| Bathelium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bathelium carolinianum in North Carolina, USA | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Dothideomycetes |
| Order: | Trypetheliales |
| Family: | Trypetheliaceae |
| Genus: | Bathelium Ach. (1803) |
| Type species | |
| Bathelium mastoideum Afzel. ex Ach. (1803) | |
Bathelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae. [1]
The genus was circumscribed in 1803 by Swedish lichenologist Erik Acharius, with Bathelium mastoideum assigned as the type species. [2]
Genus Bathelium features a corticate thallus (a protective outer layer) usually with olive-green to brownish or greyish hues. This genus is distinguished by the form of its ascomata, the spore-producing structures, which possess apical ostioles (openings at the top). These ascomata can be found either singly or in groups, and often form pseudostromata , a stroma made of both thallus tissue and bits of host tissue. They are noticeable, ranging from prominent to sessile , and show a brown-black colouration, though in rare instances, they may have a whitish pruinose (powdery) appearance. This is complemented by a peripheral layer made up of tightly packed cells. [3]
Within the ascomata, the hamathecium , a tissue layer containing filamentous structures, is clear and hyaline (translucent). It comprises thin, interconnecting filaments known as paraphysoids . The ascospores number from one to eight per ascus. They are transversely septate to muriform (divided into compartments by cross walls), with thin septa and more or less angular lumina . These spores are fusiform , meaning they have a spindle-like shape, with either acute (pointed) or rounded ends, and are not constricted at the median septum. They appear hyaline, do not react to iodine (IKI−), and are encased in a gelatinous sheath. [3]
No conidiomata (structures responsible for asexual reproduction) have been identified in this genus. In terms of chemical properties, Bathelium frequently contains anthraquinones, compounds often present internally in pseudostromata. Lichexanthone, a fluorescent xanthone compound, is occasionally found within the genus. [3]
Graphis is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae.
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.
Porina is a genus of lichens in the family Trichotheliaceae. A 2020 estimate places about 145 species in the widespread genus.
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.
Architrypethelium is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae.
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.
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.
Arthopyrenia is a genus of fungi in the family Trypetheliaceae. It was formerly classified in the eponymic family Arthopyreniaceae, but molecular phylogenetics studies showed that the type species, Arthopyrenia cerasi, was a member of the 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.
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.
Bathelium pruinosum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Bolivia, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by lichenologists Adam Flakus, Martin Kukwa, and André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected north of San Borja ) at an altitude of 190 m (620 ft); there, the lichen was found growing on bark in a lowland Amazon forest surrounded by Beni savanna. It contains lichexanthone, a lichen product that causes it to fluoresce yellow when lit with a long-wavelength UV light. The species epithet refers to the pruina on both the thallus and pseudostromata.
Bathelium boliviense is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Bolivia, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by lichenologists Adam Flakus and André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected from the Plan de Manejo AISU in the Ríos Blanco y Negro Wildlife Reserve, at an altitude of 242 m (794 ft); there, it was found growing on bark in a lowland Amazon rainforest. It is only known to occur in similar habitats near the type locality, and in islands of Amazon forest located within Beni savanna. The lichen is somewhat similar to Bathelium lineare, but unlike that species, B. boliviense contains isohypocrellin in its pseudostromata. This lichen product is quite rare in the family Trypetheliaceae, known to occur only in another two Bolivian Bathelium species.
Bathelium flavostiolatum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in Bolivia, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by lichenologists Adam Flakus and André Aptroot. The type specimen was collected from the Plan de Manejo AISU in the Ríos Blanco y Negro Wildlife Reserve (Guarayos Province, Santa Cruz Department at an altitude of 240 m ; there, it was found growing on bark in a lowland Amazon forest. It is only known to occur in similar habitats in Bolivia. The pseudostromata ostioles have nearby white spots that contain lichexanthone; this is a lichen product that causes these spots to fluoresce yellow when lit with a long-wavelength UV light. The species epithet flavostiolatum refers to this property.
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.
Dictyomeridium is a genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens in the family Trypetheliaceae. It has eight species.
Astrothelium chulumanense is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. Found in the Yungas montane forest of Bolivia, it was formally described as a new species in 2023. It is characterized by pseudostromata not differing in colour from the thallus, perithecia immersed for the most part in the thallus with the upper part elevated above and covered with orange pigment, apical and fused ostioles, the absence of lichexanthone, a clear hamathecium, eight-spored asci, and large, muriform ascospores with a thickened median septum.