| Astrothelium stromatofluorescens | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Dothideomycetes |
| Order: | Trypetheliales |
| Family: | Trypetheliaceae |
| Genus: | Astrothelium |
| Species: | A. stromatofluorescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Astrothelium stromatofluorescens Aptroot & M.Cáceres (2016) | |
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.
The lichen was formally described as a new species in 2016 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Marcela Cáceres. The type specimen was collected by the authors from the Parque Natural Municipal de Porto Velho (Porto Velho, Rondônia), where it was found growing on tree bark in a primary rainforest. The species epithet stromatofluorescens refers to the fluorescent properties of its pseudostromata. [1]
The lichen has a smooth, somewhat shiny, pale ochraceous-green thallus with a cortex surrounded by a thin (0.2 mm) black prothallus line. The ascomata are spherical, measuring 0.2–0.5 mm in diameter, and arranged in groups of 7 to 50 in pseudostromata (a stroma in which fungal cells and bits of host tissue are mixed). The ascospores, which number eight per ascus, are hyaline, spindle-shaped (fusiform) with rounded edges, and measure 20–23 by 7–9 μm. The spores have 3 transverse septa that form diamond-shaped cavities (lumina), and are ensheathed in a gelatinous layer up to 6 μm thick. [1]
The pseudostromata contain lichexanthone, a lichen product that causes these structures to fluoresce a yellow colour when lit with a long-wavelength UV light. A similar species, Astrothelium phlyctaena , is distinguished by having lichexanthone in both the pseudostromata and the thallus. [1]
Astrothelium stromatofluorescens is only known to occur in Brazil and Bolivia. In addition to the type locality in Rondônia, it has also been recorded in Amazonas. [2] In Bolivia, it was found in the Ríos Blanco y Negro Wildlife Reserve (Santa Cruz). [3]
Astrothelium is a genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichens in the family Trypetheliaceae.
Chiodecton lichexanthonicum is a species of crustose and corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Roccellaceae. Found in the Brazilian Amazon, it was formally described as a new species in 2017 by lichenologists Marcela Eugenia da Silva Cáceres and André Aptroot. The type was collected by the authors from the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve, along trails near a field station; here, in old-growth rainforest, it was found growing on tree bark. The specific epithet lichexanthonicum refers to its major cortical compound, lichexanthone. It is the first species in genus Chiodecton known to contain this compound. Chiodecton lichexanthonicum has narrow, club-shaped ascospores with seven septa that measure 30–34 by 2.5–3.5 μm.
Enterographa lichexanthonica is a species of crustose and corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Roccellaceae. Found in the Brazilian Amazon, it was formally introduced as a new species in 2017 by lichenologists Marcela Eugenia Cáceres and André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected by the authors from the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve, along trails near a field station; here, it was found growing on tree bark in a old-growth rainforest. The lichen has a thin, dull, pale greenish thallus surrounded by a thin black prothallus. Its ascospores are hyaline, have seven septa, and measure 21–27 by 5–6 μm; they have a 1 μm-thick gelatinous sheath surrounding them. The specific epithet lichexanthonica refers to lichexanthone, a secondary chemical that occurs in the cortex of the lichen. This compound causes the lichen to fluoresce yellow when a UV light is shone upon it. Enterographa lichexanthonica is morphologically similar to E. kalbii, but this latter species has lichexanthone only on the ascomata, not on the thallus.
Viridothelium ustulatum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2017 by Marcela Eugenia da Silva Cáceres and André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected by the authors along a trail near a field station in the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve (Manaus); here it was found growing on tree bark in old-growth rainforest. The thallus of the lichen is dull olive-green, and lacks a prothallus. The species epithet refers to the black pseudostromata. Ascospores number eight per ascus, have three septa, and measure 17–20 by 6.5–7.5 μm. Viridothelium ustulatum does not react to any of the standard chemical spot tests, and a chemical analysis with thin-layer chromatography did not find any secondary chemicals.
Astrothelium dimidioinspersum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2017 by Marcela Eugenia da Silva Cáceres and André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected by the authors along a trail near a field station in the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve (Manaus); here it was found growing on tree bark in old-growth rainforest. It has a dull, pale greenish thallus lacking a prothallus, and spherical to pear-shaped ascomata immersed in and on the thallus. Ascospores number two per ascus, are muriform, and measure 155–170 by 30–40 μm. The species epithet refers to the characteristic inspersion that occurs in the upper half of the hamathecium. The lichen lacks any secondary chemicals detectable with thin-layer chromatography.
Astrothelium megeustomurale is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2017 by Marcela Eugenia da Silva Cáceres and André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected by the authors along a trail near a field station in the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve (Manaus); here it was found growing on tree bark in old-growth rainforest. The lichen has a dull olive-greenish thallus lacking a prothallus, with spherical to pear-shaped ascomata that are either immersed in or on top of the thallus surface, typically arranged in groups of 5 to 15. The pseudostromata contain lichexanthone, a secondary chemical. The ascospores number four per ascus, are muriform, and measure 95–120 by 30–33 μm. The species epithet refers to the large ascospores (meg-), the resemblance to A. eustomum (-eusto-), and the muriform ascospores (-murale).
Astrothelium bullatothallinum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Venezuela, it was formallly described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Harrie Sipman. The type specimen was collected by Sipman along the Carapo River at an altitude of 800 m (2,600 ft). The lichen has a smooth, yellowish orange thallus that is more or less shiny and covers areas up to 15 cm (6 in) in diameter. It has roughly spherical ascomata, measuring 0.3–0.5 mm in diameter, which aggregate on the thallus surface in lines or in irregular groups. The ascospores are hyaline with three septa and measure 20–25 by 6–9 μm. The specific epithet bullatothallinum refers to the bullate thallus.
Astrothelium cayennense is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in French Guiana, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Harrie Sipman. The type specimen was collected by Aptroot along a forest track called "Risque tout", west of Cayenne, at an altitude of 50 m (160 ft); here, in a tropical rainforest, it was found growing on tree bark. The lichen has a smooth, shiny, ochraceous-green thallus that covers areas up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. It has pyriform ascomata, measuring 0.8–1.3 mm in diameter, which are immersed in pseudostromata. The ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid in shape, muriform and measure 295–330 by 35–40 μm. The specific epithet cayennense refers to the type locality.
Acanthothecis oryzoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2022 by André Aptroot, Robert Lücking, and Marcela Eugenia da Silva Cáceres. The type specimen was collected in the Parque Natural De Porto Velho (Rondônia) at an altitude of 100 m (330 ft); here, it was found growing on twig bark near a rainforest. The lichen has a dull, glaucous-white thallus, lacking a prothallus. The ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid, and measure 69–80 by 25–35 μm; they have from 9 to 13 transverse septa with light constrictions at the septa.
Acanthothecis submuriformis is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2022 by André Aptroot, Robert Lücking, and Marcela Eugenia da Silva M.Cáceres. The type specimen was collected from the Parque Natural Municipal ; here the lichen was found growing on tree bark in primary rainforest.
Astrothelium diaphanocorticatum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Papua New Guinea, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Harrie Sipman. The type specimen was collected by Sipman on Mount Wilhelm at an altitude of 2,900 m (9,500 ft). The lichen has an olive-green to yellowish-green thallus that is strongly convex and swollen (bullate) and partially comprises small, roughly spherical globules. The thallus has a thick, clear cortex in which the algal cells can be visualised as green dots. It has roughly spherical ascomata, measuring 0.7–1.3 mm in diameter, which appear singly on the thallus surface, or, in some instances, fused together laterally. The ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid in shape with three transverse septa, and measure 25–28 by 10–12 μm. The specific epithet diaphanocorticatum alludes to the transparent cortex.
Astrothelium macroeustomum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in French Guiana, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Harrie Sipman. The type specimen was collected by Sipman from the Piste Crique Limonade at an altitude of 300 m (980 ft). The lichen has a mostly smooth, pale ochraceous-brown thallus that is somewhat shiny and covers areas up to 9 cm (4 in) in diameter. It is surrounded by a dark brown prothallus. It has pear-shaped (pyriform) ascomata, measuring 0.6–1.0 mm in diameter, which mostly aggregate in groups of two to five, and are more or less immersed in the tissue of the bark, below the thallus surface. They have convex, black ostioles (pores) that are surrounded by a yellowish-white ring of pruina. The ascospores are hyaline, spindle-shaped (fusiform) with five septa and measure 50–55 by 12–17 μm. The lichen contains lichexanthone, a lichen product that causes the ostioles of the ascomata to fluoresce yellow when lit with a long-wavelength UV light. The specific epithet macroeustomum refers to both its large spores and its similarity to Astrothelium eustomum.
Astrothelium minicecidiogenum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Costa Rica, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Harrie Sipman. The type specimen was collected by Aptroot from Tenorio Volcano National Park (Alajuela) at an altitude of 700 m (2,300 ft). The lichen has a smooth and shiny, olive-green thallus with a cortex, but lacking a prothallus. It covers areas up to about 7 cm (3 in) in diameter. It has pear-shaped (pyriform) ascomata, measuring 0.7–1.3 mm in diameter, which occur singly, immersed in the bark and under the thallus cortex. They are surrounded by carbonized (blackened) walls up to 80 μm thick. The ascospores are hyaline to yellowish, and muriform, with dimensions of 70–90 by 20–25 μm. They number eight per ascus. The specific epithet minicecidiogenum refers to both its relatively small spores and its resemblance to Astrothelium cecidiogenum.
Astrothelium palaeoexostemmatis is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in northern Thailand, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Harrie Sipman. The type specimen was collected near the Bhubing Palace at an altitude of 1,550 m (5,090 ft); here, it was found in an oak/chestnut forest. The lichen has a smooth and shiny, ochraceous-brown thallus that covers areas up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. It has roughly spherical ascomata, measuring 0.4–0.6 mm in diameter; they are covered by the thallus with only a black ostiole (pore) visible. The ascospores are hyaline and muriform and measure 85–100 by 20–24 μm. The specific epithet palaeoexostemmatis refers to both its Palaeotropical distribution and its resemblance to Astrothelium exostemmatis, a neotropical species.
Astrothelium quasimamillanum 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 Cléverton de Oliveira Mendonça. The type specimen was collected by Mendonça from the Municipal nature park at an altitude of 100 m (330 ft). The lichen has a smooth and shiny, dark brown thallus that is surrounded by a dark brown prothallus and covers areas up to 7 cm (3 in) in diameter. It has pear-shaped (pyriform) ascomata, measuring 0.6–0.9 mm in diameter, which mostly occur either immersed in the bark, or as barely discernible black structures under the thallus cortex. The ascospores are hyaline, ellipsoid in shape, and muriform, with dimensions of 30–33 by 9.5–10.5 μm. The specific epithet quasimamillanum alludes to its slight similarities with members of the Pyrenula mamillana species group.
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 tanianum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Malaysia, it was formally described as a new species in 2019 by lichenologists André Aptroot and Harrie Sipman. The type specimen was collected from the Gunung Pulai Forest Reserve (Johor) at an altitude of 150 m (490 ft). The lichen has a shiny and olive-green, strongly convex and swollen (bullate) thallus with a cortex, which covers an area up to 3 cm (1 in) in diameter. It has roughly spherical ascomata, measuring 0.7–1.3 mm in diameter, which occur singly in tiny warts (verrucae) on the thallus surface. The ascospores are hyaline with typically about 11 septa and measure 75–100 by 20–22 μm. The specific epithet tanianum honours Philippine bryologist Benito Tan (1946–2016), one of the collectors of the type.
Astrothelium ultralucens is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Venezuela, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected by Harrie Sipman along the Carapo River at an elevation of 800 m (2,600 ft). The lichen has a smooth, somewhat shiny pale greenish grey thallus that covers an area of up to 7 cm (2.8 in). Its ascospores are hyaline, spindle-shaped (fusiform) with three septa and dimensions of 105–130 by 35–42 µm. Astrothelium ultralucens contains lichexanthone, a lichen product that causes the pseudostromata and the thallus to fluoresce yellow when lit with a long-wavelength UV light, although the thallus only weakly.
Astrothelium aeneoides is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Puerto Rico, where it grows on the smooth bark of rainforest trees.
Astrothelium elixii is a rare species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. It is found in the Beni Biological Station Biosphere Reserve in Bolivia.