus (Harrie) Johannes Maria Sipman is a Dutch lichenologist. He specialises in tropical and subtropical lichens, and has authored or co-authored more than 250 scientific publications. He was the curator of the lichen herbarium at the Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum from 1983 until his retirement in 2010.
Dictyomeridium is a genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens in the family Trypetheliaceae. It has eight species.