The Parmeliaceae is a large and diverse family of Lecanoromycetes. With over 2700 species in 71 genera, it is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi. The most speciose genera in the family are the well-known groups: Xanthoparmelia, Usnea, Parmotrema, and Hypotrachyna.
Pseudevernia furfuracea, commonly known as tree moss, is a lichenized species of fungus that grows on the bark of firs and pines. The lichen is rather sensitive to air pollution, its presence usually indicating good air conditions in the growing place. The species has numerous human uses, including use in perfume, embalming and in medicine. Large amounts of tree moss is annually processed in France for the perfume industry.
Tremella mesenterica is a common jelly fungus in the family Tremellaceae of the Agaricomycotina. It is most frequently found on dead but attached and on recently fallen branches, especially of angiosperms, as a parasite of wood decay fungi in the genus Peniophora. The gelatinous, orange-yellow fruit body of the fungus, which can grow up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) diameter, has a convoluted or lobed surface that is greasy or slimy when damp. It grows in crevices in bark, appearing during rainy weather. Within a few days after rain it dries into a thin film or shriveled mass capable of reviving after subsequent rain. This fungus occurs widely in deciduous and mixed forests and is widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions that include Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. Although considered bland and flavorless, the fungus is edible. Tremella mesenterica produces carbohydrates that are attracting research interest because of their various biological activities.
Pseudevernia is a genus of foliose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. The type species of the genus, Pseudevernia furfuracea, has substantial commercial value in the perfume industry.
Tremella is a genus of fungi in the family Tremellaceae. All Tremella species are parasites of other fungi and most produce anamorphic yeast states. Basidiocarps, when produced, are gelatinous and are colloquially classed among the "jelly fungi". Over 100 species of Tremella are currently recognized worldwide. One species, Tremella fuciformis, is commercially cultivated for food.
Hypogymnia is a genus of foliose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. They are commonly known as tube lichens, bone lichens, or pillow lichens. Most species lack rhizines that are otherwise common in members of the Parmeliaceae, and have swollen lobes that are usually hollow. The lichens usually grow on the bark and wood of coniferous trees.
Punctelia is a genus of foliose lichens belonging to the large family Parmeliaceae. The genus, which contains about 50 species, was segregated from genus Parmelia in 1982. Characteristics that define Punctelia include the presence of hook-like to thread-like conidia, simple rhizines, and point-like pseudocyphellae. It is this last feature that is alluded to in the vernacular names speckled shield lichens or speckleback lichens.
Candelariella is a genus of bright yellow, ocher, or greenish yellow crustose or squamulose lichens in the family Candelariaceae. Members of the genus are commonly called eggyolk lichens, goldspeck lichens, or yolk lichens. The genus was circumscribed in 1894 by Swiss lichenologist Johannes Müller Argoviensis, with Candelariella vitellina assigned as the type species.
Hypogymnia pseudocyphellata is a rare species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Found only in the Chinese Himalayas, it was described as a new species by Bruce McCune and Erin Martin in 2003. The type specimen was collected from the Tian Chi alpine lake in Shangri-La City (Yunnan), at an elevation of 3,750 metres (12,300 ft). Here it was found growing on the bark and wood of fir. The lichen is characterized by the presence of whitish pseudocyphellae on the tips of the lobes ; rimmed holes; lobes that are narrow and separated; and a complex secondary chemistry with several unknown chemical compounds as well as barbatic acid, but without diffractaic acid.
Hypogymnia diffractaica is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Initially reported from Southwest China, it was described as a new species by Bruce McCune in 2003. The type specimen was collected in Jiulong County, at an elevation of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). Here it was found growing on the bark and wood of Rhododendron; it has also been recorded on birch. It is characterized by its slender lobes, the rimmed holes on the lower surface, and the presence of the chemical diffractaic acid as the main secondary metabolite in the medulla. It has a lower surface that is expanded and puffed out. Hypogymnia hengduanensis, the only other Hypogymnia species containing diffractaic acid as the main medullary substance, is quite similar in appearance, but can be distinguished from H. diffractaica by the presence of isidia. It also tends to grow at slightly lower elevations. In 2018, H. diffractaica was recorded from Bhutan.
Hypogymnia congesta is a rare species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae that is found in China. It was formally described as a new species by Bruce McCune and Chicita Culberson in 2003. The type specimen was collected near Wei Den village, behind Lou Ma Deng Mountain in Weixi County (Yunnan), at an elevation of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). There it grows on the bark and wood of conifers and bamboo. Hypogymnia congesta has a brown to brownish-grey foliose thallus measuring up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long or broad, with a cartilage-like texture. Its ascospores measure 7–8 by 5.0–5.5 μm. The lichen is chemically distinct, containing virensic acid and physodic acid, but lacking physodalic acid. Virensic acid is otherwise unknown from the genus Hypogymnia.
Hypogymnia bulbosa is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Found in Southern China, it was described as a new species by Bruce McCune and Li-Song Wang in 2003. The type specimen was collected from the Zi ben Mountain in Cao County (Yunnan). There it was found growing on a spruce stump. It has also been recorded growing on the bark and wood of fir, willow, and Rhododendron. It is known to grow at elevations ranging between 2,800–3,800 metres (9,200–12,500 ft), generally in conifer forests. The lichen is characterized by features such as the rimmed holes on the lower surface of the thallus, the presence of the chemical physodalic acid, and the adundant budding.
Lepraria incana is a species of dust lichen in the family Stereocaulaceae. First described scientifically by Johann Jacob Dillenius in 1741, and then formally by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, it is the type species of the genus Lepraria. The thallus of this species is green to greyish-green, and powdery – as if made of tiny granules. These granules are soredia, which are asexual reproductive structures. Like most members of genus Lepraria, the lichen has few distinguishing features, lacking both a medulla and sexual reproductive structures (apothecia). Chemically, the lichen is characterised by the presence of the secondary chemicals known as divaricatic acid and zeorin.
Hypogymnia krogiae, commonly known as the freckled tube lichen, is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Found in North America, it was described as a new species in 1973 by Karl Ohlsson. The type specimen was collected near Cheat Bridge, West Virginia by Mason Hale in 1956.
Hypogymnia flavida is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It is found in mountainous locations of east Asia, where it grows on the bark and wood of woody plants. It has a relatively large yellowish thallus.
Hypogymnia wilfiana is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It is found in western North America, where it grows on conifer trees.
Hypogymnia australica is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Found in Australia, it was formally described as a new species by lichenologist John Elix in 1989. The type specimen was collected from the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales at an altitude of 850 m (2,790 ft). Here it was found growing on a species of Leptospermum.
Hypogymnia papilliformis is a rare species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Found in China and the Russian Far East, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Bruce McCune, Svetlana Tchabanenko, and Xin Li Wei. The type specimen was collected by the second author in the Lazovsky Nature Reserve at an altitude of 600 m (2,000 ft); here, in a mixed conifer–broadleaved forest, it was found growing on Korean pine. The lichen has also been recorded from a mixed forest in the mountains of Shaanxi Province in China, at an altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft). The specific epithet papilliformis alludes to the papillose texture of the upper thallus surface. Secondary compounds that occur in Hypogymnia papilliformis include atranorin, and physodic acid as major metabolites, and minor amounts of 2'-O-methylphysodic acid and vittatolic acid.
Candelariella aggregata is a species of lichen in the family Candelariaceae. It is found in western North America, Mongolia, and Switzerland where it grows on mosses and plant debris.
Solorina crocea, commonly known as the orange chocolate chip lichen, is a species of terricolous (ground-dwelling) and foliose (leafy) lichen in the family Peltigeraceae. The lichen, which was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, has an arctic–alpine and circumpolar distribution and occurs in Asia, Europe, North America, and New Zealand. It generally grows on the bare ground in sandy soils, often in moist soil near snow patches or seepage areas. Although several forms and varieties of the lichen have been proposed in its history, these are not considered to have any independent taxonomic significance.
