| Allocetraria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Allocetraria madreporiformis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Parmeliaceae |
| Genus: | Allocetraria Kurok. & M.J.Lai (1991) |
| Type species | |
| Allocetraria stracheyi (Bab.) Kurok. & M.J.Lai (1991) | |
Allocetraria is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Parmeliaceae. It consists of 12 species, with a center of distribution in China.
The genus was circumscribed by Syo Kurokawa and Ming-Jou Lai in 1991, with three species: both A. ambigua and the type species A. stracheyi recombined from different genera, and a newly described species, A. isidiigera . [1] Sunsequent molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that Allocetraria forms a monophyletic group within the cetrarioid clade in the family Parmeliaceae. [2] [3] [4]
In 2017, Divakar and colleagues used a then-recently developed "temporal phylogenetic" approach to identify temporal bands for specific taxonomic ranks in the family Parmeliaceae, suggesting that groups of species that diverged within the time window of 29.45–32.55 million years ago represent genera. They proposed to synonymize Allocetraria (and several other genera) with Cetraria , because the former group of species originated relatively recently and fell under the timeframe threshold for genus level. The net result of this proposal was to reduce 13 previously accepted genera in the cetrarioid clade down to two. [5] This synonymy was not accepted in a later critical analysis of this technique for lichen systematics. [6] Arve Elvebakk and colleagues expressed a similar opinion, stating that they would "prefer a model of 13 imperfectly defined cetrarioid core genera in addition to ‘orphaned’ species, over an alternative of only two widely defined ones, as a starting point for further phylogenetic studies". [7]
Distinguishing features of the genus include a palisade plectenchymatous upper cortex, asci with a broad axial body, ascospores that are more or less spherical, and threadlike (filiform) pycnoconidia. [8] Species in the genus produce the secondary chemical usnic acid, but never atranorin. [1] Lichesterinic and protolichesterinic acids are found in most species. [9]
The main area of distribution of Allocetraria is China, as nearly all the species occur there. [9] [10]
Former Allocetraria species:
The Parmeliaceae is a large and diverse family of Lecanoromycetes. With over 2700 species in 71 genera, it is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi. The most speciose genera in the family are the well-known groups: Xanthoparmelia, Usnea, Parmotrema, and Hypotrachyna.
Cetraria is a genus of fruticose lichens that associate with green algae as photobionts. Most species are found at high latitudes, occurring on sand or heath. Species have a characteristic "strap-like" form, with spiny lobe edges.
Ahtiana is a genus of lichenized fungi known as candlewax lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. A monotypic genus, it contains the single species Ahtiana sphaerosporella or the mountain candlewax lichen, found in western North America. This species was segregated from the genus Parmelia by Canadian lichenologist Trevor Goward in a 1985 publication. It had been suggested that the genus include A. aurescens and A. pallidula based on similarities in morphology, but this transfer is not supported by molecular analysis.
Arctocetraria is a genus of foliose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. It has three species.
Cetrariella is a genus of foliose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. It contains three species.
Cetreliopsis is a genus of four species of lichens in the family Parmeliaceae.
Kaernefeltia is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Parmeliaceae.
Masonhalea is a genus of two species of lichenized fungi in the family Parmeliaceae.
Hypogymnia is a genus of foliose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. They are commonly known as tube lichens, bone lichens, or pillow lichens. Most species lack rhizines that are otherwise common in members of the Parmeliaceae, and have swollen lobes that are usually hollow. Other common characteristics are relatively small spores and the presence of physodic acid and related lichen products. The lichens usually grow on the bark and wood of coniferous trees.
Vulpicida is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Parmeliaceae. Circumscribed in 1993 to contain species formerly placed in Cetraria, the genus is widespread in Arctic to northern temperate regions, and contains six species. The genus is characterized by the presence of the secondary metabolites pulvinic acid and vulpinic acid, compounds that when combined with usnic acid, give the species their characteristic yellow and green colors.
Tuckermannopsis is a genus of foliose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae.
Tuckneraria is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Parmeliaceae.
Melanohalea is a genus of foliose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae. It contains 30 mostly Northern Hemisphere species that grow on bark or on wood. The genus is characterized by the presence of pseudocyphellae, usually on warts or on the tips of isidia, a non-pored epicortex and a medulla containing depsidones or lacking secondary compounds. Melanohalea was circumscribed in 2004 as a segregate of the morphologically similar genus Melanelia.
Cetrelia is a genus of leafy lichens in the large family Parmeliaceae. They are commonly known as sea-storm lichens, alluding to the wavy appearance of their lobes. The name of the genus, circumscribed in 1968 by the husband and wife lichenologists William and Chicita Culberson, alludes to the former placement of these species in the genera Cetraria and Parmelia.
Cetrariopsis is a genus of foliose lichens in the large family Parmeliaceae. The genus contains three species, including the type, Cetrariopsis wallichiana.
Tuckermanella is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Parmeliaceae.
Coelopogon is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Parmeliaceae. The genus contains two species found in southern South America and South Africa.
Esslingeriana is a fungal genus in the family Parmeliaceae. The genus is monotypic, containing the single foliose lichen species Esslingeriana idahoensis, commonly known as the tinted rag lichen. It is found in northwestern North America.
Usnocetraria is a genus of foliose lichens in the family Parmeliaceae.
Allocetraria corrugata is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It is found in high-elevation locations in Yunnan, China, where it grows on rocks with mosses.
