Stirtonia (lichen)

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Stirtonia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Arthoniomycetes
Order: Arthoniales
Family: Arthoniaceae
Genus: Stirtonia
A.L.Sm. (1926)
Type species
Stirtonia obvallata
A.L.Sm. (1926)

Stirtonia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Arthoniaceae. [1] It contains 22 species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichens found primarily in tropical regions.

Contents

Taxonomy

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. [2]

Description

The thallus of Stirtonia contains trentepohlioid green algae as its photobiont partner. These algae belong to the genus Trentepohlia and are responsible for photosynthesis within the lichen symbiosis. Stirtonia lichens reproduce sexually through spore-producing structures called asci. These asci are found in specialised areas of the thallus known as ascigerous areas. A distinctive feature of Stirtonia is the presence of interascal hyphae (fungal threads between the asci) that anastomose, or interconnect, forming a network. These hyphae are similar in appearance to the hyphae found in non-reproductive parts of the thallus and are not bound together by a jelly-like substance (hymenial gel) as seen in some other lichen genera. [3]

The ascospores of Stirtonia have a unique structure. They are divided only by transverse septa (cross-walls), creating several segments along the length of the spore. The walls of these spores, including the septa, are thickened. This thickening results in the internal chambers ( lumina ) of the spores having a rounded or lens-like shape when viewed under a microscope. [3]

Species

As of February 2025, Species Fungorum (in the Catalogue of Life) accepts 22 species of Stirtonia. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Stirtonia". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  2. ↑ Smith, A. Lorraine (1926). "Cryptotheciaceae. A family of primitive lichens". Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 11 (3–4): 189–196. doi:10.1016/S0007-1536(26)80003-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Aptroot, André; Sipman, Harrie J.M.; KäFfer, Marcia; Martins, Suzana M.; Ferraro, Lidia Itatí; CáCeres, Marcela Eugenia da Silva (2014). "A world key to Stirtonia (Arthoniaceae), with three new Stirtonia species and one new Crypthonia species from the Neotropics". The Lichenologist. 46 (5): 673–679. doi:10.1017/S0024282914000280.
  4. 1 2 Perlmutter, Gary B.; Plata, Eimy Rivas; Lücking, Robert (2018). "Is Stirtonia alba in North America? Resolving a nomenclatural impasse and assessing the taxonomic status of the Arthonia alba complex". The Bryologist. 121 (1): 80–86. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-121.1.080.
  5. 1 2 3 Seavey, Frederick; Seavey, Jean (2015). "Three new Stirtonia from Everglades National Park with a key to the neotropics". Lichenologist. 47: 1–7. doi:10.1017/S0024282914000462.
  6. 1 2 3 Aptroot, André (2009). "A revision of the lichen genus Stirtonia". The Lichenologist. 41 (6): 615–625. doi:10.1017/S0024282909990107.
  7. ↑ Seavey, F.; Seavey, J.; Gagnon, J.; Guccion, J.; Kaminsky, B.; Pearson, J.; Podaril, A.; Randall, B. (2017). "The lichens of Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo, Florida, USA" (PDF). Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History. 53 (5): 201–268.
  8. ↑ Diederich, Paul; Lücking, Robert; Aptroot, André; Sipman, Harrie J.M.; Braun, Uwe; Ahti, Teuvo; Ertz, Damien (2017). "New species and new records of lichens and lichenicolous fungi from the Seychelles". Herzogia. 30 (1): 182–236. doi:10.13158/heia.30.1.2017.182.
  9. ↑ Dudani, Sumesh N.; Nayaka, Sanjeeva; Ingle, Komal K.; Joseph, Siljo (2018). "New species and new records of lichenized Ascomycota from tropical deciduous forests of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India". Turkish Journal of Botany. 42 (3): 1–7. doi:10.3906/bot-1707-58.
  10. ↑ Weerakoon, Gothamie; Wolseley, Patricia A.; Arachchige, Omal; Eugenia da Silva Cáceres, Marcela; Jayalal, Udeni; Aptroot, André (2016). "Eight new lichen species and 88 new records from Sri Lanka". The Bryologist. 119 (2): 131–142. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-119.2.131.
  11. ↑ Silva, Tássio Ewerton Ferino; Silva, Mabel Sherlla Rozendo Campos da; Santos, Maiara Araújo Lima dos; Cáceres, Marcela Eugenia da Silva; Aptroot, André; Vitória, Nadja Santos (2024). "Two new Arthoniales species (lichenized Ascomycota) from Brasil". Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental. 18 (4): e04543. doi: 10.24857/rgsa.v18n4-022 .
  12. 1 2 Alves, Marilia Muryel Estevam; Aptroot, André; Lacerda, Sírleis Rodrigues; CáCeres, Marcela Eugenia da Silva (2014). "Three new Arthoniaceae from Chapada do Araripe, Ceará, NE Brazil". The Lichenologist. 46 (5): 663–667. doi:10.1017/S0024282914000206.
  13. 1 2 3 Xavier-Leite, A.B.; Menezes, A.A.; Andrade, A.O.; Aptroot, A.; Cáceres, M.E.S. (2014). "Three new Stirtonia species from Reserva Muralha, Paraíba, NE Brazil". Nova Hedwigia. 98: 425–430. doi:10.1127/0029-5035/2014/0159.
  14. ↑ Wolseley, P.A.; Aptroot, A. (2009). "The lichen genera Cryptothecia and Stirtonia in northern Thailand". Bibliotheca Lichenologica. 99: 411–422.
  15. ↑ Kalb, Klaus; Buaruang, Kawinnat; Mongkolsuk, Pachara; Boonpragob, Kansri (2012). "New or otherwise interesting lichens. VI, including a lichenicolous fungus" (PDF). Phytotaxa. 42 (1): 35–47. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.42.1.5.
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