''Aspidothelium'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a hybrid colony (biology), colony of algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically among hypha, filaments of multiple fungus species, along with yeasts and bacteria embedded in the cortex or "skin", in a mutualism (biology), m ...
-forming
fungi
A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...
in the family
Thelenellaceae.
All species in the genus have a
tropical
The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...
distribution and are
crustose with a photobiont partner. Most ''Aspidothelium'' species are
foliicolous (leaf-dwelling), although some
corticolous (bark-dwelling) species are known, as well as a single
saxicolous (rock-dwelling) member.
Taxonomy
The genus was
circumscribed by Finnish lichenologist
Edvard August Vainio in 1890.
Historically, it has at times been considered as a
synonym of genus ''
Thelenella''. Families in which the genus has previously been classified are the
Verrucariaceae,
Strigulaceae, and the Aspidotheliaceae, a
monogeneric family circumscribed especially to contain this genus.
Modern
molecular phylogenetic
Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
analysis has shown its placement in the family Thelenellaceae, allied with the order
Ostropales.
Description
''Aspidothelium'' is known for its production of that range in colour from whitish to pinkish or grey and are . These perithecia often exhibit wart-like, setae, or disc-like structures on their surface. Within the perithecia, dense and unbranched and can be found alongside clavate
asci and colourless
ascospores. These ascospores are typically in shape, and to transversely
septate. ''Aspidothelium'' is particularly notable for its unique characteristic of producing fusiform ascospores with numerous transverse septa and short, broad cells.
Species
* ''
Aspidothelium arachnoideum'' – Costa Rica
* ''
Aspidothelium cuyabense''
* ''
Aspidothelium gemmiferum''
– Papua New Guinea
* ''
Aspidothelium glabrum'' – Costa Rica
* ''
Aspidothelium hirsutum
''Aspidothelium'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Thelenellaceae. All species in the genus have a tropical distribution and are crustose with a photobiont partner. Most ''Aspidothelium'' species are foliicolous (leaf-dwelling ...
''
– Ethiopia
* ''
Aspidothelium lueckingii
''Aspidothelium'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Thelenellaceae. All species in the genus have a tropical
The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contr ...
''
– Bolivia
* ''
Aspidothelium macrosporum
''Aspidothelium'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Thelenellaceae. All species in the genus have a tropical distribution and are crustose with a photobiont partner. Most ''Aspidothelium'' species are foliicolous (leaf-dwelling ...
''
* ''
Aspidothelium mirabile
''Aspidothelium'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Thelenellaceae. All species in the genus have a tropical distribution and are crustose with a photobiont partner. Most ''Aspidothelium'' species are foliicolous (leaf-dwelling ...
''
– Ecuador
* ''
Aspidothelium ornatum
''Aspidothelium'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Thelenellaceae. All species in the genus have a tropical distribution and are crustose with a photobiont partner. Most ''Aspidothelium'' species are foliicolous (leaf-dwelling ...
''
– Ecuador
* ''
Aspidothelium papillicarpum'' – Costa Rica
* ''
Aspidothelium scutellicarpum''
– Ecuador
* ''
Aspidothelium silverstonei''
– Colombia
* ''
Aspidothelium submuriforme''
– Argentina
* ''
Aspidothelium trichothelioides
''Aspidothelium'' is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Thelenellaceae. All species in the genus have a tropical distribution and are crustose lichen, crustose with a photobiont partner. Most ''Aspidothelium'' species are foliicolous ...
'' – Africa & tropical America
* ''
Aspidothelium verruculosum'' – tropical Asia & Australia
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q10420364
Ostropales
Lichen genera
Taxa described in 1890
Taxa named by Edvard August Vainio