''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 Crustose is a Habit (biology), habit of some types of algae and lichens in which the organism grows tightly appressed to a substrate, forming a biological layer. ''Crustose'' adheres very closely to the Substrate (biology), substrates at all poin ...

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 A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

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

ascospore In fungi, an ascospore is the sexual spore formed inside an ascus—the sac-like cell that defines the division Ascomycota, the largest and most diverse Division (botany), division of fungi. After two parental cell nucleus, nuclei fuse, the ascu ...

s. 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 ''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 ...

'' – Costa Rica * ''

Aspidothelium cuyabense ''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 gemmiferum ''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 ...

'' – Papua New Guinea * ''

Aspidothelium glabrum ''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 ...

'' – 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 ''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 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