| Sipmanidea | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Graphidales |
| Family: | Gomphillaceae |
| Genus: | Sipmanidea Xavier-Leite, M.Cáceres & Lücking (2023) |
| Type species | |
| Sipmanidea neotropica (Lücking) Xavier-Leite, M.Cáceres & Lücking (2023) | |
| Species | |
Sipmanidea is a small genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. [1] It comprises two species of leaf-dwelling lichens. [2]
The genus was circumscribed in 2023 by Amanda Xavier-Leite, Marcela Cáceres, and Robert Lücking. The type species of the genus is Sipmanidea neotropica, which was originally described as a subspecies of Echinoplaca furcata. Molecular phylogenetics analysis revealed that species previously classified within Echinoplaca actually formed two distinct clades, leading to the establishment of Sipmanidea as a separate genus. The genus was named in honour of Harrie Sipman, a prominent tropical lichenologist known for his work on foliicolous lichens. [3]
The genus differs from related genera in several ways, particularly in its apothecial morphology and the characteristics of its ascospores. S. neotropica is distinguished from related species by its calenioid (crater-shaped) apothecia, while other species such as S. furcata display more echinoplacoid apothecia with a slightly raised thalline margin . [3]
Sipmanidea lichens are small organisms that grow on the surface of living leaves in tropical forests. Their most distinctive features can be observed at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. The main body (thallus) of these lichens appears as a rough, warty crust on the leaf surface. It often has a whitish, frosted appearance, similar to a light dusting of powder. One of the most charactersitic features is the presence of delicate, white, branching hair-like structures ( setae ) that emerge from a clear or translucent base layer ( prothallus ) that spreads across the leaf surface. [3]
The reproductive organs (apothecia) of Sipmanidea are orange in colour and either emerge from the surface ( erumpent ) or sit flat against it ( adnate ). These structures are often rimmed with a white, crystalline coating made up of tiny needle-shaped crystals. Under a microscope, the spores ( ascospores ) can be seen to have multiple compartments divided by both vertical and horizontal walls, creating a muriform or "brick-wall" pattern. [3]
Microscopic features in the genus include specialised reproductive structures called hyphophores , which are pale yellow and shaped like bristles. Another distinctive feature is the presence of specialised fungal threads ( diaphyphae ) that come in two forms: thick and thin. The thin threads end in swollen segments that resemble sperm cells, a characteristic that helps distinguish this genus from its relatives. [3]
When examined microscopically, these lichens reveal several distinct layers: a colourless outer layer (excipulum) made up of fungal threads; a clear supporting tissue ( hypothecium ) with densely packed, parallel fungal threads; and an upper layer ( epithecium ) that appears yellowish-brown and has a granular texture. These features, particularly the combination of branched setae, crystalline coating, and specialised reproductive structures, make Sipmanidea distinct from other closely related lichen genera. [3]
The Gomphillaceae are a family of lichen-forming fungi in the order Graphidales. Species in this family are found mostly in tropical regions. The family underwent a major molecular phylogenetics-led reorganisation in 2023, in which 17 genera were recognised and formally established as new or reinstated.
Stirtonia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Arthoniaceae. It contains 22 species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichens found primarily in tropical regions. The genus was circumscribed by the British lichenologist Annie Lorrain Smith in 1926, with Stirtonia obvallata assigned as the type species. The species epithet honours the Scottish lichenologist James Stirton.
Mazosia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae.
Echinoplaca is a genus of lichens in the family Gomphillaceae.
Taitaia is a single-species fungal genus in the family Gomphillaceae. It was circumscribed in 2018 to contain the species Taitaia aurea, a lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus. This species is characterized by aggregated ascomata with yellow margins, and salmon-red discs that originate from a single base. It is known only from a few sites in Kenya's tropical lower-mountain forests, where it grows on thalli of the lichen Crocodia.
Graphidales is an order of lichen-forming fungi in the class Lecanoromycetes. It contains 6 families, about 81 genera and about 2,228 species. Family Graphidaceae are the largest crustose family within Graphidales order comprising more than 2000 species, which are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
Clandestinotrema is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Graphidaceae. It has 18 species. They typically inhabit montane and cloud forest at higher elevations in the tropics.
Echinoplaca basalis is a species of foliicolous (leaf-dwelling) lichen in the family Gomphillaceae. It is found in the Southeastern United States.
Gyalideopsis aptrootii is a species of corticolous lichen in the family Gomphillaceae. Found in southern Brazil, it was described as a new species in 2018. Defining features of this lichen include the unique crescent-shaped structure of its hyphophores, the single-spored asci, and the relatively small size of the ascospores.
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.
Adelphomyces is a genus of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises three species.
Aptrootidea is a genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has six species of leaf-dwelling (foliicolous) lichens.
Aulaxinella is a genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises three species that primarily grow on living leaves (foliicolous), though rarely some species can be found on tree bark (corticolous).
Batistomyces is a small genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has two species of leaf-dwelling (foliicolous) lichens. These microlichens form very thin layers on the surface of leaves, appearing to the naked eye as small, fuzzy dark patches due to their numerous short black bristles.
Bezerroplaca is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has five species of tropical lichens that grow on living leaves.
Vezdamyces is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises two species of leaf-dwelling lichens that grow in tropical forests.
Verruciplaca is a small genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises two species of leaf-dwelling lichens.
Spinomyces is a genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has six species of leaf-dwelling lichens.
Roselviria is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It has two species of leaf-dwelling lichens.
Caleniella is a small genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises two species of leaf-dwelling lichens.