| Chaenotheca | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Chaenotheca chlorella | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Coniocybomycetes |
| Order: | Coniocybales |
| Family: | Coniocybaceae |
| Genus: | Chaenotheca (Th.Fr.) Th.Fr. (1860) |
| Type species | |
| Chaenotheca chrysocephala | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Chaenotheca is a genus of lichenized fungi within the family Coniocybaceae. [1] The sexual reproduction structures are a mass of loose ascospores that are enclosed by a cup shaped exciple sitting on top of a tiny stalk, having the appearance of a dressmaker's pin (called a mazaedium), hence the common name pin lichen . [2] : 15 Genus members are also commonly called needle lichens. [3] Photobiont partners for Chaenotheca include members of the algae genera Symbiochloris , Trebouxia , Trentepohlia , and Tritostichococcus . [4]