''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 ...

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 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'' – Ethiopia * '' Aspidothelium lueckingii'' – Bolivia * '' Aspidothelium macrosporum'' * '' Aspidothelium mirabile'' – Ecuador * '' Aspidothelium ornatum'' – Ecuador * '' Aspidothelium papillicarpum'' – Costa Rica * '' Aspidothelium scutellicarpum'' – Ecuador * '' Aspidothelium silverstonei'' – Colombia * '' Aspidothelium submuriforme'' – Argentina * '' Aspidothelium trichothelioides'' – 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