| Vezdamyces | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Graphidales |
| Family: | Gomphillaceae |
| Genus: | Vezdamyces Xavier-Leite, M.Cáceres & Lücking (2023) |
| Type species | |
| Vezdamyces vulgaris (Müll.Arg.) Xavier-Leite, M.Cáceres & Lücking (2023) | |
| Species | |
Vezdamyces is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. [1] It comprises two species of leaf-dwelling lichens that grow in tropical forests. [2]
The genus was established by Amanda Xavier-Leite, Marcela Cáceres, and Robert Lücking, and is named in honour of Antonín Vězda, a prominent 20th-century lichenologist who greatly scientific understanding of leaf-dwelling (foliicolous) lichens, particularly in the family Gomphillaceae. [3]
The classification of the two lichens in this genus has been challenging for scientists, and the type species (V. vulgaris) has been placed in several different genera over time. It was first described in Lopadium (1881), then moved to Tricharia , later to Actinoplaca , and then to Gyalideopsis , before finally being recognised as its own distinct genus through modern genetic analysis. [3]
These lichens form a continuous, finely warty layer on leaf surfaces, but unlike some related genera, they lack bristles on their main body. Their reproductive structures (apothecia) sit directly on or slightly above the surface and have a distinctive yellowish-green centre with a yellow or white-frosted rim. [3]
A unique feature of the genus is their specialised reproductive structures ( hyphophores ), which appear as short white bristles coated with crystals. These structures produce chains of club-shaped to sperm-shaped cells ( diahyphae ), with tiny algal cells scattered between them. Under the microscope, each reproductive structure produces just a single large ascospore that is divided into multiple compartments both lengthwise and crosswise ( muriform ). [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.
Mazosia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Roccellaceae.
André Aptroot is a Dutch mycologist and lichenologist. His primary research focus is on biodiversity, particularly tropical lichens, encompassing systematics, floristic surveys, and taxonomic reviews. A prolific researcher, he has published more than 500 scientific papers and described hundreds of new fungal and lichen species.
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.
Serusiauxiella is a genus of leaf-dwelling lichens in the family Strigulaceae. It has three species, all of which are found in wet tropical forests in China. The genus was circumscribed in 2020 by Shu-Hua Jiang, Robert Lücking, and Jiang-Chu Wei, with Serusiauxiella filifera assigned as the type species. The genus name honours Belgian lichenologist Emmanuël Sérusiaux, "in recognition of his important contributions to lichenology, foliicolous lichens and the genus Strigula".
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.
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.
Microtheliopsis is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Microtheliopsidaceae. It comprises four species of foliicolous (leaf-dwelling) crustose 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.
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.
Sipmanidea is a small genus of fungi in the family Gomphillaceae. It comprises two 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.