| Astrothelium rubrocrystallinum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Dothideomycetes |
| Order: | Trypetheliales |
| Family: | Trypetheliaceae |
| Genus: | Astrothelium |
| Species: | A. rubrocrystallinum |
| Binomial name | |
| Astrothelium rubrocrystallinum Aptroot & M.Cáceres (2016) | |
Astrothelium rubrocrystallinum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae, [1] first described in 2016. It is found in Brazil.
The species Astrothelium rubrocrystallinum was formally described by the lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Eugenia da Silva Cáceres in 2016. The type specimen was collected in Mata do Junco, Santa Luzia do Itanhy, Sergipe, Brazil, at an elevation of approximately 150 m (490 ft), on 15 April 2011, by the second author. [2]
The thallus of Astrothelium rubrocrystallinum is bullate , smooth, somewhat shiny, and continuous, covering areas up to 5 cm in diameter and about 0.2 mm thick. It is olive-brown in colour, surrounded by a black prothallus line approximately 0.2 mm wide, and does not induce gall formation on the host bark. The ascomata are roughly spherical, measuring 0.30–0.45 mm in diameter, mostly found in groups or lines of 2–5 in poorly distinguished pseudostromata . These pseudostromata are mostly distinctly raised above the thallus and are of thallus colour. Inside, there is a dense layer of red crystals about 0.2 mm wide around the ascoma wall, visible as dark granules through the hyaline cortex around the ostiole. The wall is black all around, up to 50 μm thick. Ostioles are apical, not fused, flat, black, and surrounded by an ochraceous ring of about 0.2 mm, which sometimes has a grey margin. The hamathecium is inspersed with hyaline oil globules. Asci contain 8 ascospores each. Ascospores are hyaline, contains three septa, and have a fusiform shape. They measure 22–27 by 7–9 μm and have rounded ends and diamond-shaped lumina . They are not surrounded by a gelatinous layer. Pycnidia were not observed to occur in this species. [2]
Astrothelium rubrocrystallinum belongs to the Astrothelium annulare group and is characterised by the copious red crystals in a thick layer around the ascomata. It is most closely related to Astrothelium buckii , but differs in having shorter ascospores with typical dimensions of 37–47 by 14–16 μm. [2]
The thallus surface of Astrothelium rubrocrystallinum is UV negative. The crystals in the pseudostroma medulla react K+ (purple). Thin-layer chromatography analysis reveals the presence of an unidentified anthraquinone substance. [2]
This species is found on the smooth bark of trees in the Atlantic Forest and at the time of its publication was known only from Brazil. [2]
Astrothelium studerae is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Eugenia da Silva Cáceres. The type specimen was collected by the authors from the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve at an altitude between 500 and 700 m. The specific epithet studerae honours Anita Studer, "the protector of the isolated patch of Atlantic rainforest in Alagoas where the new species was collected".
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.
Astrothelium duplicatum 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 lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres. The type specimen was collected by the authors in the Parque Natural Municipal de Porto Velho, where it was found growing on the smooth bark of a tree in a park near a rainforest, and on tree twigs in the forest. The lichen has a smooth and somewhat shiny, olive-green thallus surrounded by a black prothallus and covers areas of up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. The presence of the lichen does not induce the formation of galls in its host. The ascomata are roughly spherical and typically aggregate in groups of about five to fifty, usually immersed in the bark tissue as pseudostromata. Its ascospores are hyaline, spindle-shaped and measure 45–55 by 11–15 μm. The use of thin-layer chromatography on collected lichen samples revealed the presence of an anthraquinone compound, possibly parietin. The characteristics that distinguish Astrothelium duplicatum from other members of Astrothelium include the internal, yellow pigment of its ascomata; and the dimensions of its ascospores, which are about 3–4 times as long as they are broad. Astrothelium mesoduplex is similar in appearance, but that species lacks yellow to orange pseudostromata and has shorter ascospores.
Astrothelium mesoduplex is a species of lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is similar to A. flavoduplex but has larger ascospores and lacks lichexanthone. This lichen species has been found only in Brazil, particularly in primary forests.
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 ochroleucoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in Brazil and Guyana.
Astrothelium solitarium is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres. The species is closely related to Astrothelium ceratinum but differs in its ascospore size.
Astrothelium supraclandestinum is a species of lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. This lichen species is closely related to Astrothelium subclandestinum, but differs in its hamathecium, which is not inspersed. The species is widespread and has been observed in several countries across different continents.
Astrothelium testudineum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in Brazil.
Astrothelium xanthosuperbum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in Rondônia, Brazil. The species is characterized by its large muriform ascospores and is similar in appearance to Astrothelium disjunctum.
Viridothelium leptoseptatum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae, first described in 2016. Found in Brazil, it resembles Astrothelium aeneum but differs in several key aspects, including the absence of pigment on the thallus and specific features of its ascospores.
Trypethelium luteolucidum is a species of lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae, first formally described in 2016. Found in Brazil and Mexico, it is similar to Trypethelium regnellii, but differs by the presence of anthraquinone crystals in the pseudostromata.
Astrothelium tetrasporum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae, first described in 2016. It is found in Brazil.
Astrothelium megeustomum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae, first scientifically described in 2016. It is found in 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 longisporum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It occurs in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.
Astrothelium graphicum is a species of lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. This lichen features an extended, reticulate pseudostroma that is lower than its slightly bullate thallus.
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.
Astrothelium curvatum is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was described as a new species in 2016. It is characterised by its immersed pyriform ascomata with lateral ostioles and bent, muriform ascospores.