| Pseudotopeliopsis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Graphidales |
| Family: | Graphidaceae |
| Genus: | Pseudotopeliopsis Parnmen, Lücking & Lumbsch (2012) |
| Type species | |
| Pseudotopeliopsis laceratula (Müll.Arg.) Parnmen, Lücking & Lumbsch (2012) | |
| Species | |
Pseudotopeliopsis is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. [1] It has two species. [2]
The genus was circumscribed in 2012 by the lichenologists Sittiporn Parnmen, Robert Lücking, and H. Thorsten Lumbsch. They assigned Pseudotopeliopsis laceratula as the type species; this lichen was originally named as a member of genus Thelotrema by Johannes Müller Argoviensis in 1887. [3] The genus name is derived from the Greek word pseudo, meaning "false", combined with the name Topeliopsis , alluding to its resemblance to that genus. [4]
The thallus of Pseudotopeliopsis typically has dense outer layer, or cortex . The apothecia (fruiting bodies) emerge from the thallus and are rounded to irregularly shaped. These apothecia feature a disc that resembles a small pore and is covered by concentrically layered, fissured, and lobulated margins. The surrounding tissue of the apothecia, known as the excipulum , varies from colourless to brown. [4]
The spores of Pseudotopeliopsis are elongated, ranging from fusiform -ellipsoid to oblong-cylindrical in shape, and are divided by cross walls (septa) that may be slightly thickened and form angular spaces within the spore. These spores are initially colourless and can turn brown as they age. They do not react to staining with iodine solution. [4]
Chemically, this genus does not produce any notable secondary metabolites (lichen products) that are detectable with standard chemical spot tests. Pseudotopeliopsis is distinct from the closely related genus Chapsa primarily due to its denser cortex and the unique structure of its apothecia, which resemble those of the genus Topeliopsis with their striated tissue filling the disc –a distinctive structural feature that sets it apart from similar genera. [4]
Although the genus was originally circumscribed with four species, [4] three of those have since been transferred to other genera:
The Graphidaceae are a family of lichen-forming fungi in the order Graphidales. The family contains nearly a hundred genera and more than 2000 species. Although the family has a cosmopolitan distribution, most Graphidaceae species occur in tropical regions, and typically grow on bark.
Cladia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Cladoniaceae. Cladia species have a crustose or squamulose (scaly) primary thallus and a fruticose, secondary thallus, often referred to as pseudopodetium. The type species of the genus, Cladia aggregata, is widely distributed, occurring in South America, South Africa, Australasia and South-East Asia to southern Japan and India. Most of the other species are found in the Southern Hemisphere.
Acanthotrema is a genus of lichens in the family Graphidaceae. The genus was circumscribed by German lichenologist Andreas Frisch in 2006, with Acanthotrema brasilianum assigned as the type species. Acanthotrema species are commonly found in rainforests ranging from lowland to montane environments.
Thelotrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae, the family to which all taxa in the former Thelotremataceae now belong.
Aderkomyces thailandicus is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Gomphillaceae. Found in the lower montane rainforests of Thailand, it was described as new to science in 2011.
Astrochapsa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the subfamily Graphidoideae of the family Graphidaceae. It has 28 species. The genus was circumscribed by Sittiporn Parnmen, Robert Lücking, and H. Thorsten Lumbsch in 2012, with Astrochapsa astroidea assigned as the type species. It was segregated from the genus Chapsa, from which it differs in having a more frequently densely corticate thallus, an apothecial margin that is mostly recurved, and the almost exclusively subdistoseptate, non-amyloid ascospores.
Rhabdodiscus is a genus of script lichens in the family Graphidaceae. It has 36 species.
Pseudochapsa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has 19 species. It was circumscribed in 2012 by Sittiporn Parnmen, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch, with Pseudochapsa dilatata as the type species. Pseudochapsa differs from Chapsa it that its excipulum is typically brown. Additionally, its ascospores are mostly discoseptate and amyloid. The generic name combines the Greek pseudo ("false") with the genus name Chapsa.
Cruentotrema is a genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichens in the family Graphidaceae. It has seven species.
Myriochapsa is a genus of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens in the subfamily Graphidoidae of the family Graphidaceae. It has three species. The genus was circumscribed in 2013 by Marcela Cáceres, Robert Lücking, and H. Thorsten Lumbsch, with the Brazilian Myriochapsa psoromica assigned as the type species. The generic name combines Myriotrema and Chapsa, referring to the two Graphidaceae genera that it resembles. The main distinguishing characteristics of the new genus are its densely corticate thallus, and the presence of the lichen product psoromic acid. Additionally, its apothecia have wider pores, with differently textured margins. Although originally created as a monotypic genus, Harrie Sipman added two South American species in 2014.
Pseudochapsa lueckingii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is known only from a single collection in São Paulo, Brazil.
Clandestinotrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has 17 species. They typically inhabit montane and cloud forest at higher elevations in the tropics.
Gintarasia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has seven species, all of which are found in Australia. Gintarasia species are corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens with a thelotremoid form.
Compositrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has four species. The genus was circumscribed in 2012 by lichenologists Eimy Rivas Plata, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch, with C. cerebriforme assigned as the type species. The genus is distinguished by its unique, composite pseudostromatic ascomata, which sets it apart from the otherwise similar genus Stegobolus.
Pseudochapsa isidiifera is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Graphidaceae. Found in Brazil, it was first formally described as a new species in 2009 by the lichenologists Andreas Frisch and Klaus Kalb, as a member of the genus Chapsa. The type specimen was collected by Kalb in 1980 in a rainforest along the Rio Negro, between 100 and 200 km upstream from Manaus. The species epithet isidiifera refers to the presence of isidia on the thallus. Sittiporn Parnmen, Robert Lücking, and Helge Thorsten Lumbsch transferred the taxon to the genus Pseudochapsa in 2012.
Nitidochapsa is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has five species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichens.
Glaucotrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has five species.
Crutarndina is a monotypic fungal genus in the family Graphidaceae. It contains the single species Crutarndina petractoides, a corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen.
Mangoldia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the subfamily Graphidoideae of the family Graphidaceae. It contains four species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) script lichens.