The Roccellaceae are a family of fungi in the order Arthoniales, circumscribed by French botanist François Fulgis Chevallier in 1826. This family is distinguished by a wide variety of growth forms, including crustose and fruticose thalli, and a diverse range of reproductive structures. Roccellaceae species typically have apotheciate or lirellate ascomata, often with distinct carbonised (blackened) margins. The family has been extensively studied through molecular phylogenetics, revealing significant genetic diversity and complex evolutionary histories.
Tapellaria is a genus of leaf-dwelling lichens in the family Pilocarpaceae. The genus was circumscribed by lichenologist Johannes Müller Argoviensis in 1890, with Tapellaria herpetospora assigned as the type species.
Santessonia is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Caliciaceae. The genus was circumscribed in 1978 by lichenologists Mason Hale and Gernot Vobis, with Santessonia namibensis assigned as the type species, and at that time, only species. This species, endemic to the Namib Desert, has deep depressions (lacunae) in the thallus, which are interpreted as an adaptation to take advantage of the infrequent moisture provided by fog. The genus name honours Norwegian lichenologist Rolf Santesson.
Lecanactis is a genus of crustose lichens, commonly called old wood rimmed lichen. The genus was circumscribed in 1855 by German lichenologist Gustav Wilhelm Körber, who assigned Lecanactis abietina as the type species.
Roccella is a genus of 23 species of lichens in the family Roccellaceae. The genus was circumscribed by Swiss botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1805, with Roccella fuciformis as the type species.
Vermilacinia laevigata is a fruticose lichen that occurs in the fog zone along the Pacific Coast of the California Floristic Province from Marin County, California to 15 miles south of Misión San Vicente Ferrer in Baja California
Vermilacinia tigrina is a fruticose lichen that grows on branches of shrubs and on earth among cactus and shrubs in the fog regions along the Pacific Coast of North America and South America; in North America found in the Channel Islands and near San Diego, California, and in central and southern Baja California; and in South America from Peru to Chile. The epithet is in reference to the irregular black spots or bands on the thallus branches.
Niebla limicola is a fruticose lichen that grows on barren mud flats and on sand among salt scrub along the Pacific Coast of the Vizcaíno Desert, of Baja California from San Vicente Canyon to Scammon’s Lagoon. The epithet, limicola is in reference to the thallus growing on barren (alkali) soil.
Niebla sorediata is a fruticose lichen that grows on rocks along the foggy Pacific Coast of North America, in the Channel Islands of California and on Guadalupe Island of Baja California. The epithet, sorediata, is in reference to the development of soredia (soredium).
Austrographa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae. It has three species. The genus was circumscribed in 2013 by lichenologists Laurens Sparrius, John Elix, and Alan Archer, with Austrographa kurriminensis assigned as the type species. The genus had been published invalidly on two separate occasions. All three species in the genus were found in a mangrove stand in Queensland, Australia. The genus was discovered in Australia, and the name Austrographa reflects this.
Austroroccella is a single-species genus in the family Roccellaceae. It contains Austroroccella gayana, a saxicolous (rock-dwelling), fruticose lichen. This lichen produces dark to black discs lacking pruina, and it contains roccellic acid as its only lichen product. The genus was circumscribed in 2013 by Anders Tehler, Martin Irestedt, and Damien Ertz based on molecular phylogenetic analysis that showed that the species belongs in an isolated clade in the Roccellaceae along with Dendrographa, Syncesia, and Roccellina.
Gyrographa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae. The genus was circumscribed in 2014 by Damien Ernst and Anders Tehler, with Gyrographa gyrocarpa assigned as the type species. This lichen, originally described by Julius von Flotow in 1825, was first placed in the genus Opegrapha. Species in the genus have a crustose thallus lacking a cortex, and a dark brown prothallus. The photobiont partner is trentepholioid. The hypothecium is thick and carbonised, and the ascospores lack a gelatinous sheath; these characteristics distinguish it from Opegrapha species. The genus name alludes to the gyrose ascomata of the type species.
Roccella galapagoensis is a species of fruticose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands.
Arthonia darbishirei is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Arthoniaceae. Found on the Galápagos Islands, it was described as new to science in 2003 by Gerhard Follman and Birgit Werner. It was first collected on San Salvador Island in June 1872 during the Hassler Expedition. The fungus grows specifically on the thallus of Roccella nigerrima, a fruticose lichen that is endemic to the Galápagos. The species epithet darbishirei honours the British lichenologist Otto Vernon Darbishire (1870–1934), who initially described the host lichen and made significant contributions to the study of roccellaceous lichens.
Arthonia ingaderiae is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Arthoniaceae. Discovered on the Pacific coast of South America, it was described as new to science in 2003 by Gerhard Follman. The holotype was collected from the Lomas of Paposo, north of Taltal, Chile, at an elevation of about 400 m (1,300 ft) in the lower fog belt. The fungus grows specifically on the thalli of two fruticose lichen species: Ingaderia gracillima and Ingaderia pulcherrima. The species epithet ingaderiae refers to the host genus Ingaderia.
Arthonia prominens is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Arthoniaceae. Discovered on the Pacific coast of Chile, it was described as new to science in 2003 by Gerhard Follman. The holotype was collected in the supralittoral zone between Las Ventanas and Quintero, in the Valparaíso Province of Central Chile, at an elevation of about 10 metres. The fungus grows specifically on the thallus of Ingaderia gracillima, a fruticose lichen. The species epithet prominens refers to the swollen macules (spots) produced on the host's branches where the fungus's fruiting bodies aggregate.
Lecanographa imitans is a rare species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Arthoniaceae. Found on the Galápagos Islands, it was described as new to science in 2003 by Birgit Werner and Gerhard Follman. The holotype specimen was collected on Baltra Island, north of Santa Cruz Island, in January 1929. The fungus grows specifically on the thallus of Roccella gracilis, a fruticose lichen. The species epithet imitans refers to the potential confusion of its ascomata with the true fructifications of its host lichen.
Opegrapha perturbans is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Arthoniaceae. Discovered on the Pacific coast of Chile, it was described as new to science in 2003 by Gerhard Follman. The holotype was collected in Coquimbo, north Chile in 1838 by the French naturalist Claude Gay. The fungus grows specifically on the thallus of Ingaderia pulcherrima, a fruticose lichen. The species epithet perturbans refers to the long-standing mistaken identity of its ascomata with the true fructifications of its host lichen.
Opegrapha reinkellae is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Arthoniaceae. Discovered on the Pacific coast of Peru, it was described as new to science in 2003 by Gerhard Follman. The holotype specimen was collected in Peru, possibly from the central region, by A. Winterfeld in the second half of the 19th century. The fungus grows specifically on the thallus of Roccella lirellina, a fruticose lichen. The species epithet reinkellae refers to the genus name Reinkella, which was erroneously applied to the host lichen when its ascomata were mistakenly thought to belong to the lichen itself.
Sigridea labyrinthica is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Arthoniaceae. Discovered on the Pacific coast of Chile, it was formally described as a new species in 2003 by Gerhard Follman, who first classified it in the genus Plectocarpon. Damien Ertz and Paul Diederich transferred it to the genus Sigridea in 2005. The holotype was collected at Punta Caraumilla, Bahia Laguna Verde, southwest of Valparaíso, on September 15, 1968, by Otto Zöllner Schorr. The fungus grows specifically on the thallus of Roccella portentosa, a fruticose lichen commonly found along the rocky Pacific coast. The species epithet labyrinthicum refers to the maze-like appearance of its gall-forming ascomata.
