Dictyocatenulata | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
Subclass: | Ostropomycetidae |
Genus: | Dictyocatenulata Finley & E.F.Morris (1967) |
Species: | D. alba |
Binomial name | |
Dictyocatenulata alba Finley & E.F.Morris (1967) | |
Dictyocatenulata is a fungal genus of uncertain classification in the subclass Ostropomycetidae. [1] [2] It contains the single species Dictyocatenulata alba. Originally described in 1967 as a bark-dwelling fungus, it was later recognised as a lichen in 2004. The genus is characterised by its unique reproductive structures called synnemata, which are upright, stem-like formations that produce spores. D. alba has a widespread distribution, found in North and Central America, Asia, and Europe, typically growing on tree bark in humid forests. Recent molecular studies suggest that Dictyocatenulata may be closely related to the genus Thelenella , potentially representing an asexual stage of unknown Thelenella species. This lichen is distinguished by its thin, greenish thallus (body) and its spores, which are divided into many cells and arranged in chains, features that give the genus its name.
The genus Dictyocatenulata was circumscribed by David Finley and Everett Morris in 1967, with D. alba as the type and only species. The genus name is derived from the Greek words dictyo- (net-like) and catenulata (chained), referring to the muriform conidia arranged in chains. Initially, the genus was classified within the group Dictyosporae, section Hyalostilbelleae, family Stilbellaceae, order Moniliales of the fungi imperfecti. [3]
The type specimen of D. alba was collected on the bark of Fagus grandifolia (American beech) in Chocorua, New Hampshire, by William G. Farlow in September 1904. Specimens of this fungus had previously been identified as Stilbum glomerulisporum, a name that was later considered a nomen nudum (invalidly published) by Stanley Hughes in 1953. [3]
Initially, D. alba was described as a fungus that grows on tree bark and produces specialised spore-bearing structures called synnemata (singular: synnema), which are upright, stem-like formations composed of fungal threads (hyphae) that bear spores at their tips. In 2004, Lendemer and Harris discovered that this species actually forms a symbiotic relationship with algae, making it a lichen. [4]
In 2003, André Aptroot and Ulf Schiefelbein described what they believed was a new species, Cheiromycina ananas, [5] based on its different spore-producing structures—called sporodochia (cushion-like masses of fungal tissue that produce spores)—and larger conidia (asexual spores). However, further research published by Paul Diederich, Zdeněk Palice, and Damien Ertz in 2008 revealed that C. ananas is actually the same species as D. alba. They found that the type specimen of C. ananas was an unusual form of D. alba with shorter spore-bearing structures and larger-than-typical conidia. [4]
Dictyocatenulata alba differs from species in the related genus Cheiromycina in several key aspects: [4]
Recent molecular studies have shed new light on the phylogenetic position of Dictyocatenulata. While An and colleagues initially placed D. alba within Ostropomycetidae based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences in 2012, [6] more recent research using both ITS and mitochondrial SSU (mtSSU) sequences suggests a close relationship with the genus Thelenella in the family Thelenellaceae. MtSSU sequences from D. alba specimens revealed two distinct genotypes, one showing 95% identity with Thelenella muscorum subsp. muscorum, and another showing 98% identity with T. vezdae . These findings have led to the hypothesis that Dictyocatenulata may represent anamorphic stages of currently unknown or unsequenced Thelenella species. This new understanding places Dictyocatenulata within a more specific taxonomic context within the Ostropomycetidae. [7]
The thallus of Dictyocatenulata alba is spread out in a thin, smooth layer that is greyish-green when dry and dark green when wet. It forms a continuous, matt surface and lacks a distinct outer skin ( cortex ), making it very thin and irregular in development. The photosynthetic partner ( photobiont ) within the lichen is from the Trentepohlia genus of green algae. These algal cells are small, measuring 7–12 μm, and are often embedded within the substrate the lichen is growing on. [4]
The reproductive structures of Dictyocatenulata are specialised formations called synnemata, which are tall, upright spore-producing structures. These structures often emerge either from a smooth white disc of superficial mycelium or directly from the bark, depending on environmental conditions. [8] These can range in height from almost invisible (0 μm) to as tall as 1.5 mm (1500 μm). [4] In the original description, the synnemata were characterised as white, reaching up to 1,200 μm in height, with a width of up to 150 μm at the base, narrowing to about 50 μm just below the heads. [3] The synnemata are typically unbranched, but occasionally they may branch in the middle, dividing into two to five parts. [8] The stalk (stipe) of the synnemata is smooth and cream-coloured, with a diameter of 25 to 175 μm. At the top of the stalk is the fertile zone, which produces conidia (asexual spores). This fertile area is convex, white, and typically the same width as the stalk, although in some cases it can be up to 300 μm wide. When the fertile zone begins to erode, it becomes concave and takes on the same cream colour as the stalk. [4]
The stalk is made up of tightly packed, parallel hyphae (fungal threads), which are translucent (hyaline) and very narrow, with individual cells measuring 5–17 μm long and 1–2 μm wide. Conidia are produced by specialised cells called conidiogenous cells, which either grow directly from the synnemata or from existing conidia, forming chains of spores. The conidia are small, almost spherical to ellipsoid, and muriform—divided into many cells (mostly 10–25, but up to 40). They are colourless (hyaline), smooth, and measure 7–14 μm in length (sometimes up to 18 μm) and 7–11 μm in width. Individual cells within the spores are nearly spherical to slightly oval-shaped, mostly 2.5–3.5 μm in diameter. [4] The original description noted the conidia as being slightly smaller, measuring 5–10 by 5–12 μm. [3] Individual cells within the spores are nearly spherical to shortly oval-shaped, smooth, and mostly 2.5–3.5 μm in diameter. [4]
The conidial mass is described as white and dry, tightly packed when young, but becoming powdery ( pulverulent ) as it matures. The conidia are held tightly together in long chains and mature from the tip to the base (basipetally). [3]
When cultured on 2% malt agar, D. alba forms restricted, slow-growing, compact, velvety to cottony colonies that are sterile and orange-grey in colour with a brown reverse. On oatmeal agar, the colonies show concentric zones of shades of brown, lightest near the inoculum and darkest at the margin. [8]
Dictyocatenulata alba has a widespread distribution across several continents. It has been reported from North America (Canada and the United States), Central America (Cuba and Panama), Asia (India and Japan), and Europe. The species was first reported in Europe in 2008, where it appears to be widespread and locally common in Central and Eastern Europe, but seemingly rare or possibly absent in Western Europe. [4]
In Europe, D. alba is typically found in humid broad-leaved and mixed forests, often in valleys near streams. It grows primarily on the smooth bark of various trees, with a preference for certain species: Acer pseudoplatanus (Sycamore maple), Betula (birch species), Fagus sylvatica (European beech), and Quercus (oak species). The lichen is frequently observed at the shaded base of tree stems, suggesting a preference for more humid and sheltered microhabitats. While primarily bark-dwelling (corticolous), D. alba has also been collected twice on rocks, indicating some flexibility in its substrate preferences. [4]
Dictyocatenulata alba often forms extensive patches and is not typically intermingled with other lichen species. However, it has been noted to occur in close proximity to Coenogonium pineti , another crustose lichen species. [4]
The species has been found at various elevations, with collections ranging from around 700 metres to over 1000 metres above sea level in mountainous regions of Central and Eastern Europe. In North America, the species has been reported from diverse locations, including the Catskill Mountains in New York State. In Asia, it has been found in the Primorsky Krai region of Russia, growing at the base of oak trees in a forest with an open understory. [4]
Sarcoscypha is a genus of ascomycete fungus and a type genus of the family Sarcoscyphaceae. Species of Sarcoscypha are present in Europe, North America and tropical Asia. They are characterised by a cup-shaped apothecium which is often brightly coloured. They have had a range of popular uses, one of which was as a table decoration. Some members of the family such as S. coccinea and the - according to new knowledge - more common S. austriaca in western Europe and United States have bright scarlet apothecia which have given them familiar names such as the scarlet cup fungus and scarlet elf cap.
The Pertusariales are an order of fungi in the class Lecanoromycetes, comprising 8 families, 31 genera, and over 600 species, many of which form lichens. This diverse group is characterized by complex taxonomic history and ongoing phylogenetic revisions. Originally proposed by Maurice Choisy in 1949 and later formally published by the lichenologists David L. Hawksworth and Ove Eriksson in 1986, Pertusariales has undergone significant reclassification due to molecular phylogenetics studies. The order includes well-known genera such as Pertusaria and Ochrolechia, as well as families like Megasporaceae and Icmadophilaceae.
The Gomphillaceae are a family of lichen-forming fungi in the order Graphidales. Species in this family are found mostly in tropical regions.
Helminthocarpon is a fungal genus of uncertain familial placement in the order Arthoniales. It comprises the single species Helminthocarpon leprevostii, a crustose lichen. This species, which is widespread in tropical regions of the world, is typically found growing on tree bark, and occasionally on wood.
Thelenellaceae is a family of lichen-forming fungi. It is the sole family in the monotypic order Thelenellales, and contains three genera and about 50 species.
The Pyrenotrichaceae are a small family of fungi in the order Chaetothyriales. It contains two genera, and a total of six species. The genus Pyrenothrix has two species of bark- or leaf-dwelling lichens, while Neophaeococcomyces has four species of saprobic fungi.
Amerosporiopsis phaeographidis is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the subphylum Pezizomycotina. It grows as black spots on the lichen Phaeographis brasiliensis, from which it gets its name. It has only been found in one place in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in Florida in the United States. Molecular phylogenetics testing might reveal that this is actually a new genus, but it is morphologically similar to the one other species in Amerosporiopsis, except that it has wider conidia, has no conidiophores, and lives in a different habitat.
Quadracaea is a fungal genus in the division Ascomycota. The relationship of this taxon to other taxa within the division is unknown, and it has not yet been placed with certainty into any class, order, or family. The genus contains three species of hyphomycetes. Quadracea is characterised by its distinctive spore-producing structures and the unique appearance and morphology of its spores.
Quadracaea roureae is a species of fungus in the division Ascomycota. The fungus has specialised cells that produce multiple spores, flask-shaped cells that release spores by breaking open, and a unique way of shedding its spores. The type specimen of this hyphomycetes fungus was found growing on dead branches of Rourea minor in Hainan Bawangling National Nature Reserve. At the time of its original publication, it was only known to occur at the type locality in China.
Quadracaea stauroconidia is a species of fungus in the division Ascomycota. This hyphomycetes fungus was formally described as a new species in 2013. The type specimen was collected by the authors from Serra da Jibóiapt,, where it was found growing on submerged leaves. The species epithet, stauroconidia, makes reference to the star-shaped conidia.
Sclerococcum toensbergii is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Sclerococcaceae. It is known from only a couple of collections made in the northwestern United States, and a collection in France. In the United States, it has been recorded on the bark-dwelling lichens Megalaria pulverea and Pertusaria carneopallida, while in France, it was found growing on Caloplaca cerina.
Puttea is a genus of lichen-forming fungi with uncertain familial placement in the order Lecanorales. The genus comprises four species. Finnish lichenologists Soili Stenroos and Seppo Huhtinen established the genus Puttea in 2009 for the lichen species formerly known as Lecidea margaritella, which has undergone various reclassifications. Molecular phylogenetics analyses have shown that Puttea margaritella does not align closely with genera like Fellhanera or Micarea, but its precise familial placement remains uncertain. Puttea is characterized by an indistinct, lichenized thallus composed of delicate fungal filaments and small algal cells. Its minute, round, whitish apothecia lack a distinct margin, and the asci, or spore-producing cells, are thick-walled, club-shaped, and contain eight spores, showing specific reactions with iodine-based stains. The type species of the genus, Puttea margaritella, typically inhabits boreal forests, growing on the liverwort species Ptilidium pulcherrimum and sometimes on decaying wood or bark. Initially thought to be confined to Europe, it has since been found in North America, particularly in Alaska and Québec, extending its known range. The species is parasitic, damaging its host, and is considered rare within its distribution.
Thelenella lateralis is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Thelenellaceae. This species is notable for its eccentric ostiole and irregularly muriform ascospores, which are 7–9 by 0–2-septate and measure 27–32 μm by 9–10.5 μm.
Ramboldia gowardiana is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Ramboldiaceae. First discovered in 2003 in Montana, United States, it typically appears as a grayish or greenish crust on tree bark, particularly on conifers like pines and firs. The lichen is characterised by its small, bright red to orange-red reproductive structures (apothecia) visible on its surface. R. gowardiana is found in dry, temperate forests from Alaska to California, often at elevations between 300 and 1,400 meters. Initially classified in a different genus, it was reclassified as Ramboldia in 2008 based on genetic studies. This lichen is part of the biodiversity of the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
Psammina is a fungal genus in the division Ascomycota. The relationship of this taxon to other taxa within the division is unknown, and it has not yet been placed with certainty into any class, order, or family. The genus comprises fungi that inhabit various environments, growing on plants, algae, and lichens. These fungi are notable for their unique reproductive structures, which resemble tiny hands or palms when viewed under a microscope. Psammina species play diverse ecological roles: some form partnerships with algae to create lichens, others grow on existing lichens, and some can cause damage to their host organisms. The genus was first proposed in 1890 and currently includes ten recognised species. While Psammina fungi have been found mainly in Europe, with sightings in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and France, at least one species has been reported in Brazil, suggesting a potentially wider distribution.
Megaloblastenia is a genus of crustose lichen-forming fungi in the family Megalosporaceae, comprising three species. Proposed by Dutch lichenologist Harrie Sipman in 1983, the genus is characterised by its thick, ecorticate thallus ranging from pale whitish-grey to yellowish, and its disc-like fruiting bodies (apothecia) that can be biatorine or lecideine. Megaloblastenia lichens form a symbiotic relationship with Dictyochloropsis algae, produce hyaline, bicellular ascospores with polaribilocular structure, and contain chemical compounds such as zeorin, pannarin, or usnic acid. Found in Australasia and South America, these lichens typically grow as epiphytes on trees in moist forests within temperate to tropical oceanic climates.
Pyrenothrix is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Pyrenotrichaceae. It comprises two species of filamentous lichens, which are organisms formed by a symbiotic relationship between fungi and photosynthetic partners. The genus is characterized by its unique structure, featuring densely arranged filaments composed of cyanobacteria wrapped in fungal threads. Pyrenothrix species form dark greyish-brown growths on various surfaces, with one species found on tree bark and the other on leaves in tropical forests. The genus was circumscribed in 1917 by American scientist Lincoln Ware Riddle, based on specimens collected in Florida. Pyrenothrix is distinguished from other lichens by its intricate cellular structure and reproductive features, including specialized spore-producing structures.
Paracollema is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Collemataceae. It comprises two species of jelly lichens, characterised by their small size, gelatinous nature when wet, and distinctive reproductive structures. The genus was proposed in 2013 and later validated in 2017. Paracollema lichens form small, leafy thalli up to 1 cm in diameter, with dark olive green to brownish colouration. They are distinguished from related genera by their very small asci and spores. Both known species are primarily epiphytic and have a limited distribution in southern Europe and northern Africa, typically found in Mediterranean or semi-arid climates.
Arthonia radiata, the asterisk lichen, is a common and widepspread species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Arthoniaceae.
Usnocetraria oakesiana, commonly known as the yellow ribbon lichen, or the yellow-green ribbon lichen, is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It occurs in Asia, Europe, the north-eastern United States, and eastern Canada.