Outline of lichens

Last updated

Usnea filipendula - one of about 20,000 described species of lichen Usnea filipendula 170406a.jpg
Usnea filipendula – one of about 20,000 described species of lichen

The following outline provides an overview of and topical guide to lichens.

Contents

Lichens are composite organisms made up of multiple species. They comprise a fungal partner, one or more photosynthetic partners, which can be either green algae or cyanobacteria, and, in at least 52 genera of lichens, a yeast. [1] In American English, "lichen" is pronounced the same as the verb "liken" ( /ˈlkən/ ). In British English, both this pronunciation and one rhyming with "kitchen" ( /ˈlɪən/ ) are used. [2]

Descriptions of lichens

A lichen can be described as all of the following:

  • Composite organism – a symbiotic life form composed of multiple partners from different biological domains, families and kingdoms, and from different phyla, classes and divisions within those domains and kingdoms. In the case of lichens, a fungal partner (the mycobiont) combines with one or more photosynthetic partner(s) (the photobiont ) as well as (in some cases) a yeast.
  • Eukaryote (domain) – organisms with a cell nucleus within a nuclear envelope; both the mycobiont and any algal partners fall into this domain. [3]
  • Fungi (kingdom) – the fungal partner and any yeast partner fall into this kingdom. [1]
  • For the biological classes and families these fungi belong to, see below.
  • Prokaryote (domain) – organisms without a cell nucleus; any cyanobacterial partner falls into this domain. [3]

Nature of lichens

Schematic cross section of foliose lichen:
(a) The cortex is the outer layer of tightly woven fungal filaments (hyphae)
(b) This photobiont layer has photosynthesizing green algae
(c) Loosely packed hyphae in the medulla
(d) A tightly woven lower cortex
(e) Anchoring hyphae called rhizines, where the fungus attaches to the substrate Lichen cross section - heteromeric thallus.svg
Schematic cross section of foliose lichen:
(a) The cortex is the outer layer of tightly woven fungal filaments (hyphae)
(b) This photobiont layer has photosynthesizing green algae
(c) Loosely packed hyphae in the medulla
(d) A tightly woven lower cortex
(e) Anchoring hyphae called rhizines, where the fungus attaches to the substrate

Morphology

  • Apoplast – the symbiotic interface zone between the mycobiont and photobiont, outside the cell membranes or walls of both. [8]
  • Haustorium (pl.haustoria) – a root-like structure which allows the fungal partner to extract nutrients from its photosynthetic partner(s). [9]
  • Ascocarp – the fruiting body of a lichen, which contains the asci. [11]
  • Ascus (pl.asci) – a sexual, fungal spore-bearing structure, typically sac-like in shape. [12]
  • Ascospore – a fungal spore, the product of meiosis, produced in an ascus. [13]
  • Epispore – a transparent bag-like outer covering on some spores, [9] which helps to determine spore shape. [14]
  • Cephalodium (pl.cephalodia) – a gall-like structure that contains cyanobacteria [15]
  • Hypha (pl.hyphae) – a long, branching, thread-like structure composed of one or more fungal cells, which typically makes up a large part of lichens; hyphae are densely compacted in the cortex and more loosely interwoven in the medulla. [16]
  • Pycnidium (pl.pycnidia) – a flask-shaped, asexual fruiting body possessed by some lichens. [17]
  • Conidium (pl.conidia) – an asexual fungal spore produced in pycnidia by some lichens. [18]
  • Rhizine – a root-like structure that anchors a lichen to the substrate on which it grows. [19]
  • Soralium (pl.soralia) – a localized region or structure, typically a crack or pore, containing soredium. [20]
  • Soredium (pl.soredia) – asexual reproductive propagules composed of loose clumps of fungal hyphae and photobiont cells, produced in soralia. [20]
  • Thallus (pl.thalli) – the vegetative body of a lichen, made up of both mycobiont and photobiont components. [21]
  • Cortex – the lichen's outer layer(s), made up of tightly woven fungal filaments. [22]
  • Isidium (pl.isidia) – outgrowths of the thallus which contain photobiont cells and provide means of vegetative reproduction for some lichens. [23]
  • Medulla – a loose layer of interwoven fungal hyphae within the thallus. [24]
  • Podetium (pl.podetia) – an upright secondary thallus, which supports the fruiting bodies of Cladonia species. [25]

Ecology

Lichens with a cyanobacteria as the photosynthetic partner, like this Peltigera collina, can fix nitrogen. Lichen in the Peace River region -a.jpg
Lichens with a cyanobacteria as the photosynthetic partner, like this Peltigera collina , can fix nitrogen.

Types of lichens

Lichen taxonomical classifications

Chaenotheca brunneola falls into Coniocybomycetes, a small fungal class which contains only a handful of lichen species. 2011-06-21 Chaenotheca brunneola (Ach.) Mull. Arg 237882.jpg
Chaenotheca brunneola falls into Coniocybomycetes, a small fungal class which contains only a handful of lichen species.

Lichen systematics – Although they are composite organisms, lichens have traditionally been classified on the basis of their fungal partner. These span eight different biological classes, 39 orders, 117 families, and around 1,000 genera. [34] [35]

Classes

Lichens fall into eight fungal classes and several subclasses: [38]

Orders

Lecidella elaeochroma is a member of Lecanorales, the fungal order which contains the greatest number of lichen species. Lecidella elaeochroma Jymm.jpg
Lecidella elaeochroma is a member of Lecanorales, the fungal order which contains the greatest number of lichen species.

They are split across nearly 40 orders. Those which cannot be assigned to a particular order are assigned instead to "incertae sedis" within the appropriate class. These orders were listed in Lücking, Hodkinson and Leavitt's 2016 treatise on the classification of lichenized fungi, except where otherwise noted, [38] with orders updated in 2021. [34]

Families

They fall into 117 families. Those which cannot be assigned to a particular family are assigned instead to "incertae sedis" within the appropriate order. These were listed in Lücking, Hodkinson and Leavitt's 2016 treatise on the classification of lichenized fungi, except where otherwise noted; [35] families were updated in 2021. [34]

  1. Acarosporaceae
  2. Agyriaceae
  3. Andreiomycetaceae
  4. Aphanopsidaceae
  5. Arctomiaceae
  6. Arthoniaceae
  7. Arthrorhaphidaceae
  8. Atheliaceae
  9. Baeomycetaceae
  10. Biatorellaceae
  11. Brigantiaeaceae
  12. Caliciaceae
  13. Cameroniaceae
  14. Candelariaceae
  15. Carbonicolaceae
  16. Catillariaceae
  17. Celotheliaceae
  18. Chrysotrichaceae
  19. Cladoniaceae
  20. Clavulinaceae
  21. Coccocarpiaceae
  22. Coccotremataceae
  23. Coenogoniaceae
  24. Collemataceae
  25. Coniocybaceae
  26. Corticiaceae
  27. Cystocoleaceae
  28. Dacampiaceae
  29. Dactylosporaceae
  30. Elixiaceae
  31. Fuscideaceae [41]
  32. Gloeoheppiaceae
  33. Gomphillaceae
  34. Graphidaceae
  35. Gyalectaceae
  36. Gypsoplacaceae
  37. Haematommataceae
  38. Harpidiaceae [42]
  39. Helocarpaceae
  40. Hygrophoraceae
  41. Hymeneliaceae
  42. Icmadophilaceae
  43. Koerberiaceae
  44. Lecanographaceae
  45. Lecanoraceae
  46. Lecideaceae
  47. Lepidostromataceae
  48. Leprocaulaceae
  49. Letrouitiaceae
  50. Lichinaceae
  51. Lopadiaceae
  52. Lyrommataceae
  53. Malmideaceae
  54. Massalongiaceae
  55. Megalariaceae
  56. Megalosporaceae
  57. Megasporaceae
  58. Melaspileaceae
  59. Microtheliopsidaceae
  60. Monoblastiaceae
  61. Mycoporaceae
  62. Nephromataceae
  63. Ochrolechiaceae
  64. Opegraphaceae
  65. Ophioparmaceae
  66. Pachyascaceae
  67. Pannariaceae
  68. Parmeliaceae
  69. Peltigeraceae
  70. Peltulaceae
  71. Pertusariaceae
  72. Phaneromycetaceae [41] [43]
  73. Phlyctidaceae
  74. Physciaceae
  75. Pilocarpaceae
  76. Placynthiaceae
  77. Porinaceae
  78. Protothelenellaceae
  79. Psilolechiaceae
  80. Psoraceae
  81. Pycnoraceae
  82. Pyrenotrichaceae
  83. Pyrenulaceae
  84. Ramalinaceae
  85. Ramboldiaceae
  86. Redonographaceae [41]
  87. Requienellaceae
  88. Rhizocarpaceae
  89. Roccellaceae
  90. Roccellographaceae
  91. Ropalosporaceae
  92. Sagiolechiaceae
  93. Sarrameanaceae
  94. Schaereriaceae
  95. Scoliciosporaceae
  96. Sphaerophoraceae
  97. Sporastatiaceae
  98. Stereocaulaceae
  99. Stictidaceae
  100. Strangosporaceae
  101. Strigulaceae
  102. Teloschistaceae
  103. Tenuitholiascaceae [44] [45]
  104. Tephromelataceae
  105. Thelenellaceae
  106. Thelocarpaceae
  107. Trapeliaceae
  108. Trichosphaeriaceae [42]
  109. Trypetheliaceae
  110. Umbilicariaceae
  111. Vahliellaceae
  112. Varicellariaceae
  113. Verrucariaceae
  114. Vezdaeaceae
  115. Xanthopyreniaceae
  116. Xylographaceae

Genera

Extant lichens are found in more than 1000 genera. These were listed in Lücking, Hodkinson and Leavitt's 2016 treatise on the classification of lichenized fungi, except where otherwise noted. [35]

  1. Absconditella
  2. Acantholichen
  3. Acanthothecis
  4. Acanthotrema
  5. Acarospora
  6. Aciculopsora
  7. Acolium
  8. Acrocordia
  9. Acroscyphus
  10. Actinoplaca
  11. Adelolecia
  12. Aderkomyces
  13. Aggregatorygma
  14. Agonimia
  15. Ahtiana
  16. Ainoa
  17. Albemarlea [46]
  18. Alectoria
  19. Allantoparmelia
  20. Allocalicium
  21. Allocetraria
  22. Allographa [47]
  23. Allophoron [42]
  24. Alyxoria
  25. Amandinea
  26. Amazonomyces
  27. Amazonotrema
  28. Ameliella
  29. Amphorothecium
  30. Ampliotrema
  31. Amundsenia
  32. Amygdalaria
  33. Amylora
  34. Anamylopsora
  35. Anaptychia
  36. Ancistrosporella
  37. Andreiomyces
  38. Anema
  39. Angiactis
  40. Anisomeridium
  41. Anomalographis
  42. Anomomorpha
  43. Antennulariella
  44. Anthracocarpon
  45. Anthracothecium
  46. Anzia
  47. Anzina
  48. Apatoplaca
  49. Aphanopsis
  50. Aplanocalenia
  51. Aptrootia
  52. Aquacidia [48]
  53. Architrypethelium
  54. Arctocetraria
  55. Arctomia
  56. Arctoparmelia
  57. Argopsis
  58. Aridoplaca [49]
  59. Arrhenia
  60. Arthonia (list)
  61. Arthopyrenia
  62. Arthotheliopsis
  63. Arthothelium
  64. Arthrorhaphis
  65. Asahinea
  66. Aspicilia
  67. Aspiciliella [50]
  68. Aspiciliopsis
  69. Aspidothelium
  70. Aspilidea
  71. Asteristion
  72. Asteroporum
  73. Asterothyrium
  74. Astrochapsa
  75. Astrothelium
  76. Athallia
  77. Athelopsis
  78. Atla
  79. Atrophysma [51]
  80. Aulaxina
  81. Auriculora
  82. Australiaena
  83. Australidea [52]
  84. Austrella
  85. Austrographa
  86. Austrolecia
  87. Austromelanelixia [53] [54]
  88. Austroparmeliella [55]
  89. Austroparmelina
  90. Austropeltum
  91. Austroplaca
  92. Austroroccella
  93. Austrotrema
  94. Awasthia
  95. Awasthiella
  96. Bacidia
  97. Bacidina
  98. Bacidiopsora
  99. Bactrospora
  100. Baculifera
  101. Badimia
  102. Badimiella
  103. Baeomyces
  104. Baflavia
  105. Bagliettoa
  106. Bahianora
  107. Baidera [56]
  108. Bapalmuia
  109. Bartlettiella
  110. Barubria
  111. Bathelium
  112. Bellemerea
  113. Biatora
  114. Biatorella
  115. Biatoridium
  116. Bibbya [57]
  117. Bilimbia
  118. Blastenia
  119. Blastodesmia
  120. Blennothallia
  121. Bogoriella
  122. Boreoplaca
  123. Borinquenotrema
  124. Botryolepraria
  125. Bouvetiella
  126. Brasilicia
  127. Brianaria
  128. Brigantiaea
  129. Brodoa
  130. Brownliella
  131. Bryobilimbia
  132. Bryocaulon
  133. Bryodina
  134. Bryogomphus
  135. Bryonora
  136. Bryoplaca
  137. Bryoria
  138. Bryostigma
  139. Buellia (list)
  140. Buelliastrum
  141. Bulbothrix
  142. Bunodophoron
  143. Burrowsia [58]
  144. Byssolecania
  145. Byssoloma
  146. Byssotrema
  147. Caeruleum
  148. Calathaspis
  149. Calenia
  150. Caleniopsis
  151. Calicium
  152. Callome
  153. Calogaya
  154. Calopadia
  155. Calopadiopsis
  156. Caloplaca (list)
  157. Calotrichopsis
  158. Calvitimela
  159. Calycidium
  160. Cameronia
  161. Candelaria
  162. Candelariella
  163. Candelina
  164. Canoparmelia
  165. Caprettia
  166. Carassea
  167. Carbacanthographis
  168. Carbonicola
  169. Catapyrenium
  170. Catarrhospora
  171. Catarraphia
  172. Catenarina
  173. Catillaria
  174. Catillochroma
  175. Catinaria
  176. Catolechia
  177. Cecidonia
  178. Celothelium
  179. Cenozosia
  180. Cephalophysis
  181. Cerothallia
  182. Cetradonia
  183. Cetraria
  184. Cetrariella
  185. Cetrelia
  186. Cetreliopsis
  187. Chaenotheca
  188. Chapsa
  189. Charcotiana
  190. Cheiromycina
  191. Chiodecton
  192. Chrismofulvea
  193. Chromatochlamys
  194. Chroodiscus
  195. Chrysothrix
  196. Cinnabaria [59]
  197. Ciposia
  198. Circinaria
  199. Cladia
  200. Cladidium
  201. Cladocetraria [60]
  202. Claurouxia
  203. Cladonia (list)
  204. Clandestinotrema
  205. Clathroporina
  206. Clauzadea
  207. Clauzadeana
  208. Clauzadella
  209. Clavascidium
  210. Cliostomum
  211. Clypeopyrenis
  212. Coccocarpia
  213. Coccotrema
  214. Coelopogon
  215. Coenogonium
  216. Collema
  217. Collemopsidium
  218. Combea
  219. Compositrema
  220. Compsocladium
  221. Coniangium
  222. Coniarthonia
  223. Coniocarpon
  224. Conotremopsis
  225. Constrictolumina
  226. Coppinsia
  227. Coppinsidea [61]
  228. Cora
  229. Corella
  230. Coronoplectrum
  231. Cornicularia
  232. Corticorygma
  233. Coscinocladium
  234. Cratiria
  235. Creographa
  236. Crespoa
  237. Cresponea
  238. Cresporhaphis [42]
  239. Crocellina
  240. Crocodia
  241. Crocynia
  242. Cruentotrema
  243. Crustospathula
  244. Crutarndina
  245. Cryptodiscus
  246. Crypthonia
  247. Cryptophaea
  248. Cryptothecia
  249. Cryptothele
  250. Culbersonia
  251. Cyanoporina
  252. Cyphelium
  253. Cyphellostereum
  254. Cystocoleus
  255. Dacampia
  256. Dactylina
  257. Davidgallowaya
  258. Degelia
  259. Dendriscosticta
  260. Dendrographa
  261. Dermatiscum
  262. Dermatocarpon
  263. Dermiscellum
  264. Diaphorographis
  265. Dibaeis
  266. Dichosporidium
  267. Dictyocatenulata
  268. Dictyographa
  269. Dictyomeridium
  270. Dictyonema
  271. Digitothyrea
  272. Dijigiella [62] [63]
  273. Dimelaena
  274. Dimidiographa
  275. Diorygma
  276. Diploicia
  277. Diploschistella
  278. Diploschistes
  279. Diplotomma
  280. Dirinaria
  281. Dirina
  282. Dirinastrum
  283. Diromma
  284. Distopyrenis
  285. Dolichocarpus
  286. Dolichousnea [64] [54]
  287. Ducatina [65] [66]
  288. Dufourea
  289. Dyplolabia
  290. Echidnocymbium
  291. Echinoplaca
  292. Edrudia
  293. Edwardiella
  294. Eiglera
  295. Eilifdahlia
  296. Elixia
  297. Elixjohnia [67] [63]
  298. Emmanuelia [68]
  299. Emodomelanelia
  300. Encephalographa
  301. Enchylium
  302. Endocarpon
  303. Endocena
  304. Endohyalina
  305. Enterodictyon
  306. Enterographa
  307. Epilichen
  308. Enigmotrema
  309. Eopyrenula
  310. Ephebe
  311. Eremastrella
  312. Eremithallus
  313. Eremothecella
  314. Erinacellus
  315. Erioderma
  316. Ertzia
  317. Erythrodecton
  318. Eschatogonia
  319. Esslingeriana
  320. Eugeniella
  321. Eumitria [64] [54]
  322. Euopsis
  323. Evernia
  324. Everniopsis
  325. Farnoldia
  326. Fauriea
  327. Feigeana
  328. Felipes
  329. Fellhanera
  330. Fellhaneropsis
  331. Ferraroa
  332. Fibrillithecis
  333. Filsoniana
  334. Finkia
  335. Fissurina
  336. Flabelloporina [69]
  337. Flakea
  338. Flavobathelium
  339. Flavocetraria
  340. Flavoparmelia
  341. Flavoplaca
  342. Flavopunctelia
  343. Fluctua
  344. Follmannia
  345. Follmanniella
  346. Fominiella [70]
  347. Fouragea
  348. Franwilsia
  349. Frigidopyrenia
  350. Frutidella
  351. Fulgidea
  352. Fulvophyton
  353. Fuscidea
  354. Fuscoderma
  355. Fuscopannaria
  356. Gabura [42]
  357. Gassicurtia
  358. Gibbosporina
  359. Gintarasia
  360. Gintarasiella [71]
  361. Glaucotrema
  362. Gloeoheppia
  363. Glomerilla
  364. Glomerulophoron
  365. Glyphis
  366. Glypholecia
  367. Glyphopeltis
  368. Glyphopsis
  369. Gomphillus
  370. Gondwania
  371. Gorgadesia
  372. Gossypiothallon
  373. Gowardia
  374. Granulopyrenis
  375. Graphidastra
  376. Graphis
  377. Gregorella
  378. Gudelia
  379. Gyalecta
  380. Gyalectaria
  381. Gyalectidium
  382. Gyalidea
  383. Gyalideopsis
  384. Gyalolechia
  385. Gymnoderma
  386. Gymnographa
  387. Gymnographopsis
  388. Gyrocollema
  389. Gyrographa
  390. Gyronactis
  391. Gyrotrema
  392. Haematomma
  393. Halecania
  394. Halegrapha
  395. Halographis
  396. Haloplaca
  397. Hanstrassia [72]
  398. Haplodina
  399. Haploloma
  400. Harpidium
  401. Harusavskia [73]
  402. Heiomasia
  403. Helicobolomyces [74] [75]
  404. Helminthocarpon
  405. Helocarpon
  406. Hemithecium
  407. Henrica
  408. Heppia
  409. Heppsora
  410. Herpothallon
  411. Hertella
  412. Herteliana
  413. Hertelidea
  414. Heterocarpon
  415. Heterocyphelium
  416. Heterodermia
  417. Heteromyces
  418. Heteroplacidium
  419. Himantormia
  420. Hippocrepidea
  421. Homothecium
  422. Hormosphaeria
  423. Hosseusia
  424. Hosseusiella [76]
  425. Huea
  426. Hueidea
  427. Huneckia
  428. Hydropunctaria
  429. Hymenelia
  430. Hyperphyscia
  431. Hypocenomyce
  432. Hypoflavia
  433. Hypogymnia
  434. Hypotrachyna
  435. Icmadophila
  436. Igneoplaca
  437. Ikaeria [77]
  438. Immersaria
  439. Imshaugia
  440. Ingaderia
  441. Ingvariella
  442. Inoderma
  443. Involucropyrenium
  444. Ionaspis
  445. Ioplaca
  446. Isalonactis
  447. Jamesiella
  448. Japewia
  449. Japewiella
  450. Jarmania
  451. Jasonhuria
  452. Jenmania
  453. Joergensenia
  454. Josefpoeltia
  455. Julella [42]
  456. Kaernefeltia
  457. Kaernefia
  458. Kalbiana
  459. Kalbionora [78] [79]
  460. Kalbographa
  461. Kashiwadia
  462. Kantvilasia
  463. Klauskalbia [80]
  464. Knightiella [42]
  465. Koerberia
  466. Koerberiella
  467. Krogia
  468. Kroswia
  469. Kuettlingeria
  470. Kurokawia [81]
  471. Labyrintha
  472. Lambiella
  473. Lasallia
  474. Lasioloma
  475. Lathagrium
  476. Lazarenkoella
  477. Lecanactis
  478. Lecania
  479. Lecanographa
  480. Lecanora (list)
  481. Lecidea (list)
  482. Lecidella
  483. Lecidoma
  484. Lecidopyrenopsis
  485. Leciophysma
  486. Leifidium
  487. Leightoniella
  488. Leimonis
  489. Leioderma
  490. Leiorreuma
  491. Lemmopsis
  492. Lempholemma
  493. Lendemeriella
  494. Lepidocollema
  495. Lepidostroma
  496. Lepra
  497. Leprantha
  498. Lepraria
  499. Leprocaulon
  500. Leprocollema
  501. Leproplaca
  502. Leptochidium
  503. Leptogidium
  504. Leptogium
  505. Leptorhaphis
  506. Leptotrema
  507. Letharia
  508. Lethariella
  509. Letrouitia
  510. Leucodecton
  511. Leucodermia
  512. Lichenomphalia
  513. Lichina
  514. Lichinella
  515. Lichinodium
  516. Lignoscripta
  517. Lithoglypha
  518. Lithographa
  519. Lithogyalideopsis
  520. Lithothelium
  521. Llimonaea
  522. Lobaria
  523. Lobariella
  524. Lobarina
  525. Lobothallia
  526. Loekoesia
  527. Loflammia
  528. Loflammiopsis
  529. Logilvia
  530. Lopacidia
  531. Lopadium
  532. Lopezaria
  533. Loxospora
  534. Loxosporopsis
  535. Lueckingia
  536. Lyromma
  537. Magmopsis
  538. Malcolmiella
  539. Malmidea
  540. Malmographina
  541. Mangoldia
  542. Marcelaria
  543. Marchandiomphalina
  544. Marchantiana
  545. Marfloraea
  546. Maronea
  547. Maronella
  548. Maronina [64] [82]
  549. Masonhalea
  550. Massalongia
  551. Mastodia
  552. Mawsonia
  553. Mazaediothecium
  554. Mazosia
  555. Megalaria
  556. Megaloblastenia
  557. Megalospora
  558. Megalotremis
  559. Megaspora
  560. Melanelia
  561. Melanelixia
  562. Melanohalea
  563. Melanolecia
  564. Melanophloea
  565. Melanotopelia
  566. Melanotrema
  567. Melarthonis
  568. Melaspilea
  569. Menegazzia (list)
  570. Meridianelia
  571. Metamelanea
  572. Metus
  573. Micarea
  574. Microtheliopsis
  575. Milospium
  576. Miltidea
  577. Minksia
  578. Miriquidica
  579. Mischoblastia
  580. Mobergia
  581. Monerolechia
  582. Monoblastia
  583. Montanelia
  584. Moriola
  585. Multiclavula
  586. Multisporidea [83]
  587. Mycobilimbia
  588. Mycoblastus
  589. Mycoporum
  590. Myelochroa
  591. Myeloconis
  592. Myelorrhiza
  593. Myriolecis
  594. Myrionora
  595. Myriospora
  596. Myriostigma
  597. Myochroidea
  598. Nadvornikia
  599. Nebularia
  600. Neobrownliella [84]
  601. Neocatapyrenium
  602. Neophyllis
  603. Neopsoromopsis
  604. Neosergipea
  605. Nephroma
  606. Nephromopsis
  607. Nevesia
  608. Niebla
  609. Nigrovothelium
  610. Nipponoparmelia
  611. Nitidochapsa
  612. Nodobryoria
  613. Normandina
  614. Notocladonia
  615. Notolecidea
  616. Notoparmelia
  617. Nyungwea
  618. Obscuroplaca [85]
  619. Ocellomma
  620. Ocellularia (list)
  621. Ochrolechia
  622. Oevstedalia
  623. Olegblumia
  624. Omphalodium
  625. Omphalora
  626. Opegrapha
  627. Opeltia [86]
  628. Ophioparma
  629. Orceolina
  630. Orcularia
  631. Orientophila
  632. Oropogon
  633. Orphniospora
  634. Oxnerella
  635. Pachnolepia
  636. Pachyascus
  637. Pachypeltis
  638. Pachyphysis
  639. Palicella
  640. Pallidogramme
  641. Pannaria
  642. Pannoparmelia
  643. Parabagliettoa
  644. Paracollema
  645. Paragyalideopsis [87] [88]
  646. Paraingaderia
  647. Parainoa
  648. Paraporpidia
  649. Paraschismatomma
  650. Parasiphula
  651. Paratopeliopsis
  652. Paratricharia
  653. Parmelia
  654. Parmeliella
  655. Parmelina
  656. Parmelinella
  657. Parmeliopsis
  658. Parmostictina
  659. Parmotrema (list)
  660. Parmotremopsis
  661. Parvoplaca
  662. Paulia
  663. Peccania
  664. Pectenia
  665. Peltigera
  666. Peltula
  667. Peltularia
  668. Pentagenella
  669. Pertusaria (list)
  670. Petractis
  671. Phaeographis
  672. Phaeographopsis
  673. Phaeophyscia
  674. Phaeorrhiza
  675. Phloeopeccania
  676. Phlyctis
  677. Phoebus
  678. Phylliscidium
  679. Phyllisciella
  680. Phylliscidiopsis
  681. Phylliscum
  682. Phyllobaeis
  683. Phyllobathelium
  684. Phylloblastia
  685. Phyllocratera
  686. Phyllogyalidea
  687. Phyllopsora
  688. Physcia
  689. Physcidia
  690. Physciella
  691. Physconia
  692. Physma
  693. Piccolia
  694. Pilophorus
  695. Placidiopsis
  696. Placidium
  697. Placocarpus
  698. Placolecis
  699. Placomaronea
  700. Placopsis
  701. Placopyrenium
  702. Placothelium
  703. Placynthiella
  704. Placynthiopsis
  705. Placynthium
  706. Platismatia
  707. Platygramme
  708. Platythecium
  709. Plectocarpon
  710. Pleopsidium
  711. Pleurosticta
  712. Pliariona
  713. Podostictina
  714. Podotara
  715. Poeltiaria
  716. Poeltidea
  717. Poeltinula
  718. Polistroma
  719. Polyblastia
  720. Polyblastidium
  721. Polycauliona
  722. Polychidium
  723. Polymeridium
  724. Polypyrenula
  725. Polysporina
  726. Porina
  727. Porocyphus
  728. Porpidia
  729. Porpidinia [42]
  730. Protoblastenia
  731. Protomicarea
  732. Protopannaria
  733. Protoparmelia
  734. Protoparmeliopsis
  735. Protoroccella [42]
  736. Protothelenella
  737. Protousnea
  738. Psammina
  739. Psathyrophlyctis
  740. Pseudarctomia
  741. Pseudephebe
  742. Pseudevernia
  743. Pseudobaeomyces
  744. Pseudocalopadia
  745. Pseudochapsa
  746. Pseudocyphellaria
  747. Pseudohepatica
  748. Pseudoheppia
  749. Pseudolecanactis
  750. Pseudoleptogium
  751. Pseudopannaria
  752. Pseudoparmelia
  753. Pseudopaulia
  754. Pseudopeltula
  755. Pseudopyrenula
  756. Pseudoramonia
  757. Pseudosagedia
  758. Pseudoschismatomma
  759. Pseudothelomma
  760. Pseudotopeliopsis
  761. Psilolechia
  762. Psiloparmelia
  763. Psora
  764. Psorinia
  765. Psoroglaena
  766. Psoroma
  767. Psoromella
  768. Psoromidium [42]
  769. Psoronactis
  770. Psorotheciopsis
  771. Psorotichia
  772. Psorula
  773. Pterygiopsis
  774. Ptychographa
  775. Pulvinodecton
  776. Pulvinora [89]
  777. Punctelia
  778. Punctonora
  779. Puttea
  780. Pycnora
  781. Pycnothelia
  782. Pycnotrema
  783. Pyrenocarpon
  784. Pyrenocollema
  785. Pyrenodesmia
  786. Pyrenopsis
  787. Pyrenothrix
  788. Pyrenowilmsia
  789. Pyrenula (list)
  790. Pyrgillus
  791. Pyrrhospora
  792. Pyxine
  793. Racodium
  794. Racoleus
  795. Ramalea
  796. Ramalina
  797. Ramalodium
  798. Ramboldia
  799. Ramonia
  800. Redingeria
  801. Redonia
  802. Redonographa
  803. Rehmanniella [90]
  804. Reichlingia
  805. Reimnitzia
  806. Relicina
  807. Remototrachyna
  808. Requienella
  809. Rhabdodiscus
  810. Rhabdopsora
  811. Rhaphidicyrtis
  812. Rhexophiale
  813. Rhizocarpon
  814. Rhizolecia
  815. Rhizoplaca
  816. Ricasolia
  817. Rimularia
  818. Rinodina (list)
  819. Rinodinella
  820. Robergea
  821. Roccella
  822. Roccellographa
  823. Roccellina
  824. Roccellinastrum
  825. Rockefellera [91]
  826. Rolfidium
  827. Rolueckia
  828. Romjularia
  829. Ropalospora
  830. Rostania
  831. Rubrotricha
  832. Rufoplaca
  833. Rusavskia
  834. Sagedia
  835. Sagema
  836. Sagenidiopsis
  837. Sagiolechia
  838. Sanguinotrema
  839. Santessonia
  840. Sarcographa
  841. Sarcographina
  842. Sarcogyne
  843. Sarcosagium
  844. Sarea
  845. Sarrameana
  846. Savoronala
  847. Schadonia
  848. Schaereria
  849. Schismatomma
  850. Schistophoron
  851. Schizodiscus
  852. Schizopelte
  853. Schizotrema
  854. Schizoxylon
  855. Sclerococcum
  856. Sclerophora
  857. Sclerophyton
  858. Scleropyrenium
  859. Scoliciosporum
  860. Sculptolumina
  861. Scutaria
  862. Scytinium
  863. Sedelnikovaea
  864. Segestria
  865. Seirophora
  866. Semigyalecta
  867. Semiomphalina
  868. Septotrapelia
  869. Servitia
  870. Shackletonia
  871. Sigridea
  872. Simonyella
  873. Sipmaniella
  874. Siphula
  875. Siphulastrum
  876. Siphulella
  877. Sipmania
  878. Sirenophila
  879. Snippocia [92] [75]
  880. Solenopsora
  881. Solitaria
  882. Solorina
  883. Solorinaria
  884. Sparria
  885. Speerschneidera
  886. Sphaerophorus
  887. Sphaerophoropsis
  888. Spheconisca
  889. Sphinctrinopsis
  890. Spilonema
  891. Sporastatia
  892. Sporodictyon
  893. Sporodophoron
  894. Sporopodiopsis
  895. Sporopodium
  896. Sporostigma
  897. Sprucidea [93] [82]
  898. Squamarina
  899. Squamella
  900. Squamulea
  901. Staurospora [94] [95]
  902. Staurolemma
  903. Staurothele
  904. Stegobolus
  905. Steinera
  906. Steineropsis
  907. Steinia
  908. Stellarangia
  909. Stenhammarella
  910. Stephanocyclos
  911. Stereocaulon
  912. Sticta
  913. Stictis
  914. Stigmatochroma
  915. Stigmidium
  916. Strangospora
  917. Streimannia
  918. Stirtonia
  919. Stirtoniella
  920. Strigula
  921. Stromatella
  922. Sulcaria
  923. Sulcopyrenula
  924. Sulzbacheromyces
  925. Synalissa
  926. Synarthonia
  927. Synarthothelium
  928. Syncesia
  929. Szczawinskia
  930. Tania
  931. Tapellaria
  932. Tapellariopsis
  933. Tarbertia
  934. Tasmidella
  935. Tassiloa
  936. Tayloriellina
  937. Teloschistes
  938. Teloschistopsis
  939. Tenuitholiascus [96] [45]
  940. Tephromela
  941. Tetramelas
  942. Teuvoa
  943. Texosporium
  944. Thallinocarpon
  945. Thalloloma
  946. Thamnochrolechia
  947. Thamnolecania
  948. Thamnolia
  949. Thecaria
  950. Thecographa
  951. Thelenella
  952. Thelenidia
  953. Thelidiopsis
  954. Thelignya
  955. Thelliana
  956. Thelocarpon
  957. Thelomma
  958. Thelopsis
  959. Thelotrema
  960. Thermutis
  961. Thermutopsis
  962. Tholurna
  963. Thrombium
  964. Thyrea
  965. Thysanothecium
  966. Tibellia
  967. Timdalia
  968. Tingiopsidium
  969. Toensbergia
  970. Toninia
  971. Toniniopsis
  972. Topelia
  973. Topeliopsis
  974. Tornabea
  975. Trapelia
  976. Trapeliopsis
  977. Traponora
  978. Tremolecia
  979. Tremotylium [42]
  980. Tricharia
  981. Trichothelium
  982. Trimmatothele
  983. Trimmatothelopsis
  984. Trinathotrema
  985. Trizodia
  986. Trypetheliopsis
  987. Trypethelium
  988. Tuckermanella
  989. Tuckermanopsis
  990. Tylophorella
  991. Tylophoron
  992. Tylophoropsis
  993. Tylothallia
  994. Umbilicaria
  995. Upretia [97]
  996. Usnea
  997. Usnocetraria
  998. Usnochroma
  999. Vahliella
  1000. Vainionora
  1001. Varicellaria
  1002. Variospora
  1003. Verrucaria (list)
  1004. Verruculopsis
  1005. Verseghya [98]
  1006. Vezdaea
  1007. Vigneronia
  1008. Villophora
  1009. Violella
  1010. Viridothelium
  1011. Vulpicida
  1012. Wadeana
  1013. Wahlenbergiella
  1014. Watsoniomyces [99]
  1015. Wawea
  1016. Waynea
  1017. Wetmoreana
  1018. Willeya
  1019. Wirthiotrema
  1020. Xalocoa
  1021. Xanthocarpia
  1022. Xanthomendoza
  1023. Xanthoparmelia (list)
  1024. Xanthopeltis
  1025. Xanthopsorella
  1026. Xanthoria
  1027. Xenolecia
  1028. Xenus
  1029. Xyleborus
  1030. Xylographa
  1031. Xyloschistes
  1032. Xylopsora
  1033. Yarrumia
  1034. Yoshimuria
  1035. Yoshimuriella
  1036. Zahlbrucknerella
  1037. Zeroviella
  1038. Zwackhia

Species

In 2009, taxonomists estimated that the total number of lichen species (including those yet undiscovered) might be as high as 28,000. [100] By 2016, 19,387 species of lichens had been described and widely accepted. [101]

Lichens, by growth form

Xanthoria parietina has the leafy-looking growth of a foliose lichen. Xanthoria parietina - Common orange lichen - Gewohnliche Gelbflechte - 04.jpg
Xanthoria parietina has the leafy-looking growth of a foliose lichen.

Lichen growth forms – These vary depending on the species:

Lichens, by substrate

Saxicolous lichens are those which grow on stone. A lichen-covered rock.JPG
Saxicolous lichens are those which grow on stone.

Lichens can be classified by the substrate on which they grow:

Lichens, by region

Namibia's vast deserts, which hold many species of lichen, remain largely unsurveyed. Lichens near Wlotzkasbaken, Namibia.jpg
Namibia's vast deserts, which hold many species of lichen, remain largely unsurveyed.

Africa

Antarctica

Asia

Australia

Europe

North America

Oceania

Pacific

South America

Photobiont

The photobiont in most lichens is a green alga, particularly those from the genus Trebouxia. Trebouxia 2 - Miguel Varona - Cuaderno de Campo del Treparriscos.jpg
The photobiont in most lichens is a green alga, particularly those from the genus Trebouxia .

Photobiont – the photosynthetic partner in a lichen. [118]

Lichen metabolites

Lichen product – organic products, known as secondary metabolites, produced by lichens; these provide a variety of protections for the lichen – from microbes, viruses, herbivores, radiation, oxidants and more. [120]

Chemical spot tests on the foliose lichen Punctelia borreri showing thallus (top) and medulla (bottom). The pinkish-red colour change of the medulla in the C and KC tests indicate the presence of gyrophoric acid, a chemical feature that helps to distinguish this lichen from similar species in the same genus. Punctelia borreri 149849.jpg
Chemical spot tests on the foliose lichen Punctelia borreri showing thallus (top) and medulla (bottom). The pinkish-red colour change of the medulla in the C and KC tests indicate the presence of gyrophoric acid, a chemical feature that helps to distinguish this lichen from similar species in the same genus.

Study of lichens

Lichenology – the study of lichens. [122]

Threats

Lichens in culture

Two baked loaves of Bryoria fremontii, an important traditional food for some First Nations people Loaf of cooked wila lichen.jpg
Two baked loaves of Bryoria fremontii , an important traditional food for some First Nations people

Lichen organizations

  • Herzogia – peer-reviewed journal published by BLAM.
  • Lindbergia – peer-reviewed journal co-published by the Dutch Bryological and Lichenological Society and the Nordic Bryological Society.

Independent lichenological journals

See also

Citations

  1. 1 2 Van Hoose 2021.
  2. Cambridge Dictionary.
  3. 1 2 Favor 2005, p. 5.
  4. Laundon 1986, p. 3.
  5. Li et al. 2021, p. evab101.
  6. 1 2 3 Purvis 2000, p. 9.
  7. 1 2 Laundon 1986, p. 2.
  8. Honegger 1998, p. 197.
  9. 1 2 Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 758.
  10. Baron 1999, p. 14.
  11. Hawksworth, Sutton & Ainsworth 1983, p. 26.
  12. Silverstein, Silverstein & Silverstein 1996, p. 32.
  13. Smith et al. 2009, p. 22.
  14. Smith et al. 2009, p. 30.
  15. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 756.
  16. Hale 1983, pp. 3, 6.
  17. Smith et al. 2009, p. 36.
  18. Smith et al. 2009, p. 24.
  19. Hawksworth, Sutton & Ainsworth 1983, p. 330.
  20. 1 2 Smith et al. 2009, p. 38.
  21. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 763.
  22. 1 2 Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 757.
  23. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 759.
  24. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 760.
  25. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 761.
  26. 1 2 Henriksson & Simu 1971, p. 119.
  27. Smith et al. 2020, p. 134.
  28. Bowler & Rundel 1975, p. 328.
  29. Bowler & Rundel 1975, p. 326–327.
  30. Galloway 2012, p. 315.
  31. Zakeri et al. 2022, p. 80.
  32. Chen, Blume & Beyer 2000, p. 124.
  33. Green et al. 2018, p. 397.
  34. 1 2 3 4 Wijayawardene et al. 2022.
  35. 1 2 3 Lücking, Hodkinson & Leavitt 2016, p. 377–400.
  36. Bendre 2010, p. 131.
  37. Lepp 2014.
  38. 1 2 3 Lücking, Hodkinson & Leavitt 2016, p. 371.
  39. 1 2 Kraichak et al. 2018a.
  40. 1 2 Kraichak et al. 2018b.
  41. 1 2 3 Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 162.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Lücking, Hodkinson & Leavitt 2017, p. 58.
  43. Gamundí & Spinedi 1985, p. 112.
  44. Jiang et al. 2020, p. 11.
  45. 1 2 Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 124.
  46. Lendemer, Harris & Ruiz 2016, p. 26.
  47. Lücking & Kalb 2018, p. 353.
  48. Aptroot, Sparrius & Alvarado 2018, p. 12.
  49. Wilk et al. 2021, p. 292.
  50. Zakeri, Divakar & Otte 2017, p. 170.
  51. Spribille et al. 2020, p. 85.
  52. Kantvilas, Wedin & Svensson 2021, p. 400.
  53. Divakar et al. 2017, p. 110.
  54. 1 2 3 Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 150.
  55. Ekman et al. 2014, p. 634.
  56. Diederich & Ertz 2020, p. 22.
  57. Kistenich et al. 2018, p. 871.
  58. Fryday et al. 2020, p. 473.
  59. Wilk et al. 2021, p. 293.
  60. Chesnokov et al. 2023, p. e24.
  61. Kondratyuk et al. 2019, p. 295.
  62. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 79.
  63. 1 2 Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 156.
  64. 1 2 3 Divakar et al. 2017, p. 109.
  65. Ertz et al. 2017, p. 131.
  66. Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 159.
  67. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 86.
  68. Simon et al. 2020, p. 82.
  69. Sobreira et al. 2018, p. 67.
  70. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 87.
  71. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 90.
  72. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 91.
  73. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 96.
  74. Grube, Matzer & Hafellner 1995, p. 28.
  75. 1 2 Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 89.
  76. Kondratyuk et al. 2018, p. 97.
  77. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 105.
  78. Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 98.
  79. Sodamuk et al. 2017, p. 15.
  80. Kondratyuk et al. 2021, p. 372.
  81. Kondratyuk et al. 2021, p. 375.
  82. 1 2 Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 149.
  83. Kalb & Aptroot 2021, p. 5.
  84. Kondratyuk et al. 2015, p. 328.
  85. Bungartz, Søchting & Arup 2021.
  86. Kondratyuk et al. 2017, p. 112.
  87. Etayo 2017, p. 335.
  88. Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 160.
  89. Davydov et al. 2021, p. 245.
  90. Kondratyuk et al. 2018, p. 107.
  91. Lendemer, Stone & Tripp 2017, p. 459.
  92. Ertz et al. 2018, p. 170.
  93. Cáceres et al. 2017, p. 206.
  94. Wijayawardene et al. 2022, p. 38.
  95. Grube 2018, p. 695.
  96. Jiang et al. 2020, p. 1.
  97. Kondratyuk et al. 2018, p. 24.
  98. Kondratyuk et al. 2016, p. 104.
  99. Díaz-Escandón et al. 2021, p. 501.
  100. Lücking et al. 2009, p. 411.
  101. Lücking, Hodkinson & Leavitt 2016, p. 370.
  102. Dobson 2011, p. 470.
  103. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 16.
  104. 1 2 3 4 5 The British Lichen Society 2022a.
  105. Temu et al. 2019, p. 1.
  106. Kantvilas 1996, p. 229.
  107. Dobson 2011, p. 26.
  108. Sanders 2001, p. 1033.
  109. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 17.
  110. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 18.
  111. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The British Lichen Society 2022b.
  112. Lendemer, Buck & Harris 2016, p. 441.
  113. 1 2 3 4 Upreti & Rai 2013, p. 2.
  114. 1 2 Lücking 2008, p. 4.
  115. Lücking 1998, p. 287.
  116. Rosentreter 1993, p. 333.
  117. Schultz, Zedda & Rambold 2009, p. 315.
  118. Purvis 2000, p. 5.
  119. Rikkinen 2015, p. 973.
  120. Goga et al. 2018, p. 1.
  121. Truong & Clerc 2003, p. 52.
  122. Merriam-Webster.
  123. International Association for Lichenology.
  124. Pfister 1985, p. 1.
  125. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 84.
  126. Brodo, Sharnoff & Sharnoff 2001, p. 103.
  127. Lawrey & Diederich 2003, p. 80.
  128. Nimis, Scheidegger & Wolseley 2002.
  129. Oliver 2011, p. 1.
  130. Field Museum 2022.
  131. Turner 1977, p. 461.
  132. Penguin Books.
  133. Ivanova & Ivanov 2009, p. 11.
  134. Vinayaka & Krishnamurthy 2012, p. 265.

References